If your feed is suddenly full of clips of ragdoll flight attendants, escaped crocodiles, and planes coming apart mid-air, you've met Dear Passengers - the co-op airline disaster game that's become one of the most talked-about upcoming indie releases. Here's everything we know.
The pitch: crew the world's worst airline
Dear Passengers is a physics-based co-op game where you and your friends run an airline that should have been shut down years ago. In the developer's own words: your plane is falling apart, your cargo is illegal, and passenger safety barely makes the list.
How the gameplay works
- One player takes the cockpit and flies through dynamic weather, turbulence, and air pockets.
- The rest of the crew works the cabin: serving meals, calming passengers, securing cargo, and repairing the plane as it breaks.
- Before takeoff you choose which passengers and cargo to accept - riskier manifests pay more, and crates can contain anything from contraband to live crocodiles.
- Everything runs on physics. The plane pitches and rolls under your feet, so every task is a balance challenge during an emergency.
Who's making it
Dear Passengers is developed and published by FLEXUS, an indie studio based in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Release date and platforms
Dear Passengers is targeting a 2026 release on Steam (PC), with reports pointing to a fall 2026 window. There's no demo and no announced price - the store page is wishlist-only for now. No console versions have been announced.
Why it's going viral before launch
Dear Passengers slots into the 'friendslop' lineage - chaotic, physics-heavy co-op games built for group voice chat and clippable moments: Lethal Company, Content Warning, R.E.P.O., PEAK. Kotaku has already flagged it as a candidate for the genre's next viral obsession, and outlets have described it as Overcooked at 30,000 feet. The formula is proven; the setting is fresh.
How to play something like it today
Since the real game is months away, the fastest way to get the fantasy is ATTENTION PASSENGERS - a free, browser-based plane crash survival game inspired by Dear Passengers. Disasters hit the plane, physics takes over, and you try to outlast the wreck, solo or in multiplayer with sabotage. Play it free here, or read our full free-to-play guide.
It was built with Rosebud AI - if you'd rather make your own airline disaster, here's how to build a Dear Passengers-style game without coding.
Frequently asked questions
When does Dear Passengers come out?
It's targeting 2026 on Steam, with reports suggesting a fall 2026 window. No exact date has been announced.
What platforms will Dear Passengers be on?
Only Steam (PC) has been announced so far.
Is Dear Passengers multiplayer?
Yes, it's built around online co-op - one player flies while the rest manage the cabin. Details in our multiplayer breakdown.
Is there a demo?
No. Until launch, the closest experience is the free browser game ATTENTION PASSENGERS.
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Andi Bucescu
Andi is the Head of Marketing at Rosebud, where she writes about the intersection of AI, creativity, and brand storytelling. She explores how generative AI is reshaping marketing strategies and creative workflows, with a focus on making complex technology accessible and cutting through the noise of modern campaigns. Her perspective is informed by undergraduate research on effective social media content and consumer psychology.