Crosswinds: Flight, Love, Jazz, Journey
- Aaron "Ribbon-Blue" Mendoza
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
An Upcoming Indie Flight Game with Flying Boats and Multi layered Storytelling
For someone that adores aviation few things stir the heart more than flying boats, sun soaked coastal towns and great weather. A journey to seek out a far-flung lover with a backdrop of intrigue? Crosswinds by Octeto Studios seems to be onto something.
About Crosswinds
Crosswinds is set in a fictional version of the 1930s Mediterranean coast. Playing as Charles, a veteran World War I pilot, players will fly through landscapes that are the very mental image of the type of landscapes aviation enthusiasts imagine flying boats operating in. This journey is not one of glory in combat but of ambition, escape, clue finding. Somewhere out there hides Anna, the co-conspirator of Charles in swindling casinos, who disappeared after a heist failed and everything went sideways. As players fly deeper and deeper into an introspective, emotionally complex story that has truly meaningful choices.
Octeto Studios was founded in 2012. Based in Santiago, Chile, the studio previously collaborated with companies like Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Niantic while developing original games with strong narrative, stylized visuals and memorable experiences. Crosswinds is the latest game in development from the studio. It was announced during Latin American Games Showcase 2026 Summer Game Fest Edition on June 4th, 2026.
Points of Interest
It is wonderful to see another piece of media that carries the romanticized spirit and visuals of the flying boat era of aviation. Crosswinds looks like it is on track to join this specific cadre of aviation media. Films like the illustrious Porco Rosso and more recently The Lost Tower. Games like SKYE and The Brew Barons.
There are a few specific things I am looking forward to:
Cozy Flair: the vibrant oceans, lush vegetation and picturesque towns are evident from the air, but it is the European comic-book style art style tied to that game's storytelling that visually sets it apart. All of this is set to a soothing jazz soundtrack with "cafe like" pacing. The story scenes on the ground, on the ocean or in the sky have my interest.
Relaxed Flying: Of the limited flight gameplay seen in the first trailer, it seems to be a very accessible, arcade flight model. With waypoints to guide players, a compass and airspeed, the flying seems setup to be a part of the story but is not so complicated that managing a detailed aircraft will be too distracting.
Significant Story: the first impression gives a sense of this game being half flight game, half role playing game. Besides pursuing the overarching unconventional love story while avoiding the consequences of past actions. There are some brief scenes of combat and we know the main character is on the run from a failed heist. But the feeling of the story seems to be more about trying to move on and live beyond that.
Impactful Actions: players are also presented with substantial choices that can apparently result in new optional missions, missed side quests and multiple story endings. With a balance between love and ambition at play, is it possible to lose it all? How curious...
While there is currently no release date for Crosswinds by Octeto Studios, I am watching this one with great interest. The best place to find updates seems to be its Steam page and Instagram account.
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About the Writer
Co-founder of Skyward Flight Media. After founding Electrosphere.info, the first English Ace Combat database, he has been involved in creating flight game-related websites, communities, and events since 2005. He explores past and present flight games and simulators with his extensive collection of game consoles and computers. [Read Staff Profile]
