The Best Flight Sim Games for PC Right Now

If you are after the best flight sim games for PC right now, the short answer is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for civilian aviation and DCS World for military flying. Those two cover the vast majority of what sim pilots are looking for. But the right choice depends on the kind of flying you want to do, the hardware you are running, and how deep you want to go. At Gamer Gear Direct, we have been helping Australian sim enthusiasts build their setups from our Dandenong South showroom since 2019 - and we have seen every type of sim pilot come through the door. This guide covers the eight best flight sim games for PC across every style: civil aviation, WWII air combat, military jets, beginner-friendly, free-to-play, and everything in between. Each pick includes what hardware it pairs best with so you can build a setup that actually matches the game you are flying.

At a Glance - Our Top Picks

What to Look for in a Flight Sim Game

Not all flight sims are created equal, and knowing what matters before you dive in will save you a lot of time and money. Here are the things worth considering before you commit to a platform.

Civil aviation vs combat

This is the first question to settle. Civil aviation sims - like MSFS 2024 and X-Plane 12 - focus on realistic commercial and general aviation flight. You are flying airliners, bush planes and light aircraft through real-world scenery. Combat sims - like DCS World, IL-2 and Falcon BMS - put you in military aircraft. The flying style, hardware and learning curve are very different between the two, and picking the wrong category is the most common mistake first-time sim pilots make.

Flight model depth

Some sims use simplified flight models that feel great for newcomers but do not hold up under scrutiny. Others - especially DCS World and X-Plane 12 - use highly realistic aerodynamic models. If you are using a sim for real-world training or pure immersion, the depth of the flight model matters a lot. If you just want to enjoy the experience, something more accessible will serve you just as well.

Hardware compatibility

Some games support a wide range of flight hardware out of the box. Others require manual configuration. If you are running a yoke, HOTAS, rudder pedals or a full cockpit build, it is worth checking how well the sim handles your specific setup. All of the games on this list support dedicated flight hardware - but the quality of the out-of-the-box mapping varies.

VR support

VR transforms a flight sim from a game into something that feels genuinely immersive. Not all sims have polished VR implementations. MSFS 2024 and Aerofly FS 4 are both strong here - DCS World has VR support but it requires more tweaking to run smoothly than the other two.

Mod and add-on ecosystem

MSFS and X-Plane both have massive third-party ecosystems - thousands of additional aircraft, scenery packs and tools. DCS sells detailed individual aircraft modules that go very deep on specific planes. If you enjoy customising and expanding your sim, the add-on ecosystem is worth factoring into your decision before you buy.

System requirements

MSFS 2024 and X-Plane 12 are GPU-hungry. DCS World is a little more forgiving but still demanding in complex scenes with lots of aircraft on screen. If your rig is mid-range, it is worth checking benchmarks for the most visually demanding options before you commit to buying them.

1. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 - Best Overall Flight Sim

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the benchmark for civilian flight simulation on PC, and it is not particularly close. It is the most visually stunning flight sim ever made, with satellite-derived terrain data covering the entire globe, photogrammetric city scans for hundreds of locations (including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane), real-time weather pulled from live meteorological data, and an enormous selection of aircraft ranging from light GA planes to commercial airliners, bush planes and helicopters. The 2024 edition added a full career mode with structured missions, improved aircraft systems across the board, and significantly better helicopter flight models over the 2020 release, making it the most complete version of the platform to date.

The flight model sits in a sweet spot - realistic enough to genuinely challenge you, but not so unforgiving that newcomers are immediately overwhelmed. It supports almost every piece of commercial flight hardware through its axis and button mapping system, and the mod ecosystem through MSFS Marketplace and third-party stores is massive. It runs on Xbox Game Pass on PC as well, which makes it accessible to try before fully committing to a purchase.

For Australian sim pilots, MSFS 2024 is especially compelling because the Australian scenery is excellent. You can fly over the outback, follow the coastline, hop between regional airports and replicate real local routes with photoreal ground detail. It is the sim we demonstrate most often at our Melbourne showroom, and the one that consistently blows people away when they first see it on a triple-screen setup or in VR.

• Photorealistic global scenery with real-time weather integration
• Excellent Australian city and regional airport coverage
• Career mode with structured progression and employment system
• Massive aircraft and add-on library from first and third parties
• Runs on Xbox Game Pass PC - try before you buy

Best for: Australian sim pilots who want the most immersive, visually spectacular civil aviation experience on PC.

2. DCS World - Best Military and Combat Flight Sim

DCS World (Digital Combat Simulator) is the gold standard for military flight simulation on PC. The base game is free and comes with two aircraft to get you started - but the real depth is in the paid modules, each of which models a specific military aircraft to an extraordinary level of fidelity. We are talking clickable 3D cockpits, real-world startup procedures, authentic weapons systems, and flight models built in collaboration with actual manufacturers and test pilots. The F/A-18C Hornet module, for example, is so detailed that real Navy pilots have reported it as genuinely representative of the aircraft they fly.

DCS World also comes with a large free map (the Caucasus region) and a growing library of paid terrain maps covering the Persian Gulf, Syria, the English Channel and more. The multiplayer scene is active and serious, with dedicated servers running persistent warzones where pilots coordinate air-to-air, ground attack and SEAD missions. It is not an easy sim - the learning curve is steep, and you will spend real time reading manuals and watching tutorial videos before you can operate an aircraft competently. That depth is precisely the point for the audience it targets.

The hardware setup for DCS typically centres around a HOTAS - a combined joystick and throttle that replicates the layout of real fighter cockpit controls. HOTAS controllers also map the dozens of buttons and switches you will need quick access to in a DCS cockpit.

• Module-based system - buy only the aircraft you want to fly
• Extraordinary cockpit fidelity with real-world startup procedures
• Large and active multiplayer community
• Free base game with Caucasus map and two aircraft included
• Steep learning curve - rewarding for committed sim pilots

Best for: Sim pilots who want the most authentic military aviation experience available on PC and are willing to put in the time to learn it properly.

3. X-Plane 12 - Best for Realism and Real-World Training

X-Plane 12 is the professional sim pilot's choice. It is used by real-world pilots for instrument currency and procedure practice, by aviation training organisations and by enthusiasts who want the most accurate aerodynamic modelling available outside a certified simulator. Laminar Research builds X-Plane with a blade element theory flight model - rather than using lookup tables, it calculates aerodynamic forces in real time based on the actual shape of the aircraft's surfaces. The result is flight behaviour that responds predictably and correctly to changes in aircraft configuration, weight, atmospheric conditions and control inputs.

X-Plane 12 improved significantly on X-Plane 11 with better visuals, an updated weather system with genuine volumetric clouds, and improved autogen scenery. It is not as visually spectacular as MSFS 2024, but it is a more serious simulation tool. The default aircraft library is functional rather than luxurious, but the add-on market through developers like ZIBO (a free 737 mod) and commercial studios like A-Loft and iniBuilds is extensive.

• Industry-leading aerodynamic fidelity via blade element theory
• Used by real-world pilots and aviation training organisations
• Excellent yoke and autopilot system support for airliner flying
• Strong add-on ecosystem with high-quality third-party aircraft
• Multi-monitor and VR support

Best for: Real-world pilots wanting procedure practice, and enthusiasts who prioritise aerodynamic accuracy over visual spectacle.

4. IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles - Best WWII Air Combat Sim

IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles is the definitive WWII air combat simulator on PC. Developed by 1CGS, it covers the Eastern Front, the Battle of Britain, the Pacific and Western Front campaigns through a series of standalone titles that share the same engine and multiplayer infrastructure. The aircraft modelling is exceptional - each plane has a detailed damage model, accurate engine behaviour, realistic fuel and ammunition management, and flight characteristics that reflect real-world reports and test data. Flying a Bf 109 and a Spitfire should feel different, and in IL-2, they genuinely do.

The visuals are excellent for a combat sim of this type, with detailed ground environments and atmospheric effects. The campaign system is well-developed, with dynamic career modes that put you through historically grounded missions. The multiplayer scene, particularly on the Wings of Liberty server, is active and serious. IL-2 rewards commitment - new players will find it humbling at first, but the skill ceiling is very high and the experience of flying in accurately modelled WWII aircraft is hard to replicate anywhere else.

• Exceptional aircraft modelling with detailed damage and engine systems
• Covers Eastern Front, Battle of Britain, Pacific and Western Front
• Dynamic career mode with historically grounded missions
• Active multiplayer scene on dedicated servers
• Works well with HOTAS and joystick setups

Best for: WWII aviation history enthusiasts and sim pilots who want the most detailed and authentic propeller-era combat flying available.

5. Aerofly FS 4 - Best for VR and Beginners

Aerofly FS 4 is not trying to compete with MSFS 2024 or X-Plane 12 on global coverage or simulation depth - it is doing something different. IPACS built Aerofly with VR as a first-class priority, and it shows. The VR performance is outstanding: smooth frame rates, comfortable interaction with cockpit controls, and a genuinely polished in-headset experience that most sims cannot match. The scenery coverage is limited compared to global sims (it focuses on specific high-detail regions including Switzerland, western USA and the Bay of San Francisco), but within those regions the quality is exceptional.

The aircraft library covers a sensible range of GA planes, jets and helicopters. The flight model is accessible enough for beginners while remaining satisfying for more experienced sim pilots. It is the sim we often recommend to people who are new to flight simulation and want to ease in without being overwhelmed by complexity, or to people who specifically want a great VR experience without the system-performance demands that MSFS 2024 imposes in VR mode.

• Outstanding VR performance - best in class for smooth headset flying
• Beginner-friendly with accessible flight models
• High-quality scenery in covered regions
• Low hardware demands compared to MSFS 2024 in VR
• Good helicopter and GA aircraft selection

Best for: New sim pilots getting started, and VR enthusiasts who want the smoothest in-headset flight experience available.

6. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 - Best Value Flight Sim

With the release of MSFS 2024, the 2020 version has dropped significantly in price and regularly goes on sale at a substantial discount. For sim pilots who are budget-conscious or whose hardware cannot comfortably run the more demanding 2024 edition, MSFS 2020 remains a genuinely excellent sim. It has the same global satellite-derived scenery system, real-time weather, and a large aircraft library as its successor - it just lacks the career mode, the improved helicopter flight models and some of the systems depth that 2024 introduced.

The add-on ecosystem for MSFS 2020 is also fully compatible with MSFS 2024 (most add-ons work across both), so if you build a library of aircraft and scenery on the 2020 platform, you can carry most of it forward when you eventually upgrade. For anyone who has not yet entered the MSFS ecosystem, 2020 is a smart entry point that gives you the core experience at a fraction of the current 2024 price.

• Same global photorealistic scenery and real-time weather as 2024
• Significantly lower price - often heavily discounted on Steam
• Lower hardware requirements than MSFS 2024
• Large existing add-on library, mostly compatible with 2024
• Great starting point before upgrading to 2024

Best for: Budget-conscious sim pilots or anyone with mid-range hardware who wants the MSFS experience without the full 2024 price tag.

7. War Thunder (Air Battles) - Best Free Flight Sim

War Thunder is not a pure flight simulator in the same way DCS World or IL-2 is - it is a combined arms game covering aircraft, tanks and naval vessels across a vast historical period. But its air battle mode, particularly in Realistic and Simulator battle settings, provides a genuinely compelling free-to-play flight experience that many sim pilots use as a low-barrier entry point into more serious aviation gaming. The aircraft roster is enormous, covering Allied and Axis aircraft from WWII through to early jet-era machines and beyond, all with their own performance profiles and handling characteristics.

In Simulator mode, War Thunder disables most of the game-y assists and requires you to use a joystick or HOTAS, navigate using instruments, and manage your aircraft properly. It is not as deep as IL-2 for WWII simulation, and the free-to-play monetisation model means progression can feel grindy, but as a no-cost introduction to historical air combat it is hard to beat. It is also a good way to test whether you enjoy the HOTAS style of control before investing in a dedicated sim.

• Completely free to play - no upfront cost
• Enormous aircraft roster spanning WWII to modern era
• Simulator battle mode requires real flight hardware
• Good entry point before committing to premium sims
• Active and large player base

Best for: Sim pilots who want to get started at zero cost, or who want to test a joystick or HOTAS setup before committing to premium sim titles.

8. Falcon BMS - Best F-16 Flight Sim

Falcon BMS is a community-developed modification of Falcon 4.0 (a 1998 F-16 flight simulator) that has been developed and updated continuously by a dedicated team for over two decades. What it has become is remarkable: arguably the most accurate F-16 Viper simulation available outside classified military systems. The avionics modelling - radar, weapons systems, navigation, datalink, electronic warfare - goes deeper than any commercial sim. The dynamic campaign system models an entire theatre of war with AI forces, logistics, air defence networks and changing ground conditions that persist across multiplayer sessions.

To legally run Falcon BMS, you need a copy of the original Falcon 4.0 (available cheaply on Steam or GOG). The BMS mod itself is free. The learning curve is exceptionally steep - this is not a casual game. But for F-16 enthusiasts and serious sim pilots who want the most authentic representation of flying the Viper, there is nothing else on PC that comes close.

• Deepest F-16 avionics modelling available on PC
• Free mod - only requires a cheap copy of Falcon 4.0
• Dynamic campaign system with persistent theatre-level warfare
• Active multiplayer community with structured campaigns
• Requires HOTAS - there is no gamepad option here

Best for: Dedicated F-16 enthusiasts and serious sim pilots who want the most authentic Viper experience available anywhere on PC.

Our Verdict

The best flight sim game for PC depends entirely on what kind of flying you want to do. If you want to explore the world from the air in stunning detail, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the answer. If military aviation is your thing, start with DCS World (free to try) and work up to the module that interests you most. For WWII specifically, IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles is unmatched. If you are new to flight simulation or want the best VR experience, Aerofly FS 4 is the most welcoming entry point. And if you want to get started for free, War Thunder in Simulator mode will give you a feel for real hardware-driven flying at zero cost.

Whichever sim you choose, the right hardware makes an enormous difference to the experience. Flying MSFS 2024 with a mouse and keyboard is frustrating. Flying it with a yoke, throttle and rudder pedals on a proper cockpit frame is transformative. That is true across every sim on this list.

Upgrade Your Sim Setup

At Gamer Gear Direct, we stock Australia's best range of flight sim hardware - HOTAS controllers, yokes, rudder pedals, throttle quadrants, cockpit frames and complete packages. Everything in our range is sourced directly from the manufacturer and covered by local Australian warranty. Our team are sim enthusiasts themselves - if you are not sure what hardware suits your setup and your preferred sim, we can help.

Visit our Dandenong South showroom to test hardware before you buy, or browse online and get in touch if you have questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best flight simulator game for beginners?

For complete beginners, Aerofly FS 4 is the most accessible option - it has an approachable flight model and excellent VR support that makes the experience feel intuitive. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (or 2020) is also excellent for beginners because of its visual appeal and Game Pass availability, though it benefits more from proper hardware. Avoid DCS World, IL-2 and Falcon BMS as your first sim - all three have steep learning curves that reward prior experience.

Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 worth the upgrade from 2020?

Yes, for most sim pilots. The 2024 edition brings a career mode with structured progression, significantly improved helicopter flight models, better aircraft systems across the board, and performance improvements. MSFS 2020 remains a great sim, but if your hardware can handle it, 2024 is the better experience. Most add-ons bought for 2020 also carry across to 2024.

Do I need a HOTAS or yoke to enjoy flight sims?

You can run most sims with a gamepad or even a keyboard and mouse, but dedicated flight hardware makes a significant difference to both immersion and control precision. For civil aviation sims like MSFS and X-Plane, a yoke and throttle quadrant is the natural choice. For combat sims like DCS World, IL-2 and Falcon BMS, a HOTAS is the right tool. Some sims - particularly Falcon BMS - really do not work well without dedicated hardware.

Is DCS World free?

The base game is free, and it includes two flyable aircraft (the Su-25T Frogfoot and the TF-51D Mustang training variant) plus the Caucasus map. Additional aircraft modules and maps are paid - they range from around US$30 to US$80 per module. If you want to fly the F/A-18C, the F-16C or any of the deeply modelled full-fidelity aircraft, you will need to purchase those modules. Sales are common and significant.

What PC specs do I need for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

MSFS 2024 is demanding. For a solid 1080p experience you will want at minimum an RTX 3070 or equivalent with 32GB of RAM. For 1440p or triple-screen setups, an RTX 4080 or better is recommended. The sim streams scenery data, so a fast internet connection (25Mbps+) matters as much as your GPU. MSFS 2020 is somewhat less demanding if your hardware is older.

What is the best flight sim for VR?

For the smoothest and most polished VR experience, Aerofly FS 4 is the top choice - it was designed with VR as a priority and delivers the best frame rates in a headset. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is stunning in VR but more demanding on hardware. DCS World has VR support but requires more tweaking to run well. For most VR users, Aerofly FS 4 or MSFS 2024 will be the best starting point.