Air Hares Takes Its Co-Op Farming Bullet Hell to Nintendo Switch on October 29

Air Hares, the unusual co-op action game that mixes aerial bullet-hell survival with carrot farming, is scheduled to land on Nintendo Switch on October 29, 2026. Developer and publisher Wondoro has set the Switch price at $4.99 USD, and the version will launch with the Hare Force Edition update already included.

That update gives the game's local squadron more personality and more tactical options, increasing the number of playable pilots from two to five. It also introduces scoreboards, level-specific challenges, and a new roster section that details the characters' abilities and backstories. The same broader set of additions is also being made available for Steam and Switch players.

Air Hares is built around a deliberately different idea for the shoot-'em-up space. Rather than defining success through wiping out every enemy on screen, its planes are trying to cultivate the land below them. Players fly over plots of soil, seed them, and water them, all while hostile birds, severe weather, and changing wind conditions create the sort of screen-filling pressure normally associated with an arcade shooter.

Growing fields while surviving the Gale Gang

The central objective in each Air Hares level is to completely seed and water three carrot fields. Finishing the job turns the soil green, signaling a successful mission. The catch is that the sky is far from peaceful. The Gale Gang attacks from above, with falcon swarms making it difficult to remain over the fields long enough to complete the work.

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Players also have to react to weather hazards. Wind can push a plane off its intended line, rain affects the chaotic atmosphere of the missions, and lightning adds another threat to a game already designed around constant movement. The farming job is therefore not a relaxing diversion from combat; it is the target that demands careful flying while danger is closing in.

Across four stages, Air Hares sends its pilots up against four avian bosses. The available defensive maneuvers include barrel rolls, parries, and loop-de-loops, allowing players to avoid attacks without simply relying on conventional firepower. That design fits the game's wider emphasis on progress through nurturing rather than destruction.

It is still a game about handling pressure under fire. A clean run requires a player to judge positioning, movement, field coverage, and incoming enemy patterns at the same time. Yet the visual payoff comes from restoring the ground rather than clearing it through force. For a genre usually centered on eliminating everything in the path ahead, Air Hares frames its victories around leaving a stage greener than it found it.

For another perspective on this story, read Air Hares Brings Its Farming Bullet Hell to Switch on October 29.

Hare Force Edition expands the flight roster

The Hare Force Edition will be present from day one on Nintendo Switch and adds three pilots to the original pair of Captain Rabbo and Dirk Doggo. Each newcomer has a specialized trait intended to change the way a player handles threats and environmental complications. The expanded lineup is particularly meaningful for local co-op, where the pilots' strengths can be combined to cover different situations.

• Linnie Lightfoote has a longer roll, giving her additional room to slip away from danger.
• Betty Bunting can stay on course in crosswinds, offering a useful answer to stages where wind would otherwise disrupt precise farming routes.
• Candie Clayton fires three parry shots instead of one, increasing her ability to deal with incoming threats through well-timed defense.

The original pilots receive additional abilities as part of the update as well. Captain Rabbo gains a single recovery after being knocked out, creating a potential second chance during a difficult run. Dirk Doggo, meanwhile, can pull every falcon currently on screen toward himself. That makes him an especially useful partner when another player needs space to finish work on a carrot field or escape a dangerous situation.

These abilities suggest that Air Hares' co-op is designed to be more than two players separately pursuing the same goal. A Doggo player can deliberately attract a flock, for example, while a crosswind-resistant Betty Bunting continues a clean pass over the soil. Candie Clayton can take on a more active parry role, and Linnie Lightfoote can use her extended evasive move to navigate crowded sections. The game's small roster is therefore meant to offer distinct approaches instead of simple cosmetic choices.

New goals for solo and co-op crews

In addition to new pilots, Hare Force Edition introduces high scoreboards for both solo and cooperative play. Those scoreboards apply to Story and Arcade modes, giving players a reason to revisit completed levels and improve their runs beyond simply seeing the next stage.

Every level also receives three Carrot Achievements. The first, Completion, asks players to achieve 100% seeding and watering. Another challenge rewards finishing without taking damage. The third asks players to complete a level without aggression, a particularly interesting condition in a game that already places its focus on farming and survival rather than destruction.

The no-aggression requirement could provide an alternate lens for mastering the game's systems. Instead of treating enemy encounters as targets, players will need to lean heavily on evasive flying, positioning, and the pilots' defensive tools. In co-op, that could demand clear coordination, especially if a player uses Dirk Doggo's falcon-drawing ability to keep the skies manageable for a partner.

A new Squadron section rounds out the update. It contains stats, abilities, and lore for each available pilot, giving players a central place to compare the squadron's strengths and learn more about the cast. For a compact arcade-style game, that kind of character reference can help make each pilot selection feel more intentional before a mission begins.

A personal project from Wondoro

Air Hares was developed by Tim and Megan Bungeroth, the husband-and-wife team behind Wondoro. The pair created the project during a challenging period in their personal lives, while working with freelance programmers, artists, and musicians to bring the game together.

The developers' goal was to make a shooter where achievement comes from growing something instead of destroying it. That premise is visible in the moment-to-moment objectives: planes do face enemy attacks and boss encounters, but the mission is fulfilled through bringing carrot fields back to life. The game's conflict serves the act of cultivation, reversing the usual order of priorities for a shooter.

There is also a personal connection in the game's cast. Dirk Doggo, one of the starting pilots, was inspired by Arthur, the Bungeroths' adopted dog. With his ability to lure every falcon on screen toward himself, Dirk is not merely a mascot-like addition to the roster; he is a major co-op support character whose power can change the flow of a mission.

Wondoro's presentation combines hand-crafted pixel art with narrative cutscenes and an original soundtrack. Together with the four-stage campaign structure, the setup points to a focused arcade experience that aims to be approachable in price while still supporting repeat play through score chasing, achievement attempts, different pilot abilities, and local cooperative runs.

Switch launch details

Air Hares will be available for Nintendo Switch beginning October 29, 2026, priced at $4.99 USD. The Switch version includes Hare Force Edition content at launch, meaning players will have access to all five pilots, the expanded scoreboards, Carrot Achievements, and Squadron information from the start.

For players looking for a couch co-op game with an unconventional hook, Air Hares offers an arcade flight challenge where careful teamwork may matter as much as reflexes. Keeping the fields covered, dealing with unpredictable weather, and choosing the right moment to evade or parry are all part of the job. The goal is not simply to survive the storm of feathers and projectiles overhead. It is to make sure the carrots grow before the squadron runs out of sky.