If you’re looking for a list of the top plane games, you might have difficulty picking one. You can find everything from complex flight simulators to meticulously detailed military models to arcadey jet fighters and relaxing wingsuit simulators.
With a representative from all of the different niches, we’ve assembled a shortlist of some of the best plane games on PC, to help you organize your thoughts.
WAR THUNDER
Tanks and naval battles have since been added to War Thunder, but it began life as one of the best free flying games around, and the flight physics, authentic aircraft, and realistic ballistics modelling speak for themselves.
Gaijin has been updating, reworking, and expanding War Thunder’s roster of planes over the past seven years so that there are now aircraft from eight nationalities and six classes. These multiplayer skirmishes require real dogfight tactics, so master your Split S in order to get the upper hand on novices. Our list of the best tank games for PC included War Thunder, which is so good at vehicular warfare.
ARMA 3
In Arma 3 you will be able to sit in the cockpit of a jet fighter and strafe heavy tanks and perform airstrikes on the battlefield, unlike most combat plane games. Even though the flight physics and depth of mechanics don’t compare to some of the hardcore flying games on this list, there is still plenty of scope for mastery.
In air-to-air combat, you mostly control your position and use a variety of missiles to take out targets high above the battlefield. In addition to air-to-ground aircraft, modern technology like laser-guided missiles and anti-armor cannons make good pilots essential on the battlefield. And if you get tired of planes, helicopters are available too.
X-PLANE 11
With much improved graphics and cockpit models, X-Plane 11 is a modern take on FSX, with a menu system that won’t leave you slamming your head on the desk before take-off.
As a matter of fact, there’s plenty to enjoy before actually taking off – just sitting in the airport and watching the cavalcade of catering trucks, tugs, refueling tanks, and cargo trolleys moving about is endlessly fascinating. However, X-Plane 11 is at its best in the air, especially in light aircraft, where you can feel every bump, every quirk of the plane’s flight characteristics.
STAR WARS: SQUADRONS
In addition to intense dogfights at its core, Star Wars: Squadrons features epic space battles and an abundance of charm. The short-but-sweet campaign is enjoyable from start to finish, but the multiplayer action will keep you coming back for more. Taking down your adversaries gracefully and managing your power distribution feels fantastic, and while Squadrons is easy to get into, it offers a high skill ceiling. Sadly, EA’s post-launch plans do not go beyond cosmetic improvements. Nevertheless, it’s still one of the best Star Wars games in years and a damn fine flying game to boot.
MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2020
The long-awaited follow-up to Microsoft’s flight simulator was released in 2020 and received many accolades. Microsoft Flight Simulator review states that despite the rough loading times and numerous crashes in the review build, none of that has dulled the game’s splendor or diminished the awe induced by the things they’ve planned, done, and seen between them..”
In light of the last game staying around for more than a decade, it’ll take time before deciding whether or not Microsoft’s latest effort deserves its place on this list – for now, we’ll keep them both for good measure.
Now you have the list of some of the best airplane games of 2022. Do choose wisely and enjoy your time.
