# Thunderbird Strike > 2D sidescroller game where players control a thunderbird to defend land and water. (iPhone/iPad app by Elizabeth LaPensee.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunderbird-strike/id1324427411 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Elizabeth LaPensee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1036628855) - Category: Games - Price: Free - Rating: 4.20/5 from 39 App Store ratings · 17 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 9+ - Requires: iOS 7.0 · 614 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2017-12-15 - Data updated: 2026-06-01 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunderbird-strike/id1324427411/reviews.md ## What is Thunderbird Strike? In the 2D sidescroller Thunderbird Strike, fly from the Tar Sands to the Great Lakes as a thunderbird protecting Turtle Island with searing lightning against the snake that threatens to swallow the lands and waters whole. ## Key features - 2D sidescrolling gameplay - Play as a thunderbird - Defend Turtle Island - Use lightning attacks - Protect lands and waters ## Recent user reviews (10 of 17) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunderbird-strike/id1324427411/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Thunderbird Strike *2023-08-29* Controls do not work well and game is very basic. ### 5/5 — decolonizing video games! *2021-11-19, version 1.0* simple concept, great graphics, powerful ideas. one minor issue with crashing after cutscenes is easily resolved by closing the video before it ends ### 2/5 — Crashes before I even start *2021-02-22* I was really excited to stock up on some apps by the indigenous communities, but this plays the very first video and crashes with no option to skip ahead. Definitely has some bugs that need worked out. ### 5/5 — Excellent. *2020-04-24, version 1.0* Aside from some software issues, this is an absolutely beautiful game with a powerful message. ### 1/5 — Worst game I’ve played. *2020-01-21, version 1.0* I truly believe this is the worst game I’ve played ever ### 4/5 — Terrible *2020-01-21, version 1.0* Monotonous, boring, and very political. ### 5/5 — A Native View *2019-04-19* Very insightful look into Native American issues....Kudos to the app creator & the musician.... ### 2/5 — Nice art but that’s mostly it *2019-03-22* I don’t know why this game has such a majority of five-star reviews. I, um, wouldn’t give it that. Obviously. First off: There are videos that play between levels, and when I allowed the videos end by themselves, the game crashed and I had to restart from level one. (There are only three levels, so this wasn’t a huge issue.) I avoided this by closing the videos before they ended. The stylized art is really good, cute animations of deer, cool snake boss, very nice. The gameplay is somewhat unclear? I knew I had to tap the bird to create lightning, but the game didn’t indicate where the bird needed to be to zap objects. (Slightly to the right of the object, it turns out.) I still don’t know whether I was supposed to hit the deer (and protesters) walking around, it didn’t affect my score. In levels one and two you can literally just start the level and leave your device for like five minutes and you’ll advance to the next level, the only difference is the score. (Also it crashes if you don’t close the video fast enough.) On the third level, lightning seems to do nothing, the only way to advance is to grab the garbage bags, so just kinda keep the bird next to the snake’s mouth? Not hard or fun, just tedious. The message is fine, oil pipelines on Indigenous lands are bad, trashing the environment is bad, I wouldn’t say this game is educational though. Unless there is a tradition of the Thunderbird resurrecting animals and humans to fight a great snake? There IS information on the Thunderbird Strike website about both the pipelines and the Indigenous stories that inspired the game. If the game directed the player to the website or other resources, I feel like the message here would’ve been stronger. Kind of a missed opportunity. This game is an impressive project for a small group of creators, and they should be proud. Making a (mostly) functional game is absolutely an achievement. This is a great proof-of-concept and it’s cool that they put it out for free, buuuuuuuut if you’re just looking for a fun game then this is probably not it. I only played the whole thing so I could give it a fair review, and I only wanted to give it a fair review because I was suspicious of all the five-star ratings. If you don’t encounter any crashes, then this might fill up fifteen minutes of your life, but maybe you could spend that fifteen minutes researching environmental justice instead. ### 1/5 — Keeps Crashing *2019-03-17* I was very excited to try this app, but I unfortunately cannot get the app to work. It keeps crashing. ### 5/5 — Real cool *2019-03-15* It’s a pretty minimalistic game but that doesn’t really take away from the gameplay and the art is gorgeous! ## Frequently asked questions about Thunderbird Strike ### What is Thunderbird Strike's gameplay like? Thunderbird Strike is a 2D sidescroller where you fly and use lightning attacks to defend the environment. The game focuses on protecting Turtle Island from a threatening snake. ### Is Thunderbird Strike free to play? Yes, Thunderbird Strike is completely free to download and play. There are no in-app purchases or ads mentioned. ### What devices can I play Thunderbird Strike on? Thunderbird Strike is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for iOS platforms. ### What is the age rating for Thunderbird Strike? Thunderbird Strike has an age rating of 9+. This suggests it is suitable for children aged 9 and above. ### When was Thunderbird Strike last updated? Thunderbird Strike was last updated on December 15, 2017, with version 1.0. It has not received updates since its release. ### What is the story behind Thunderbird Strike? The game's narrative involves flying as a thunderbird from the Tar Sands to the Great Lakes, protecting Turtle Island with lightning against a snake threatening the land and waters. ### Does Thunderbird Strike have multiplayer? The description does not mention any multiplayer features for Thunderbird Strike. It appears to be a single-player experience. ### Can I play Thunderbird Strike offline? As there are no mentions of online features or requirements, it is likely that Thunderbird Strike can be played offline. However, this is not explicitly stated. ## Version history (last 1 release) ### 1.0 — 2017-12-15 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. ## Apps similar to Thunderbird Strike | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Beecarbonize](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beecarbonize/id1664426101) | 4.7 (160) | Free | Games | | [Not Evil Sudoku](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/not-evil-sudoku/id1614071642) | 4.4 (714) | Free | Games | | [Spiritfarer: Netflix Edition](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spiritfarer-netflix-edition/id1610577424) | 3.8 (335) | Free | Games | | [Maps of our World](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maps-of-our-world/id658902767) | 4.7 (20,473) | Free | Games | | [GUBBINS — It's a word game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gubbins-its-a-word-game/id1551894081) | 4.7 (1,311) | Free | Games | | [Dot's Home](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dots-home/id1588125402) | 4.6 (383) | Free | Games | ## Related topics [thunderbird strike](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/thunderbird-strike) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-01.*