AH-1Q Sandviper · 22 missions · 4 campaigns

Gulf Chopper Strike

An isometric attack-helicopter game. Strike radar sites and launchers, winch up fuel and ammo, drop a rope ladder for downed pilots and get everyone back to the frigate before the tank runs dry.

Platforms: iPhone · iPad · Mac · Apple TV
Best with: A gamepad
Price: First mission free
Data collected: None

Coming soon
to the App Store See the controls

Mission 1 at midday: the helicopter flies along a desert road toward a burning radar station.

Day

Recommended

Play it with a gamepad

Touch, keyboard, mouse and the Siri Remote all work, but the game is built around two sticks: fly with the left, point the nose with the right, and keep all three weapons and Strafe under your fingers. Any Xbox, PlayStation or MFi controller works on every platform, and on iPhone and iPad the on-screen controls step aside while you use it.

Controls and gamepad setup

How it plays

One helicopter, every job

01 · Base

The frigate

Every sortie starts on its aft pad. Hover low over the pad and the deck crew refuels and repairs you to 100%. Ammunition is not restocked there.

02 · Fuel

Watch the tank

Fuel drains all the time and faster at speed. Run dry and you lose a helicopter, along with everyone aboard.

03 · Winch

Hoist your supplies

Hover low and slow over fuel, armor and ammo and the winch lowers a hook. A load only counts once it is in the cabin.

04 · Rescue

Rope ladder

Downed pilots pop signal smoke. Hover near them and the ladder unrolls; six seats, nearest runner first, delivered one by one over the pad.

05 · Weapons

Gun, rockets, Hellfire

The chain gun for light targets, rockets for splash damage, and Hellfires that lock onto the nearest target ahead.

06 · Strategy

Grids, timers, escorts

Knock out power stations to blind a grid's SAMs, beat launch countdowns, escort a convoy and defend oil wells under shellfire.

Campaigns

22 original missions

Set in the fictional Gulf state of Qadar, against the Directorate. Operation Dust Veil is free; one Full Campaign purchase unlocks every other mission, including any added later.

Campaign 1

Broken Horizon

Take the sky.

Dust Veil · free
Dark Grid
Grounded Wings
Deep Command
Quiet Courier

Campaign 2

Long Reach

Launchers and weapons plants.

Glass Storm
Open Gates
Backup Line
Toxic Works
Ghost Launchers
Black Mirage

Campaign 3

Harbor City

The port of Bandar Sahel.

Lost Observers
Silent Silos
Cold Water
Gilded Hull
Consulate Siege

Campaign 4

Last Light

The endgame: every objective in order.

Burning Wells
Black Tide
Iron Vaults
Core Depot
Iron Crown
Runway Run

Up close

A warm, high-contrast diorama

Side-on close-up of the helicopter firing its chain gun — **AH-1Q Sandviper.** An original tandem-seat gunship with a chain gun, rocket pods and Hellfires.

Helicopter hoisting a red fuel drum on its winch cable — **Winch.** The load swings on its cable and only counts once it is stowed.

Rope ladder with one pilot climbing and two running to it — **Rescue ladder.** One pilot on the rungs, two more running for it.

Enemy tank, SAM truck, anti-aircraft gun, bunker and fuel depot around the helicopter, with supply pickups — **The opposition.** Tanks, SAM trucks, AAA in sandbags, radar bunkers and fuel depots, plus the pickups you will need.

Gameplay frame with the avionics HUD overlaid — **Avionics HUD.** Fuel and armor tapes, ammo, cargo, lives, score and the current objective.

Requirements

Platforms

Runs on

iPhone with iOS 17 or later, played in landscape.
iPad with iPadOS 17 or later, in any orientation, Split View and Stage Manager.
Mac with macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Apple TV with tvOS 17 or later.

Good to know

Single player, fully offline. No account, no ads, no tracking.
Graphics quality Low, Medium or High; Low keeps Apple TV and older iPhones smooth.
All sound is synthesized in the game. Sound can be set to Full, Low or Off.
Family Sharing, Ask to Buy and Restore Purchases are supported.