The Best Flight Simulator Games Online

It should come as little surprise that one of the most popular reasons given by flight simulator fans as to why the love these types of games is because of the unrivalled, thrilling experience that they get while playing.

Several 3D Flight Simulator games are quickly reaching a point where they’re getting so vivid and realistic; it’s difficult to tear yourself away from your PC monitor at times as you feel so engrained in the virtual world you’re piloting your way through.

All you have to do is think for a moment about how a flight simulator game stirs your emotions more than most other titles and you see why they’re so popular.

Imagine this for just a second:

You’re soaring majestically, thousands of feet in the air and you’re totally focused; you’re ‘in the zone.’

The safety of the aircraft you’re currently sitting in the cockpit of as well as the lives of all of the passengers you might have on board – depending on which aircraft you’ve opted to fly today, of course – are all in your hands.

Some people might panic when given this much responsibility but you love it; you crave it.

All of the gauges are lining up perfectly and your journey is going smoothly. You savour this moment; you make it look easy but the process of flying this enormous machine is literally sending the adrenaline coursing through your body almost as rapidly as your aircraft is moving through the skies.

It isn’t long before you have to think about touching down but a fleeting second you take a look outside the windows and realise just how spectacular the view really is; no matter where in the world you fly, it always looks amazing from the seat you’re currently sitting in.

This is similar to the feeling that I – and every person who chooses and plays a new flight simulator – feels each and every time they pull on their virtual pilot uniform.

If you haven’t played a flight simulator game yet, or if the game you’re currently playing doesn’t make you feel like this, then you’re absolutely missing out.

Take a look at my links page to read about one of the most realistic flight simulator’s available and make the switch to a better brand of flight sim.

When Microsoft Flight Simulator was first released all of those years ago, flight fans and wannabe pilots all across the world were beside themselves with excitement. Although the game doesn’t hold up too well by today’s standards – in fact, it in fairly basic to say the least – at the time it was the height of virtual flight experiences and it opened the minds of PC gamers around the world in terms of what they could come to expect in the future.

Fast forward to today and the genre is entirely different; the level of detail that is presented in flight simulator games for PC is almost unbelievable and the realism that you experience when you climb into the cockpit is unrivalled by most other games.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the only way that any of us could get the thrill and rush that can only be experienced by being a pilot was to, well, go out and become a pilot! You’d have to study up, sit your tests and get countless hours of experience under your belt.

What about the people who were just not up to it, though? How about those who didn’t have the right eyesight, reaction times or, heaven-forbid, were afraid of heights?

The best flight sim games have altered the video game landscape more than most people can possibly begin to understand and this level of innovation is why the genre has such a devoted and passionate fan-base!

Getting your pilot’s license takes a remarkable amount of effort and time - not to mention it also requires forking out an insane amount of money also.

Savouring the sights and adrenaline rush of being in the pilot’s seat, however, has never been cheaper and more satisfying now that it is well and truly available to everyone in the comfort of your own lounge room or study!

Microsoft flight simulator may have grown a little stale and dusty on the shelf over the years but those that have come after it – including wildly popular games like Virtual Pilot 3D – are giving everyone the chance to take to the skies.

If you’ve been on the fence about buying a flight simulator game previously then you’ve stumbled in at exactly the right time; getting into the cockpit of literally hundreds of aircraft has never been easier or more affordable.

Learn how to download the flight simulator games that will give you the most realistic experience by visiting the official Virtual Pilot 3D website now.

Recently I wrote a guest post for an extremely popular online technology blog; I was asked to pen an article about violence in video games. I didn’t want to go down the same road as most of these articles go – preaching about the sins of the video game medium and how it’s polluting the mind of this generation’s youth – so I bucked the trend and focused on some positive points instead.

Most of these articles you read nowadays are all about finger-pointing and playing the ‘blame game.’ I took a different approach and turned the focus to a more uplifting topic – the benefits of pc flight simulator games!

Let’s just get this opinion of mine right out of the way early on in the piece; I think the response to kids and video game violence is mostly an overreaction. There is no doubting, however, that there are some games out there that have been designed violently simply for the shock value in an attempt to sell more video games to gore-fanatics and to patch over game play flaws, hoping no one will notice them.

This article I wrote turned to spotlight firmly onto the flight simulator genre because it highlighted just how engrossing and entertaining and video and PC game franchise or genre can be in the modern era of entertainment, even without all the blood and guts!

Flight simulator games for PC are not only fantastic value for money in terms of entertainment hours provided per dollar, but they’re also a great advertisement for a game stimulating the average player far beyond pushing the same two buttons over and over again.

Think about it for a moment; just how much do you actually get out of being a flight simulator fan?

I know, speaking only for myself, I’ve found that flight simulators can assist you with everything from increasing your patience right through to encouraging lateral thinking. Considering the fact that so many aircraft in new flight simulators are so lovingly recreated, piloting them takes a great deal of focus and expertise that only practice and a wise head can achieve.

Add to all of this the fact that a flight sim can be extraordinarily entertaining – offering literally hundreds of hours of game play – all without a single drop of blood being shed and it’s easy to see why I consider these games to be such a hallmark of the industry!

If you’ve got teenagers – or even if you are a teenager yourself who is reading this – spread the word about just how brilliant flight simulators are and how incredibly well the stand up against their console rivals!

Learn more about the best flight simulator and how you can play it right now by visiting my links/resources page now!

It isn’t easy to find a flight simulator game that is perfect; in fact, most people would argue that the perfect game hasn’t yet been created. Some have come very, very close but as it stands, no title has received the virtual ‘10 out of 10’ score from the flight simulator community.

There is a game that comes extraordinarily close, however, and the thing that sets it apart from the rest of the back – its many, various competitors within the genre – is the huge array of features that it offers players right from the very beginning.

Some flight simulators games will give you the bare bones, especially those which are free to download or are destined to play in your browser while on a lunch break at work. They’re very basic and aren’t designed to blow your mind but instead exist to keep you entertained for a few hours here and there.

If you’re searching for a more in-depth flight simulation experience though, you’re going to have to look for a much more in-depth game.

Simply jumping into the cockpit of a few planes shouldn’t be good enough in your eyes – set the standard higher than that!

When you’re deciding on which new flight simulator games are for you, keep an eye out for these relatively new features:

• Real-Time Weather Updates – An incredibly well thought out detail that keeps you immersed and involved with your virtual flight journey more than just about any other feature.

• Reasonable PC Specs – You don’t want to have to rebuild your entire PC from scratch just to enjoy a flight; the best flight simulator has reasonable specs that mean its playable on a large variety of computers while still remaining a stunning game in terms of visuals and graphics.

• Aircraft and Airports – A handful of planes isn’t good enough anymore; if you’re looking at a flight simulator that delivers any less than 200 planes and aircraft then you’re looking at the wrong game!

• Free Updates for Life – Don’t get suckered into constantly shelling out more and more of your hard-earned money for additional planes, airports and scenery. Make sure the flight sim you buy comes with free software updates for life.

Many new flight simulator games have a small of features that make them stand out and makes them ‘must play’ titles but very few have all of them in one.

The flight simulator I’m playing at the moment might not be ‘perfect’ but in my opinion it’s hands-down the closest thing to perfect flight simulation that I’ve ever played!

Learn which flight simulator game has all of these must-have features and more by visiting my links and resources page right now!

Everyone who is in the market to buy a new flight simulator game should always consider a few vital elements and factors during their search. Unlike a lot of common ‘shooter’ and other console games, the standard of detail built into a flight simulator by the game’s developers can literally be the difference between a fantastic title and a horrible, sub-standard release.

Knowing exactly what to look for is a brilliant first step, however, unless you’re aware of exactly why these features are important then you’re in danger of falling into the age-old trap of going for impressive-sounding game play options as opposed to genuinely solid additions to the title.

The primary thing you’re told to look out for when identifying the best flight simulator for PC is the controls. How many people though – especially those without prior flight sim experience knows exactly what the means? The controls of all games in this genre should be complex and take a fair bit of tutorial-following in order to get the hang of. If the game you’re looking to pick up boasts ‘straight-forward controls’ or ‘easy to fly’ planes then you know it’s time to keep on walking. New flight simulator games should be a challenge, not child’s play.

Ensure that the flight simulator games you’re looking to purchase are compatible with your computer: this is vitally important and gets overlooked far too much in reviews that I’ve read prior to launching this site. Not all PCs and laptops are made equal so ensure you’re specs are up-to-scratch before making any decisions.

There’s every chance that a newcomer to the PC flight simulator genre is going to become hooked really quickly and find that they want to add on some of the cooler accessories that experienced virtual pilots use. Advanced joystick controls, yokes and pedals are all accessories that can enhance your flying experience; you might not need them to begin with but you’d hate to grab a game that doesn’t allow you to use them should you choose to go down the path later on. Hardware support is very, very important when picking from airplane simulator games.

Remember to scratch beneath the surface when you’re making a decision on your quest to find the best flight simulator. There are so many other things that you should take into consideration; money back guarantees, the amount of aircraft and airports available to choose from and overall appearance and graphics are to name just a few.

Doing your homework and taking the time to make an informed decision is the wisest step you can make. A flight simulator game is something that you’re going to get many, many hours of entertainment out of so it’s reassuring to know that once you’ve made your purchase you’re going to be happy with what you got.

If you are interested in checking out a flight simulator that I think has all of the qualities I’ve mentioned above and a whole host more, visit my links/resources page now for some more info.

The most common thing that people look for when they’re choosing a video game – and more specifically, a flight simulator – is the level of realism that is presented to them. The further technology evolves the more people are coming to expect from their entertainment mediums and flight simulators are absolutely no exception.

The encouraging thing about all of this, as far as plane simulator game fans are concerned at least, is that our favourite genre of game seems to be leading the pack in a lot of ways.

A prime example of this is the ever-increasing amount of flight schools are using simulator training in order to assist aspiring pilots to get the amount of experience they need in order to take off and man an aircraft in a safe and effective manner. Needless to say, the sims used by these schools are a little more advanced than your average PC flying simulator games but there is no denying that even the versions you and I get to play are still well ahead of some of the other games out there on the market.

The similarities between a professional school’s flight simulator software and the games that you and I download and play are a lot more than an outsider might expect.

Just like in the professional training simulators, flying simulator games often feature expert recreations of the particular planes that are included in the game. Cockpits are created in the exact image of the real-world aircraft and a lot of the gear that are featured in the games are a replica of what genuine pilots operate on a daily basis.

If you’re searching for a video game experience that delivers realism that, if we’re being honest, hasn’t actually been seen all too much in the market thus far then you’re not going to be able to do much better than a flight simulator.

Attention to detail and loving recreations of professional instruments and aircraft are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what technology offers up for lovers of plane simulator games.

To learn more about a flight simulator used by real-life pilots then make sure you visit the links/resources page right now!

When I try and explain my adoration for virtual flying to the friends, family and co-workers I have who aren’t flight simulator fans they always seem to turn and look at me a little funny. They can understand why so many guys are hooked on football and hockey and even get the compulsion most women feel to hit up a sale or two at the mall, yet they seem to struggle with my loving these games so much.

I know that most of you who are visiting this site understand the appeal so this isn’t really a post that has been written for to sway your opinions or anything; you’ve already seen the light and jumped on board so to speak.

This post is going to serve more as an ‘Open Letter’ to all of the friends, colleagues and family members around the globe whom question your love for plane simulator games. Next time they ask you what you see in these ‘boring video games,’ feel free to direct them here so they can be schooled!

Dear Non-Pilots,

Believe it or not, everyone finds joy in different things and it is this diversity that makes us all individuals.

You know the intense rush of adrenaline you receive when your team’s quarterback throws an unbelievable ‘hail Mary’ with seconds to go to steal a victory?

You know the giddy feeling you get when you pass a bargain that is almost too good to be true yet is sitting right there in front of you?

Well, that’s what we feel when we climb into the cockpit of an expertly recreated aircraft cockpit. These virtual planes take practice, patience and legitimate levels of skill to master and keep in the air. Excitement and enthusiasm doesn’t need to be restricted to things that mainstream people consider to be ‘cool.’

Flight simulator games might not be as widely recognized and adopted as Facebook and Twitter but they’re equally – if not more – entertaining then both of them put together.

If you want to know ‘what the fuss is all about’ regarding flight sims and why we love to escape into them, take a minute to click on the following link and look at the virtual pilot 3D review that I’ve penned exclusively for this site; you’ll quickly understand there is a lot more to this genre than the ‘boring video game’ you once thought it was!

Regards,

Darcy

Now if you guys want to pass this on to people you know, feel free! Once they’re convinced, get them to view the links/resources page so they too can be in the air ASAP!

I’ll admit that I do get a kick out of something a little strange when it comes to playing flight simulator games.

Everyone knows just how (seemingly) infinite the replay and entertainment value is in these types of games; you can fly anywhere in the world, land in over 25,000 airports and can choose from literally hundreds and hundreds of aircraft to pilot.

Keeping that in mind it does come across a little odd when I share with my friends and family who are also flight simulator game lovers that part of the experience I get the most enjoyment (and the most laughs,) from is recording and watching my most epic crashes!

I know what you’re sitting there thinking; ‘Darcy, you’re out of your mind! Crashing is the most FRUSTRATING thing to happen in a flight simulator!”

You’re certainly not wrong there; crashing can be a nightmare, especially when you’re just learning the ropes of a new sim and it feels like you’re never going to master the aircraft you want to fly. Trust me though, if you’re willing to have a chuckle at your on-screen mistakes then you’ll begin to notice how truly ‘Hollywood’ a lot of the ‘crash and burn’ scenarios can be!

A lot of the best flight simulator titles now offer recording your flights and saving them for viewing later on. This feature is obviously included to help you study your previous journeys in order to hone your craft and become a better virtual pilot. You shouldn’t look past the temptation to use this feature for a bit of a chuckle, however, if you do end up falling unexpectedly out of the sky.

Nobody likes to put their foot in it and fail while out on a virtual flight, especially one that has been going for a while, but next time you find yourself in a tricky situation that doesn’t end the way you would have hoped, don’t just delete the resulting clip in anger; take a look and have a laugh or two.

After all, it’s only a game...right?

What are you like when it comes to unexpected and premature landings? Do you fly off (pardon the pun,) in a rage or do you simply accept (and perhaps even admire) the massive mess that you’ve managed to make?

Take a minute to learn more about what flight simulator games allow you to record your flights in my links/resources page – click here now.

One of the more appealing aspects of a great flight simulator can be found in the fact that it presents its players with the ability to visit almost anywhere in the world.

The vast majority – if not all of the top-line flight simulators available now have an ‘open world’ type set up where you can literally plot a course and pilot any aircraft of your choosing to any number of brilliant, breath-taking and real-life locations. We’re no longer limited to enjoying the scenery of fictitious landscapes.

Naturally with so much variety available to those who take part in the airplane simulator experience, it can be a little tricky to decide exactly where it is you’d like to fly first.

Are you the type of pilot that wants to make a direct path to the Eifel Tower in Paris, France?

Maybe you’re more of a history buff and you’d like to use your freshly laminated virtual pilot’s license to take you over the pyramids in Egypt?

Perhaps you’d just a kick out of flying around your local area – imagine flying a plane over your own home! Flight simulator games have opened that surreal experience and have placed it directly within reach.

The beautiful thing about this genre of games is the nowadays, you’re not restricted to visiting the most memorable and noteworthy landmarks. It is entirely possible for you to pick any town, at random and go and visit it via your PC or laptop. The variety of locations that have been introduced to flight sim titles – even just over the last 5 or so years – is stunning. When you add to all of that the fact that graphics are crisper and more vivid than even and you’re in for a real treat no matter where you choose to go.

For those playing at home and wondering where my favourite place to fly is, I’m more than happy to share that with you.

It might be a clichéd and some people might debate with me, however, as far as I’m concerned there is nothing more exciting and breathtaking in a flight sim than to take to the skies and fly over the amazing Las Vegas at night time. If you’re a flight simulator player who is new to the genre, please do yourself a favour and make it one of the first things you do. If you’re a long-time player and haven’t visited, then you have a new destination just waiting for you to take flight!

Everyone has their opinions and I’d love to know more about yours! Where is your favourite virtual location to visit? Is there anywhere that you’d like to fly but haven’t yet gotten around to it? Let me know!

Learn more about the staggering amount of locations available to visit in flight simulators nowadays, head on over to my links/resources page right now!

Many are often surprised when they discover the overall demographic of the type of people who enjoy taking some time out to play a flight simulator game.

The common conception with video game in general often centres around the thought and belief that the industry is a ‘young man’s’ game and that the typical ‘gamer’ falls into the category of the 18 – 35 year old single male with the occasional female thrown in for good measure.

That couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to airplane games though:

The stereotype of the PC gamer is shattered into pieces when you take a look at the type of people who take to the skies in virtual aircraft on paper:

• Around 60-70% of flight simulator enthusiasts are male there are a whole host of females who also love the genre too.

• The average age of a virtual pilot comes in at over 35+ years old in more than 50% of the people surveyed! So you can see why people who aren’t familiar with our favourite type of game can be taken aback by who it appeals to most and on what a large frequency too.

• Slightly over 60% of flight simulator lovers are also not parents. Perhaps that just means that they get more time to hone their skills than the rest of us, huh?

I think it’s refreshing to see – in numbers – just how the humble flight sim has shattered the stereotypes surrounding video games and has genuinely opened up what is usually a tight-knit industry for more and more individuals to try and fall in love with.

All of these statistics, of course, are based on one specific set of data and are in no way concrete. There are always exceptions to every rule, however, I wanted to include them today to illustrate the point that the games we love are playing a large part in opening up the industry to a generation that, perhaps, isn’t often commonly associated with ‘having fun’ in the virtual realm anymore.

What are you, my lovely readers like? Do you fit into the stats I’ve detailed above or are you the type to shatter the mould? I’d love to know more!

If you're interested in reading more about the best flight simulator games don't forget to visit my links/resources page now.