Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel i5-4460 | AMD Ryzen 3 1200
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 770 | AMD Radeon RX 570
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 150 GB available space
VR Support: SteamVR, Oculus PC, or OpenXR. Keyboard and mouse required

","recommended","Recommended:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970 | AMD Radeon RX 590
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 150 GB available space

","recommendations",{"_246":352},61929,"mac_requirements",{"_346":355,"_348":356},"Minimum:

","Recommended:

","short_description","From gliders and helicopters to wide-body jets, fly highly detailed and accurate aircraft in the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition. The world is at your fingertips.","controller_support","full","linux_requirements",{"_346":355,"_348":356},"content_descriptors",{"_365":366,"_367":-5},"ids",[],"notes","supported_languages","English*, French*, Italian, German*, Spanish - Spain, Polish, Portuguese - Brazil*, Russian, Dutch, Finnish, Japanese, Norwegian, Swedish
*languages with full audio support","detailed_description","ext_user_account_notice","Xbox Live ","is_public","latest_result",{"_25":376,"_14":15,"_377":378,"_379":380,"_381":382,"_434":435,"_482":483,"_526":527,"_539":540,"_583":584,"_624":-5,"_625":626,"_690":691,"_698":378,"_699":700,"_726":49,"_373":45},"695b6b94-ddab-4a8f-b333-00ba39b3ed2a","created_at","2025-03-30T08:58:06.397","updated_at","2025-07-25T23:41:50.824","positiveSummary",[383,394,400,406,412,417,422,427,431],{"_384":385,"_386":387,"_388":389,"_390":391,"_392":393},"point","Stunning, realistic, immersive graphics","weight",0.9740037464252967,"importance",0.9,"clusterSize",655,"explanation","The game delivers stunning, realistic graphics, landscapes, and weather effects, creating an immersive and visually appealing experience. Players can explore a detailed recreation of the entire world, enhanced by real-time data and AI technology. Many reviewers state that the graphics are superior to other flight simulators.",{"_384":395,"_386":396,"_388":397,"_390":398,"_392":399},"Extensive content and mod support",0.7089125515976445,0.8,446,"The game features a vast selection of aircraft and airports, with regular updates and a strong modding community that continuously adds new content and enhances the experience. The game allows for extensive customization with a large market for aircraft, airports, and scenery add-ons. Airports are generally well-modeled, and the entire world is modeled based on satellite imagery.",{"_384":401,"_386":402,"_388":403,"_390":404,"_392":405},"Realistic aircraft and flight physics",0.6806502561230333,0.85,414,"The game offers realistic and detailed aircraft models with functional cockpits and accurate flight physics. The flight models are praised for their realism and responsiveness, providing an authentic flying experience. Study-level aircraft are available as add-ons, pushing the simulation to new heights.",{"_384":407,"_386":408,"_388":409,"_390":410,"_392":411},"Stable, optimized, and improving",0.2704181377892763,0.7,129,"The game is generally stable and well-optimized, with regular updates and improvements from the developers. The game is accessible to all skill levels, with options to tailor the experience. Some reviewers note that the game has improved significantly since its initial release.",{"_384":413,"_386":414,"_388":409,"_390":415,"_392":416},"Great learning tool for aviation",0.19426837359153457,83,"The game is beginner-friendly and serves as a valuable tool for learning about aviation, geography, and aircraft operation. The game includes flight school and lessons to teach players how to fly. It is also helpful for aspiring pilots to learn more about their future.",{"_384":418,"_386":419,"_388":420,"_390":204,"_392":421},"Extremely long playtime",0.03913423538837039,0.3,"The game offers a very long playtime, described by some reviewers as 'to infinity and beyond'. The game is so large that you will want an entire hard drive to hold it. Some reviewers state that the game is worth the long download time and time investment to learn.",{"_384":423,"_386":424,"_388":425,"_390":196,"_392":426},"Suitable for diverse players",0.03710039527561721,0.4,"The game is suitable for a wide range of players, including teens, adults, and seniors. It is also described as a 'comfort game' suitable for relaxed exploration and is enjoyable for relaxation. Some reviewers find the game to be great for late-night playing.",{"_384":428,"_386":429,"_388":420,"_390":196,"_392":430},"Good and realistic audio",0.03452580811809795,"The game features good audio quality and realistic sound design, contributing positively to the overall experience. Some reviewers describe the audio as excellent or an 'eargasm'. The realistic engine sounds enhance the immersive experience.",{"_384":432,"_386":429,"_388":420,"_390":196,"_392":433},"Great for virtual travel","The game allows players to travel around the world and discover new places, even virtually. Some reviewers have visited more countries in the game than in their entire life. The game is great for people who enjoy virtual travel and scenic views.","negativeSummary",[436,441,446,451,457,462,468,473,478],{"_384":437,"_386":438,"_388":389,"_390":439,"_392":440},"Problematic, lengthy install/update process",0.5557774511746684,310,"The game suffers from a lengthy and problematic installation and update process. This includes excessively long download times, frequent interruptions, corrupted files, looping downloads, and mandatory updates that can take hours or even days to complete. The game's own launcher is often slower and less reliable than Steam's, and the download time counts towards Steam's refund policy, making it difficult to get a refund.",{"_384":442,"_386":443,"_388":403,"_390":444,"_392":445},"Numerous bugs and instability",0.44084888337154576,232,"The game is plagued with numerous bugs and glitches that negatively impact the user experience. These bugs range from minor annoyances to game-breaking issues, and some have persisted for years without being fixed. Many reviewers report frequent crashes, freezes, and instability, making the game unreliable and frustrating to play.",{"_384":447,"_386":448,"_388":397,"_390":449,"_392":450},"High hardware requirements, poor optimization",0.3347529460553269,164,"The game demands significant storage space and high-end hardware to run smoothly, even on lower settings. Many reviewers report performance issues such as low frame rates, stuttering, and overheating, even with PCs that meet or exceed the recommended specifications. The game's poor optimization makes it inaccessible to players with older or less powerful systems.",{"_384":452,"_386":453,"_388":454,"_390":455,"_392":456},"Saving/loading issues, progress loss",0.3203149110480754,0.75,158,"The game suffers from issues with saving and loading flights, often resulting in lost progress, corrupted flight plans, and crashes. This makes long flights impractical and frustrating, as players risk losing hours of progress due to technical issues. The game also adds download time to the playtime, making refunds difficult.",{"_384":458,"_386":459,"_388":409,"_390":460,"_392":461},"Unintuitive controls, requires joystick",0.18720345229519497,79,"The game's default controls are often unintuitive, difficult to use, and require a joystick or other specialized hardware for a good experience. Keyboard controls are particularly problematic, making smooth landings and precise maneuvers difficult. The game lacks adequate tutorials and guidance for new players, making it difficult to learn how to fly.",{"_384":463,"_386":464,"_388":465,"_390":466,"_392":467},"Expensive DLC and add-ons",0.1082295417034991,0.65,39,"The game has a limited amount of free content and requires additional purchases for aircraft, airports, and other features. The in-game marketplace is filled with paid content, and the cost of add-ons can quickly add up, making the game expensive to play as desired. Some reviewers feel that the base game is overpriced for what it offers.",{"_384":469,"_386":470,"_388":471,"_390":120,"_392":472},"Unrealistic, buggy air traffic control",0.0690516162361959,0.6,"The game's air traffic control (ATC) system is unrealistic, buggy, and provides poor guidance. Reviewers report that ATC often gives nonsensical instructions, fails to recognize flight plans, and allows aircraft to get too close on approach. This necessitates the use of AI-driven options or third-party ATC systems.",{"_384":474,"_386":475,"_388":476,"_390":208,"_392":477},"Mandatory Xbox account login",0.04700646071701463,0.5,"The game requires a mandatory Xbox account login, which can be problematic for users who do not want to use the service or who have issues with their accounts. This requirement adds an extra layer of inconvenience and can prevent players from accessing the game.",{"_384":479,"_386":480,"_388":425,"_390":208,"_392":481},"Unreliable autopilot system",0.04445596579205399,"The autopilot system is unreliable and prone to malfunctions, causing erratic behavior and control issues during flight. Reviewers report that the autopilot often overcorrects, ignores flight plans, and even crashes the plane. This makes it difficult to use effectively and detracts from the overall experience.","gameplaySummary",[484,489,494,499,503,507,511,515,519,522],{"_384":485,"_386":486,"_388":409,"_390":487,"_392":488},"Adjustable difficulty, helpful tutorials",0.1818459902613028,76,"The game balances accessibility and depth with adjustable difficulty levels, assistance options, and tutorials. These features cater to both novice and experienced players, allowing them to customize the experience to their skill level. The tutorials cover basic flight mechanics and controls, but may not provide in-depth knowledge for advanced aircraft.",{"_384":490,"_386":491,"_388":397,"_390":492,"_392":493},"Vast, accurate, explorable world",0.18054725673795147,72,"The game offers a vast, detailed, and accurate recreation of the entire Earth using Bing Maps data and AI-generated terrain. Players can fly anywhere in the world, exploring real-world locations and airports in a 1:1 scale environment. This allows for free-form exploration and long-distance flights that mirror real-world travel times.",{"_384":495,"_386":496,"_388":409,"_390":497,"_392":498},"Diverse, detailed aircraft selection",0.17643538119571028,73,"The game features a diverse selection of aircraft, from small prop planes to large commercial jets, each with detailed and interactive cockpits. While not every button is functional, the majority are, contributing to an authentic flight experience. The flight physics are generally good, providing a realistic feel, especially for smaller aircraft.",{"_384":500,"_386":501,"_388":476,"_390":132,"_392":502},"Varied activities, unique flights",0.14176169664896698,"The game offers a variety of activities, including free flight, landing challenges, and sightseeing flights. The combination of diverse aircraft, real-time weather, and live traffic ensures that each flight is unique. Players can create flight plans, use autopilot, and explore the world at their own pace.",{"_384":504,"_386":505,"_388":420,"_390":132,"_392":506},"Real-time flights require time",0.1247661330485005,"Flights take place in real-time, meaning long-distance travel requires a significant time investment. The game map and flights are 1:1 scale, making a flight from Warsaw to Paris take 2-3 hours of real time. This can be a positive for realism or a negative for those seeking quick gameplay sessions.",{"_384":508,"_386":509,"_388":476,"_390":216,"_392":510},"Requires aviation knowledge/study",0.051957890830173076,"The game requires significant aviation knowledge and study to fully enjoy, especially when flying more complex aircraft. Players may need to consult manuals and learn about flight principles to avoid frustration. Some reviewers recommend focusing on mastering one or two aircraft to appreciate the details.",{"_384":512,"_386":513,"_388":420,"_390":180,"_392":514},"Sandbox, no story or grind",0.024599306782441068,"The game is a sandbox experience without a story or grind. There is no set way of playing, allowing players to choose their own activities and goals. Grinding is only present if you care about leaderboards/ranks.",{"_384":516,"_386":517,"_388":425,"_390":164,"_392":518},"Limited aircraft customization options",0.014001512868157663,"Aircraft customization is limited to pre-designed liveries, and custom tail numbers are applied globally rather than individually. The game lacks official airline licenses for liveries, requiring users to find them elsewhere. This limits the player's ability to personalize their aircraft.",{"_384":520,"_386":517,"_388":425,"_390":164,"_392":521},"Scenery errors, varying quality","The scenery, based on Bing Maps, can have occasional errors like pink textures and low resolution, especially outside of major cities. Some areas may appear blurry or have generic building models placed inaccurately. However, the ground scenery is generally considered to be some of the best in a flight simulator.",{"_384":523,"_386":524,"_388":420,"_390":164,"_392":525},"User-friendly, steep learning curve",0.013029875909888095,"MSFS is more user-friendly for learning to fly, while X-Plane has easier equipment setup. MSFS2020's UI is more visually appealing compared to XP11. There is a massive learning curve for someone new to flight simulators.","performanceSummary",[528,532,536],{"_384":529,"_386":530,"_388":476,"_390":188,"_392":531},"Slow download speeds",0.033747640039491315,"Players report slow download speeds, often significantly slower than other platforms like Steam, even with fast internet connections. This issue affects both initial downloads and subsequent updates.",{"_384":533,"_386":534,"_388":420,"_390":168,"_392":535},"Potentially long loading times",0.016167554446985668,"Loading times vary, with SSDs being recommended to mitigate the issue. However, some users still report long loading times even with SSDs.",{"_384":537,"_386":517,"_388":425,"_390":164,"_392":538},"Unclear update process on launch","The game checks for updates every launch, downloading data with no clear indication of progress. This process consumes GPU resources, preventing other games from running smoothly.","recommendationSummary",[541,547,552,557,563,568,572,576,580],{"_384":542,"_386":543,"_388":544,"_390":545,"_392":546},"Excellent for all skill levels",0.3722014068446439,0.88,183,"The simulator is highly recommended for both newcomers and experienced simmers due to its balance of realism and accessibility. It offers stunning visuals, immersive environments, and beginner-friendly features, while also providing depth and complexity for experienced users. Many reviewers consider it the best flight simulator currently available.",{"_384":548,"_386":549,"_388":476,"_390":550,"_392":551},"Joystick or yoke is essential",0.3349943232424447,192,"To fully enjoy the game, reviewers recommend using a joystick or yoke for a more immersive and realistic experience. The game is only worth playing with a joystick. A flight control rig is strongly suggested for the game.",{"_384":553,"_386":554,"_388":425,"_390":555,"_392":556},"Wait for a sale",0.19277930879477204,99,"Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing the game, as the full price may not be justified. Some also note that the Deluxe and Premium editions don't offer enough additional value to warrant the higher cost. This point is about the game's value proposition, not its quality, so the importance is reduced.",{"_384":558,"_386":559,"_388":560,"_390":561,"_392":562},"Overall positive impression",0.17960608779496448,0.1,143,"Many reviewers express overall positive sentiments, rating the game highly and considering it worth the price. However, these points lack specific details about gameplay or features, so the importance is reduced. Some reviewers suggest that the game is a 'disaster' and a 'pile of garbage'. This point shows signs of review bombing.",{"_384":564,"_386":565,"_388":425,"_390":566,"_392":567},"Consider MSFS 2024",0.08264117941142121,32,"With the release of MSFS 2024 on the horizon, some reviewers recommend waiting for the new version, citing potential improvements and added features. Others suggest sticking with MSFS 2020, especially if the user's computer cannot run MSFS 2024 or if they prefer a more stable experience. Some reviewers feel that the 2020 version is better than the 2024 version due to the latter's bugs.",{"_384":569,"_386":570,"_388":420,"_390":212,"_392":571},"Add damage and crash mechanics",0.043568015948917495,"The game has incredible potential and is beautiful, and can function well at times, which makes its issues more frustrating. The reviewer suggests implementing damage and crash mechanics for incorrect landings to make the game more exciting and realistic.",{"_384":573,"_386":574,"_388":560,"_390":224,"_392":575},"Significant technical issues",0.03795538524370886,"Some reviewers express strong dissatisfaction with the game due to technical issues, login problems, and a perceived lack of quality. Some reviewers are abandoning the game due to the account and security issues. This point shows signs of review bombing.",{"_384":577,"_386":578,"_388":476,"_390":184,"_392":579},"Buy add-on aircraft",0.030894346727888232,"The cheapest version of the game is recommended, with the suggestion to mod the game. Third-party aircraft (especially the FBW A32NX) are recommended for serious simulation. For civilian aviation, it is recommended to purchase the FENIX320 and PMDG777 series.",{"_384":529,"_386":581,"_388":420,"_390":184,"_392":582},0.027190477155779002,"The reviewer advises potential buyers to be prepared to spend a lot on electricity to keep their computer running for weeks and to endure slow download speeds. The reviewer recommends waiting for a sale or a year or two until the major bugs are resolved.","miscSummary",[585,589,593,596,600,604,608,612,615,618,621],{"_384":586,"_386":587,"_388":397,"_390":228,"_392":588},"Excessive storage space required",0.06647475149517003,"The game requires a significant amount of storage space, potentially needing over 200GB, which could take up a substantial portion of a hard drive. This large size is due to the base game, updates, user settings, cache, and the potential addition of third-party add-ons, maps, and models.",{"_384":590,"_386":591,"_388":471,"_390":184,"_392":592},"New version requires separate purchase",0.032335108893971336,"A new version of the game, MS Flight Simulator 2024, is coming out soon as a separate purchase, and there is no upgrade path from the current version. This has raised questions about the future of the current game and compatibility of existing DLC.",{"_384":594,"_386":581,"_388":420,"_390":184,"_392":595},"Moderate microtransactions and bugs","The game features moderate microtransactions and DLC, some of which require Steam funds. The game also has minor bugs, and the difficulty is rated as normal to hard.",{"_384":597,"_386":598,"_388":476,"_390":176,"_392":599},"Marketplace aircraft quality varies",0.024898602042839793,"Marketplace aircraft purchases are generally not worthwhile, with the exception of turboprop planes. Jet aircraft are often reskins without improvements, and cockpits of purchased planes are not more realistic.",{"_384":601,"_386":602,"_388":420,"_390":176,"_392":603},"Infinitely replayable game",0.02191355188765126,"Reviewers claim the game time is to infinity and beyond, and the game is infinitely replayable (or almost). This suggests that the game offers a vast amount of content and activities to keep players engaged for a long time.",{"_384":605,"_386":606,"_388":425,"_390":168,"_392":607},"Regular updates and new content",0.01737316787985079,"The developers provide monthly updates that fix bugs, improve performance, and add new content like airports and aircraft. Microsoft is committed to constantly evolving the game, with regular updates and the addition of new content.",{"_384":609,"_386":610,"_388":560,"_390":114,"_392":611},"Minimal grinding required",0.007304517295883754,"There is nothing to grind in the game, unless the player cares about leaderboards/ranks. This suggests that the game is not focused on repetitive tasks to progress.",{"_384":613,"_386":610,"_388":560,"_390":114,"_392":614},"Desire for smooth experience","The reviewer would like the digital industry to understand that not all customers are as competent with computers as the developers are. The reviewer expressed a desire for the developers to show passion in delivering a smooth and pleasant experience.",{"_384":616,"_386":610,"_388":560,"_390":114,"_392":617},"Fulfills aviation desire","The reviewer developed a passion for aviation as a result of playing the game. Being 15 and unable to afford a plane, the game fulfills that desire.",{"_384":619,"_386":610,"_388":560,"_390":114,"_392":620},"Simulator or game?","There is a collective impasse on whether it is a simulator or a game. The game includes simulation elements.",{"_384":622,"_386":152,"_388":152,"_390":184,"_392":623},"Reviewer background information","These clusters contain personal information about the reviewers, such as their PC specs, background in aviation, and experience with computers. This information is not relevant to the game itself and does not provide any constructive feedback.","emotionsSummary","gameInfo",{"_627":628,"_635":636,"_642":643},"usage",{"_629":630,"_631":632,"_633":634},"totalTokens",7208,"promptTokens",6336,"completionTokens",872,"gameCategories",[637,638,639,640,641,115],"Flight Simulation","Open-World Exploration","Physics Simulation","Mod Support","Training Simulation","mostRequestedFeatures",[644,648,652,656,660,664,668,672,676,679,683,686],{"_384":645,"_388":646,"_392":647},"More reliable and faster installation and update process",0.59,"Players experience excessively long download times, frequent interruptions, corrupted files, looping downloads, and a slow, unreliable launcher, making the installation and update process problematic.",{"_384":649,"_388":650,"_392":651},"Comprehensive bug fixes and improved game stability",0.48,"The game is plagued with numerous bugs, glitches, frequent crashes, freezes, and instability that negatively impact the user experience and have persisted for years.",{"_384":653,"_388":654,"_392":655},"Better game optimization for improved performance and lower hardware requirements",0.33,"The game demands significant storage space and high-end hardware, with many players reporting performance issues like low frame rates, stuttering, and overheating even on recommended systems.",{"_384":657,"_388":658,"_392":659},"More reliable save and load system to prevent progress loss",0.32,"Issues with saving and loading flights often result in lost progress, corrupted flight plans, and crashes, making long flights impractical and frustrating.",{"_384":661,"_388":662,"_392":663},"More intuitive keyboard controls and comprehensive in-game tutorials for new players",0.19,"The game's default controls, especially keyboard controls, are often unintuitive and difficult to use, and there is a lack of adequate tutorials for new players.",{"_384":665,"_388":666,"_392":667},"More realistic and functional Air Traffic Control (ATC) system",0.07,"The game's air traffic control (ATC) system is unrealistic, buggy, provides poor guidance, and often gives nonsensical instructions.",{"_384":669,"_388":670,"_392":671},"Option to bypass mandatory Xbox account login",0.05,"The game requires a mandatory Xbox account login, which can be problematic and inconvenient for users who do not wish to use the service.",{"_384":673,"_388":674,"_392":675},"Enhanced reliability and functionality of the autopilot system",0.04,"The autopilot system is unreliable and prone to malfunctions, causing erratic behavior and control issues during flight.",{"_384":677,"_388":674,"_392":678},"Addition of realistic damage and crash mechanics","Players desire the implementation of damage and crash mechanics for incorrect landings to make the game more exciting and realistic.",{"_384":680,"_388":681,"_392":682},"Expanded aircraft customization options, including individual tail numbers and official liveries",0.01,"Aircraft customization is limited to pre-designed liveries, and custom tail numbers are applied globally, with players desiring more personalization options and official airline licenses.",{"_384":684,"_388":681,"_392":685},"Correction of scenery errors and improvement of overall scenery quality","The scenery, based on Bing Maps, can have occasional errors like pink textures, low resolution, blurry areas, and inaccurately placed generic building models outside major cities.",{"_384":687,"_388":688,"_392":689},"Stricter quality control for aircraft sold in the in-game marketplace",0.02,"The quality of aircraft purchased from the in-game marketplace varies, with some being simple reskins without significant improvements.","summary",[692,693,694,695,696,697],"Stunning graphics create immersive, realistic experience.","Extensive content and mod support enhance gameplay.","Realistic aircraft and flight physics are impressive.","Vast, accurate world offers unique flights.","Problematic install/update process is lengthy.","Numerous bugs and instability affect gameplay.","result_at","result_stats",{"_701":702,"_703":704,"_717":718,"_719":720,"_721":722,"_723":724,"_725":702},"totalReviews",2000,"featureCounts",{"_705":706,"_707":708,"_709":710,"_711":712,"_713":714,"_715":716},"miscPoints",169,"gameplayPoints",260,"negativePoints",1384,"positivePoints",1777,"performancePoints",179,"recommendationPoints",622,"totalNegative",243,"totalPositive",792,"totalHelpfulReviews",1035,"totalProtestReviews",37,"totalFilteredReviews","has_podcast","results",[729],{"_698":730},["D",1743325086397],"image","https://shared.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1250410/library_600x900.jpg","image_fallback","gamesCount","page","search",[738,740,742,744,746,748],{"_25":739,"_16":637},"724534be-28c1-4155-a2db-d61c1df24204",{"_25":741,"_16":640},"3fe3810a-f5cb-4089-b41b-831e4fea60b8",{"_25":743,"_16":638},"bb9fde29-8c77-4e12-9215-0a6f0798cf44",{"_25":745,"_16":639},"cbadb920-5b4d-46b9-9dfb-02f22a236f80",{"_25":747,"_16":115},"f6bc5b1d-c1f8-444a-bd9f-5b98f84fd33b",{"_25":749,"_16":641},"6c04f2ed-1f73-49e8-8614-6b32afc9d3c5","initialCategories",[752],{"_25":739,"_16":637},"actionData","errors"]

All Games1

Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition