bestsimulatorgames.com
The best flight simulator games
| Game | Platforms | Price (US) | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 | $69.99; Standard Edition included with Game Pass | The whole planet from map and satellite data, with career missions |
| X-Plane 12 | Windows, Mac, Linux | $59.99, free demo | Civil flight sim from Laminar Research |
| DCS World | PC | Free; extra aircraft and maps are paid | Military combat flight sim |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition | PC | $59.99 on Steam | The previous Microsoft sim, lighter on hardware |
| Aerofly FS 4 | Windows, Mac, Linux | $59.99 on Steam | Civil flying with VR support |
| IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad | PC | $49.99 list ($7.49 on sale on November 10) | World War II air combat |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition | PC | $24.99 | The older Microsoft sim, for very old PCs |
| FlightGear | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free, open source | Community-built civil flight sim |
| GeoFS | Web browser, iPhone, Android | Free; HD imagery is a subscription | Fly over satellite images with other pilots |
| Infinite Flight | iPhone, Android | Free download, in-app purchases | The main mobile flight sim |
| X-Plane Flight Simulator | iPhone, iPad | Free download | X-Plane's mobile app |
| RFS - Real Flight Simulator | iPhone, iPad | $0.99 | Airliner flying on a phone |
Prices and platforms were read from each store or official page on November 10, 2026.
Best flight sim for each platform
| Platform | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming PC | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | The whole Earth from map and satellite data, plus career missions |
| Older PC or laptop | FlightGear or Flight Simulator X | FlightGear is free; Flight Simulator X asks for 2 GB of RAM |
| Mac or Linux | X-Plane 12 | Sold for all three desktop systems; Aerofly FS 4 and FlightGear run there too |
| Xbox Series X|S | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | Included with Game Pass in its Standard Edition |
| PS5 | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | On PS5 since December 8, 2025, $69.99. There is no PS4 version |
| Phone or tablet | Infinite Flight | Free to download on iPhone and Android |
| Browser or school laptop | GeoFS | Runs in a tab with nothing to install |
Free flight simulator games
- DCS World: the free download includes two aircraft, the Su-25T attack jet and the TF-51D Mustang, plus two maps. Everything else is sold as modules.
- FlightGear: free and open source under the GNU General Public License, for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- GeoFS: free in a browser, with 30 aircraft listed on its site, live multiplayer and real air traffic. Sharper HD imagery needs a subscription.
- X-Plane 12 demo: Laminar Research offers a free demo from its own site.
- Infinite Flight and X-Plane Flight Simulator: free to download on phones, with paid content inside.
Free sims in other genres are on the free simulator games page.
Free · no download · LifeSim
Live the pilot's life between flights
Be a pilot in a real city: a crew, a home, layovers and people who text you first. LifeSim is a free life simulator in your browser. It does not simulate the cockpit.
What your PC needs
| Game | Minimum RAM | Minimum graphics | Disk space |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | 16 GB | GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 5700 | 50 GB |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) | 8 GB | GeForce GTX 770 or Radeon RX 570 | 150 GB |
| X-Plane 12 | 8 GB | Vulkan 1.3 card with 2 GB of video memory | About 23 GB |
| DCS World | 16 GB | Dedicated card with 8 GB | 200 GB |
| Aerofly FS 4 | 8 GB | Card with 4 GB | 100 GB |
These are the minimums on each Steam page. Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition asks for only 2 GB of RAM and a 256 MB graphics card. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 also needs a broadband connection, because it streams scenery as you fly.
A joystick changes these games more than any graphics setting, but all of them start with a mouse and keyboard, and the Microsoft sims play on a controller. If your PC is the limit, compare it with the other genres on the PC page.
If you want the pilot's life, not only the cockpit
Flight sims simulate the aircraft. They stop when you park at the gate. LifeSim is the other half: a free life simulator in your browser where you can be a pilot, or anyone else, in any real city on Earth, with a job, a home and AI characters who remember you. It does not simulate flying a plane.
FAQ
What is the most realistic flight simulator game?
For civil flying, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and X-Plane 12. For military aircraft, DCS World. All three reward a joystick and time spent learning.
Is there a free flight simulator?
Yes. DCS World is free on PC with two aircraft included, FlightGear is free and open source on Windows, Mac and Linux, and GeoFS is free in a browser.
Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5?
Yes. It launched on PS5 on December 8, 2025 at $69.99. It is not on PS4.
Can I play a flight simulator on a phone?
Yes. Infinite Flight is free to download on iPhone and Android, GeoFS has mobile apps, and X-Plane Flight Simulator is a free download on iPhone and iPad.