Summary
- Flight simulators are the perfect Christmas present for aviation geeks, allowing players to soar through the skies and pilot different aircraft.
- Airport CEO is a game that lets players create and run their own airport, but it has some drawbacks like bad graphics and limited availability on computers.
- X-Plane 11 is a highly realistic flight simulator with realistic graphics and sounds, but it may be difficult for first-time users to navigate and requires a powerful computer.
With the Christmas Holidays fast approaching, it’s often hard to know what to buy people. If you are an aviation geek like us here at Simple Flying, you are fascinated by the world of air travel. Flight simulators are airplane games that allow aviation enthusiasts to soar through the skies, piloting many different aircraft on missions worldwide. Regardless of whether you want to be a commercial pilot, a fighter pilot, or even love flying, these five aviation-theme video games are a perfect Christmas present for any aviation geek.
5 Airport CEO
Platforms: Windows, MacOS | Price: $24.99
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Pros |
Cons |
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It allows players to create and run their own airport |
It has bad graphics |
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It features realistic dynamic weather system that can affect the flow of traffic |
It is only available for computers and PCs |
Airport CEO is an aviation-themed video game manufactured by Swedish company Apog Labs that allows players to be the CEO of their airport. The game was released in 2017 and can be played on Microsoft Windows computers and MacOS. The game is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in how an airport functions to learn all the ins and outs. Players can build and customize every aspect of their airport to their liking. Players get to create their airport from scratch, which includes designing security checkpoints and baggage handling systems and even the terminal design and runway placement. Various aircraft are available, ranging from small regional jets to jumbo jets, so you must ensure the airports can accommodate these planes.
Photo: Airport CEO
The game’s object is for players to manage their airports through strategic decisions while ensuring both passengers and airlines are satisfied. As the airport CEO, players are responsible for ensuring everything runs in a smooth manner while making money for the airport. The game includes challenges that real airport CEOs from managing delays to handling emergencies to optimizing air traffic flow. In addition to the single-player experience, the game has a multiplayer option where players can compete and work with other players regarding managing their airports.
4 Flight Gear
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, IRIX and Solaris | Price: $24.99
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Pros |
Cons |
|---|---|
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Caters to a broad audience |
It is a little outdated |
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Features realistic flight physics and cockpit controls |
User interface is difficult to navigate |
Flight Gear is an aviation-themed game that allows players to be virtual pilots. In the game, players are immersed in a realistic open-world flight simulation that is fun for any aviation enthusiast. The game was released in 1997 and can be played on PCs, gaming computers, and Apple MacBook and Microsoft computers. The user experience can be customized from beginners to flight simulator veterans, allowing the game to cater to a broad audience.
Photo: Flight Gear
Although the game is over 26 years old, it continues to be updated and improved to include the latest technology. It contains realistic time-of-day modeling, which allows the flight to showcase the lighting of its real-world counterparts accurately. In total, players gain access to over 20,000 airports worldwide and an array of aircraft to fly—the aircraft range from historic military and commercial airlines to modern jets. One great feature of Flight Gear is that each plane has realistic flight physics and cockpit controls while players can customize their experience to their liking, from changing the time to tinkering with the weight and balance of the aircraft.
3 Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows | Price: $59.99
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Pro |
Con |
|---|---|
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Great visuals and responsive controls |
Unclear mission objectives |
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Amazing soundtrack |
Hard-to-follow storylines |
Ace Combat, the only military aviation-themed video game on this list, allows players to fly some of the most advanced war planes ever developed. The game was released in 2019 and is available on PlayStation, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. Players can experience realistic visuals, including 360-degree 3D movement. It is packed with unique missions that feature a pulse-raising soundtrack. Players can change the complexity level to fit their flight simulator experience and customize everything throughout the game.
Photo: Ace Combat 7
The game includes a storyline, which is a conflict between two countries trying to gain air dominance over the skies. As the main character in the game, players can join an elite fighter squadron and participate in near-death missions. The main feature of the game is the aerial battles that allow players to join in air-to-air fighting against enemy aircraft. Besides the aerial battles, players can choose a range of missions such as air-to-air strikes, strikes on ground installations, or even air strikes on navy vessels. While players can play by themselves in single-player mode, there is a multiplier mode that allows players to compete in team-based battles or free-for-all battles against other experienced pilots from around the world.
2 X-Plane 11
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux | Price: $59.99
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Pro |
Con |
|---|---|
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Realistic graphics and sounds |
Difficult for first-time users to get the hang of |
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Easy-to-navigate user interface |
Requires a powerful computer |
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20,000 planes to choose from |
Hard to follow navigation when flying |
For any aviation geek looking for a highly realistic flight simulator that puts players in the cockpit of both commercial and military jets, X-Plane 11 is a great option. X-Plane 11 was released in 2016 by Laminar Research and is available on Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac computers. Players can explore over 1,000 places worldwide with different weather, such as storms, snow, and fog. Throughout these locations are thousands of realistic airports with hangers, roaming fuel trucks and catering trucks, pushback tugs, and even gates.
Photo: X-Plane 11
Due to the realistic and detailed flight experience for users, the game is a popular choice for aviation enthusiasts, gamers, and even aspiring pilots. Players have a large selection of military, commercial, and private aircraft. Every aircraft has accurate flight systems, giving players an authentic flight experience. There is also a multiplayer option for the game, allowing pilots to interact with fellow players online who are flying in the same virtual skies with them. They can even work tighter on shared flights or missions. But if you want to play alone, there is also a single-player option.
1 Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Platform: Microsoft Windows | Price: $89.99
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Pro |
Cons |
|---|---|
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Realistic graphics and scenery |
Requires a powerful computer and is only available on Microsoft Windows |
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Free-for-all multiplayer mode |
Long initial load times |
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Many aircraft options to choose from |
Demanding simulation can cause some performance issues |
Throughout the aviation simulation community, Microsoft Flight Simulator is regarded as one of the best flight simulators today. While the game was released in 2006 by Microsoft Game Studios, it is still at the top of its game and can only be played on Microsoft Windows. The game includes top-notch graphics and virtual reality comparability, and with world updates every two months, players have an incredibly realistic gaming experience. Players experience everything from navigation to airways to GPS communication. Players can choose from various aircraft, from commercial to military jets. But they can also play as an air-traffic controller, co-pilot, pilot and put their skills to the test on over 80 different missions.
Microsoft Flight Simulator allows players to experience the thrill of flying in many scenarios. As a pilot, play in ‘Free Flight Mode’ where payers can choose to fly anywhere in the world, or they can choose to undertake missions and challenges where they will undergo emergency response, search and rescue operations, flight training, as well as flying historic airplanes. The game’s attention to ensure the most realistic experience is unmatched. From fully functioning cockpits to authentic engine noises, to accurately scaled planes, to real-time weather conditions. In addition to playing as a single-player, there is also an online multiplayer option.
Have you tried any of these aviation-themed video games? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Sources: UpgradedPoints, Warbirds News