Sky Jinks is a vertically-scrolling, air racing-themed video game for the Atari 2600 that puts the player in control of a low-flying Seversky XP-41 airplane in a time trial challenge. The objective is to complete each game level by banking around a specified number of pylons—left for blue pylons and right for red pylons. The XP-41 can bank left and right, as well as accelerate and decelerate. Colliding with a pylon (which still counts), tree, or hot air balloon will slow down the plane.
The game features four distinct courses: Polo Grounds, Aero Race, Love Field, and Speedy Meadows. Additionally, there is a pseudo-randomly-generated course called Thompson Tourney, which adds variety and unpredictability to the gameplay. Players must navigate these courses skillfully to achieve the best possible time and complete each level.