The Brazilian game that combines shoot ’em up and Arkanoid, Sky Racket, is currently free, for Windows and Mac — 100% free to keep — in a time-limited Epic Store’s giveaway offer! Don’t miss out — Sky Racket normally sells for US$7.49!
Sky Racket is a retro-style indie game that mixes side-scrolling shoot ’em up action with tennis (or ping-pong) mechanics, and classic block breaker gameplay inspired by Arkanoid and Breakout. It was developed by Double Dash Studios and originally released on October 22, 2019.
Blending fast-paced action, charm, humor, distinctive pixel art visuals, an original soundtrack, and a setting reminiscent of old-school arcades and classic cartoons, the game throws players into chaotic aerial battles against quirky enemies and bosses — where both precision and creativity are needed.
Published by Double Dash Studios themselves, Sky Racket is available on Windows, Linux, Mac, and Nintendo Switch. It received a reasonably good reception from critics, being nominated for several awards, and even won a few. As of this post, it has thousands of very positive reviews on Steam.
Trailer
Gameplay
In Sky Racket, players choose between two protagonists — RacketGirl and RacketBoy — two tennis racket-wielding astronauts. Local co-op mode allows both characters to play together on the same screen.
As mentioned, the gameplay blends shoot ’em up mechanics with brick breaker-style action. Players stay positioned on the left side of the screen, while enemies, projectiles, and obstacles primarily approach from the right — though they can come from any direction. The main goal is to deflect energy balls launched by enemies and send them back to deal damage. Timing and positioning are crucial to success.
Not all attacks can be deflected. Laser beams and indestructible white blocks force players to use a dodge button that transforms the character into a more agile spinning form, allowing for quick movements through tight spaces.
Each character has three hearts, and every hit taken removes half a heart. To help, players can rescue companions (called Buddies) throughout the game. These act as power-ups, granting offensive or defensive abilities such as twin shots or air barrages. They also absorb a hit in the player’s place — but are lost when damaged.
The main adventure spans five unique worlds, each with multiple handcrafted stages (“sets”) and boss battles (“match points”), all accessible via a retro-style overworld map. Each world introduces distinct mechanics, wacky enemies (including fruits and vegetables), and extra objectives that increase replay value.
While challenging, the game has a gentle learning curve, making it easy to pick up, hard to master — a hallmark of early ’90s arcade and 16-bit games. Many players compare Sky Racket to Cuphead, thanks to its cartoon-style art, fast-paced stages, and creative boss fights.
Story
Synopsis
In a faraway galaxy, peace was maintained under the watchful eye of Santana, the mythical Cosmic Capybara Goddess, creator of all worlds. One day, the terrible tyrant Korrg captured her and stole her powers. In a final act of resistance, Santana created the legendary Sky Rackets — mystical artifacts that turn enemy attacks against them — and sent them to two young heroes: RacketGirl and RacketBoy.
Now, it’s up to them to soar across vibrant worlds, face eccentric bosses, and free the galaxy from Korrg’s grip. Armed only with their magical rackets, the duo engages in fast-paced sky battles, dodging lasers, bouncing back energy projectiles, and fighting everything from luchador raccoons to banana monsters and sentient popcorn.
Characters
Main cast
- RacketBoy – Restless and optimistic, RacketBoy faces challenges with youthful bravery — or maybe a bit of naïveté. From the moment he first wielded the Sky Racket, he showed natural talent for intergalactic tennis, quickly becoming a key figure in the fight against Korrg.
- RacketGirl – Older and more composed than her companion, RacketGirl is confident — occasionally to the point of arrogance. Trained in space tennis by her father (a former champion who mysteriously vanished), her journey is as much about saving the galaxy as uncovering family secrets.
- Santana, the capybara goddess – A mysterious being with eyes always closed, Santana is said to have breathed the universe into existence — and will one day close it with her last breath. Revered as a cosmic guardian, she’s immensely powerful, wise, and a surprisingly good swimmer who enjoys water and plants.
- Korrg – A self-absorbed tyrant shrouded in darkness, Korrg rules the galaxy with his monstrous army. No one has seen his face, hidden behind a helmet with laser eyes. His plan? Rebuild the universe in his own image — and yes, he really can make his monsters grow.
Buddies
As noted in the gameplay section, throughout their journey, players can rescue powerful allies called Buddies. These companions act as personality-packed power-ups, offering offensive and defensive abilities while also absorbing damage on behalf of the player.
- Batata – A friendly flying elephant that shoots small energy balls (2 at level 1, 4 at level 2).
- Mokeka – A samurai hummingbird who slashes nearby enemies with his sharp beak like a katana.
- Fagulha – A rebel lamp from the city’s resistance, fires powerful laser beams that pierce through anything in their path.
- Kanjika – A neon-colored dog with feathered blue wings who creates protective bubbles around the player — perfect for no-damage runs.
About the game
Sky Racket is the world’s first Shmup Breaker, mixing the classic genres of shoot ’em ups and block breakers!
Blast bullets back at baddies while flying over whimsical worlds filled with vivid, kooky colors! Grab your laser tennis racket, a stylish scarf and your best buddies to battle a horde of fluffy enemies trying to blow you up back to the ground.
Play as RacketBoy or RacketGirl, guardians chosen by the Capybara Goddess to save your galaxy from the paws of a destructive tyrant genius, Korrg! Unable to attack by yourself, you must strike enemies’ attacks back at them, turning the battlefield into an explosive space tennis battle. Rain tennis-devastation down on hordes of ducks, cat-sandwiches, fluffy bunnies, space-tennis-robots and actual BANANAS in this unique and totally realistic adventure to save the galaxy!
(Sky Racket is based on a true story.)
Features
- Dodge and dive through fanciful shmup levels! Blast bullets back to break blocks and bust bad guys!
- Gorgeous pixel art and fluid animation so good it’s BANANAS, literally and figuratively.
- Co-op multiplayer to share this funky fun with friends!
- Befriend the best little buddies to aid you in a colorful and whimsical universe!
- Catchy original soundtrack sure to please 16-bit fans!
- Bizarre boss battles! No really, they’re very strange…
- Bullet hell challenges to thrill and test your will!
- Master the mechanics of rebounding attacks and find creative ways to use your enemies’ weapons against them!
Screenshots
More info and shmup
Overview
- GET Sky Racket HERE - Download link(s) or store's listing.
- Size: 500 MB
- License: Commercial
- Operational systems: Windows, Linux and Mac
- Developer(s) and/or publisher(s): Double Dash Studios
- Categories: Action, Arcade, Shooters, Sports
- Views: 8
- Added by: Valewson