Over the Radio: Analog Co-op Flight Sim Champions Voice Chat

In an era dominated by ping wheels and matchmaking algorithms, Over the Radio harkens back to the living room co-op sessions of old—complete with real paper maps, crackling radio chatter, and the kind of teamwork that only comes from leaning in and shouting, “Is that a river or a runway?” When Polygoose Studio announced its Steam debut for 2026, this low-fi flight sim felt like a breath of fresh air.

Game Overview

Over the Radio is a two-player communication-driven flight simulation that recreates the give-and-take of a real cockpit crew.

• Developer: Polygoose Studio
• Platform: Steam (Windows)
• Genre: Communication, Simulation
• Release: 2026 (Date TBA)

Communication as Core Gameplay

Forget shared HUD waypoints and glowing markers—your voice is the interface. Pilots juggle an altimeter, throttle, and compass while navigators pore over a printed, board game–style map. You’ll switch between VHF channels, manage push-to-talk etiquette, and decipher static under stormy skies. Missions can throw in radio dropouts or background hums, forcing you to repeat grid headings and confirm landmarks. Clear, concise comms earn navigators bonus points, while pilots must trust your verbal updates more than any digital beacon. Each successful approach, aborted run, or runway landing becomes a testament to your squad’s coordination—and misheard waypoints can trigger uproarious chaos.

The Charm of Printed Maps

There’s an undeniable magic in unfolding a paper chart mid-flight. A misread river bend or flipped grid reference doesn’t just cost you navigation points—it sparks genuine surprise, shouting matches over who passed the map last, and belly laughs when someone yells, “That’s no runway, that’s a reservoir!” Polygoose Studio has hinted at a replay feature that records voice comms and flight data, so you can relive every “Wait—turn left?” moment.

Replay and Social Hooks

Beyond honing your crew skills, the built-in replay system crafts bite-sized highlight reels—perfect for sharing your slick pinch-and-zoom rescue or epic stall-spin crash on social feeds. Even without exporting clips, the loop of map-scanning, dial-monitoring, and voice-only directives forges genuine bonds. It’s tailor-made for game nights, local co-op hangouts, or anytime you crave unfiltered, menu-free teamwork.

Indie Co-op Trends and Context

The indie scene is experiencing a renaissance of low-fi, local multiplayer gems—from the frantic tracks of Unrailed! to the neon cosmos of Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime. Developers are stripping away cluttered UIs and favoring voice-oriented experiences that demand presence over pixels. Over the Radio rides this wave, proving that analog mechanics and real voices can feel more immersive than photorealistic graphics or algorithmic pairing. As minimal-UI designs and split-screen sessions regain momentum, Polygoose Studio could pioneer analog co-op’s next golden era.

Why Gamers Should Care

If you miss squeezing around one screen with a friend, plotting courses on paper and shouting instructions over crackling comms, this is your flight plan. It’s not about blockbuster budgets or ultra-realistic shaders—it’s about the warm glow of shared victory, the riot of miscommunication, and the stories you’ll retell long after touchdown.

TL;DR

Over the Radio ditches algorithmic matchmaking for paper maps and live voice comms. This two-player flight sim promises old-school co-op chaos and analog teamwork when it lands on Steam in 2026.