Let’s be honest — who hasn’t dreamed of flying? Not just riding in a plane or gliding in a game, but really flying. Arms out, wind in your face, free in the sky. That’s exactly the feeling Exer Gale wants to give you — and after spending a couple of hours in its colorful, gem-filled skies, I can say… it almost gets there.
So, What is Exer Gale?
Exer Gale is a VR flying game built around one simple but ambitious idea: you fly like a bird by flapping your arms. No buttons to press for lift — it’s all you. You flap to rise, and tilt your head and body to steer, dive, and glide.
The game is set across a vibrant tropical island world, with portals that lead to different stages — think of them like aerial obstacle courses. You’ll find wind tunnels, launch pads, floating gems to collect, and even projectile-launching turrets to dodge.
Your goal? Collect as many gems as possible before the timer runs out. Do that successfully and you unlock more stages. It’s got that arcade-style “one more try” loop — simple, fast, and just competitive enough to keep you coming back.
First Impressions: Smooth Skies Ahead
There’s a lot to love about Exer Gale at first glance. The world is bright, colorful, and full of life. The soundtrack is chill and fits the flying vibe perfectly. There’s a good variety of challenges across stages, and the whole gem-collecting system is satisfying without being too punishing.
Multiplayer works surprisingly well, too — other players appear in your session seamlessly, so it feels like you’re racing or exploring with friends without any waiting around. Leaderboards give you that extra push to shave a few seconds off your flight time, and cosmetic unlocks (like masks, wings, and tattoos) give you something to work toward.
The Premium Edition also includes more stages and cosmetics, with a summer update promising even more content.
The Problem: Flying Should Feel Free, Not Frustrating
Here’s where things get rocky.
While the concept is awesome, the core flying mechanic can get… well, tiring. You flap your arms to gain lift — over and over — and it becomes a serious workout. And not always in a good way.
Each level lasts about 90 seconds, which doesn’t sound like much — but after just a few stages, your shoulders start to feel it. And if you’re doing a longer session, that repetitive flapping can get old fast. I work out regularly, and even I felt the burn.
Worse, the controls aren’t as responsive as I hoped. You can lean and twist your body to steer, but sometimes your in-game character turns slowly or drifts awkwardly, making precision flying a struggle. You want to feel like a graceful hawk… but sometimes you just crash like Icarus.
Would It Help to Add Options?
Honestly, yes. The flapping mechanic is interesting, but it shouldn’t be the only way to play. If there were an option for thumbstick flight or even an “infinite lift” toggle, I think a lot more people would stick around. The game already has a great world and strong visual design — it just needs to feel more fun, more often.
That said, it’s still in Early Access, and the devs seem pretty active, so I’m hopeful we’ll see control improvements or alternate modes in future updates.
Final Thoughts: It’s Almost There
Exer Gale nails the feeling of wanting to fly — the world is immersive, the sounds are relaxing, and the gem-chasing gameplay is genuinely rewarding. But the physical effort required, paired with occasionally clunky control responsiveness, makes it hard to fully enjoy for long sessions.
If you’re curious, try the free version. It costs nothing, and you might love the challenge — especially if you’re into fitness-based VR. But for players looking for a chill, casual flying game, this one might flap a little too hard.
Exer Gale is close to something special. With a few tweaks, it could go from interesting to incredible. Until then, I’ll keep dreaming of flight… and maybe give my rotator cuffs a little break.
