Choppa: Rescue Rivals

What Is Choppa: Rescue Rivals?

Choppa: Rescue Rivals is a modern-but-retro helicopter rescue arcade game from Finnish indie studio Parta Games. Think Choplifter meets Saturday-morning anime. You play as Rick, a legendary rescue chopper pilot pulled out of retirement for one last mission.

The game launches August 13, 2026 on Steam. It's a love letter to 80s and 90s arcade games, toys, and cartoons — bright colors, over-the-top villains, and a story that doesn't take itself too seriously. The campaign sends you across the globe on rescue missions with a cast of pilots, each with unique tools and strategies.

Beyond the story, there's local multiplayer air hockey for up to 4 players. Choppa battles in an arena, no rescue required.

Parta Games ran a closed beta that completed in June 2026 and showed the game at Steam Next Fest, where it built a solid following of players nostalgic for the Choplifter formula.

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Story & Characters

The Setup

Rick "Choppa" Masterson is a retired rescue helicopter pilot. When a disaster-ravaged oil rig calls for help, his license gets reinstated and he's thrown back into action. His former wingman Burdock has gone rogue, backed by the sinister A.C.R. Corporation. Rick, along with the Thunderbolt Rescue Foundation, has to stop them.

The story is pure camp. Think GI Joe meets TailSpin. Each mission is a set-piece with dialogue, character moments, and a boss encounter.

Playable Pilots

Each pilot changes how you approach a level. Rosa's smoke screen lets you slip past enemy lines. Kenji's speed line trades durability for velocity. Ava's cryo beam freezes hazards but draws more aggro.

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Campaign Mode

The single-player campaign has 12 missions across different global locations. Each mission has:

• Primary objective: Rescue civilians, extract VIPs, or deliver supplies
• Secondary objectives: Find hidden collectibles, save bonus survivors, beat par time
• Boss encounter: A rival chopper or ground-based artillery unit

Mission Locations

1. Oil Rig Inferno — Tutorial mission. Rescue workers from a burning platform.
2. City Evacuation — Navigate skyscrapers to rescue civilians from flood zones.
3. Jungle Extraction — Stealth-focused. Enemy AA guns in dense foliage.
4. Mountain Pass — High altitude, thin air affects chopper handling.
5. Harbor Rescue — Surface-to-air missiles from cargo ships.
6. Volcano Approach — Lava eruptions create moving hazards.
7. Arctic Base — Blizzard conditions reduce visibility.
8. Dam Breach — Escalating disaster with collapsing infrastructure.
9. Desert Convoy — Moving target rescue. Extract VIPs from a convoy under attack.
10. Night City — Limited visibility. Flares reveal enemy positions.
11. A.C.R. Headquarters — Infiltrate the enemy base.
12. Final Showdown — Face Burdock in a climactic aerial battle.

Collectibles

Each mission has hidden items:

• Helmet Tags — 3 per level. Lore items from fallen rescue pilots.
• Fuel Cans — Extend your mission time limit.
• Stickers — Unlockable decals for your chopper (30 total).

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Local Multiplayer — Air Hockey Mode

When you need a break from rescues, Choppa: Rescue Rivals has a local multiplayer mode for 2-4 players. It's air hockey — but with helicopters. You fly your chopper into a puck to score goals.

Rules:

• First to 7 goals wins
• Power-ups spawn on the field: speed boost, shield, magnet puck
• Arena hazards: fans that blow your chopper, bumpers that redirect the puck

This mode uses split-screen (or shared screen for fewer players). It supports PvP and team play.

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Controls

The game supports full controller remapping and keyboard-only play. Gamepad is recommended — the analog stick gives finer control over chopper altitude and yaw.

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Tips & Strategies

Basic Rescue

Don't hover. Enemy AA locks onto stationary targets. Keep moving in wide circles while lowering the winch. Time your rescues between enemy attack waves.

Pilot Mastery

Switch pilots for different missions. Rosa is best for missions with heavy AA (Jungle, Desert). Kenji excels on speed-focused levels (Harbor, Volcano). Ava handles hostile environment missions (Arctic, Dam).

Collectible Hunting

Replay missions on lower difficulty. Enemies are less aggressive, giving you time to search corners and elevated platforms for Helmet Tags and Fuel Cans.

Air Hockey Tips

The magnet power-up is the strongest in the mode. Grab it and pull the puck toward your goal, then flip it with a quick chopper turn. The enemy won't react in time.

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System Requirements (Steam)

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Developer Background

Parta Games Oy is a Finnish independent game studio based in Helsinki. They describe themselves as making "organic friendly neighborhood games." The team grew up on 80s and 90s arcade games, cartoons, and anime — and Choppa: Rescue Rivals is their tribute to that era.

The studio is active on social media (@PartaGames on Twitter) and runs a blog at partagames.com where they documented the Choppa development process, including the Steam Next Fest demo and closed beta results.

This is their debut Steam release. The studio previously worked on smaller projects and game jam entries, but Choppa is their first full commercial title.

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Comparison With Similar Games

If you grew up on Choplifter and want a modern take with more personality, Choppa delivers. The air hockey mode is a bonus you didn't know you needed — it turns the helicopter mechanics into a surprisingly competitive party game.

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Quick Reference Card

• Game: Choppa: Rescue Rivals
• Developer: Parta Games Oy
• Release: August 13, 2026
• Platforms: Windows
• Players: 1-4 (local multiplayer)
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Arcade
• Campaign: 12 missions
• Pilots: 4 playable characters
• Collectibles: 36 Helmet Tags, 30 Stickers
• Multiplayer: Local air hockey (2-4 players)
• Steam Features: Cloud saves, controller support, Remote Play Together, achievements