After Burner II
After Burner II is a 1987 rail shooter developed by Sega, putting players in the cockpit of an F-14 fighter jet in fast-paced aerial combat and serving as an enhanced version of the original After Burner. The behind-the-plane view uses sprite-scaling to hurl enemy aircraft and missiles toward the player, who returns fire with a rapid machine gun and a limited stock of homing missiles locked onto multiple targets at once.
The game was renowned for its hydraulic motion cabinet, which rolled a full 360 degrees and pitched with the player's stick movements to simulate high-speed dogfighting. Its relentless pace, constant lock-on alarms, mid-air refuelling sequences, and the ability to control throttle gave it an intense, cinematic sense of jet combat that defined the genre. The sequel added a speed control and new stages over its predecessor.
After Burner II remains one of Sega's signature arcade experiences and has been ported and remade many times. It is playable today through Sega retro collections and emulation for fans of fast aerial action.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to After Burner II, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Rogue Indie | € 20,49 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch |
| Metalstorm: Modern Air Combat | Free + in-app purchases | Not on Steam | iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet |
| Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown | € 59,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Project Wingman Indie | € 29,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC |
Sky Rogue Indie
€ 20,49Arcade jet combat with lock-on missiles and no flight-sim ballast, exactly After Burner's register.
Sky Rogue runs on PC, Mac, Linux, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
Metalstorm: Modern Air Combat
Free + in-app purchasesFree arcade jet dogfighting built for phones and tablets, with missile locks and quick matches.
Metalstorm: Modern Air Combat runs on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
€ 59,99A modern arcade-style flight combat game with cinematic aerial battles.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Project Wingman Indie
€ 29,99An indie arcade flight combat game with intense missile-dodging dogfights in the After Burner tradition.
Project Wingman runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
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