What are the perfect aircraft video games on PC? Regardless of if you want to take to the skies on a leisurely experience throughout the Atlantic Ocean, or gun down enemy combatants in action-packed dogfights, there are many vastly completely different video games the place you’ll be able to take to the skies. The most effective half is that you are able to do it from the consolation of your gaming PC, and a few even allow you to customise your controls with joysticks and levers for a extra sensible expertise.
That will help you select one thing that fits your tastes, we’ve assembled a listing of the perfect aircraft video games to play on PC in 2025. In it, there’s one thing for all completely different niches and even a good few free PC video games. As with many simulation-based genres – we’re you submarine video games – lots of the classics will be difficult to pay money for and run on trendy PCs, so we’ve tried to maintain nearly all of our entries current for ease of entry.
These are the perfect aircraft video games on PC:
Play without spending a dime
Warfare Thunder
Warfare Thunder now boasts tanks and naval battles, however it began out as top-of-the-line free-flying video games round, and its flight physics, enormous vary of genuine plane, and sensible ballistics modeling are the proof.
Within the seven years since Warfare Thunder launched, developer Gaijin has continued to remodel, replace, and develop its roster of planes so it now contains plane from eight completely different nations and throughout six courses. You’ll want to make use of actual dogfight techniques and maneuvers to outlive these multiplayer skirmishes, so grasp your Cut up S to get the drop on any novices. In actual fact, Warfare Thunder is so good at vehicular warfare that it’s additionally made our record of the perfect tank video games on PC.
Play Warfare Thunder without spending a dime.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 shouldn’t be a shocking addition to this record, particularly contemplating that 2020 was on this place for a substantial period of time. The newest entry within the long-running collection continues to innovate on the hardcore-simulation method that the Flight Sim is understood for whereas including some nice additions that shouldn’t be missed.
From improved visuals to new plane, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 affords loads of content material for brand new and returning followers. Nonetheless, it additionally introduces the brand new Profession mode – a story-like mode that can see you go from rookie pilot to knowledgeable, and an incredible tutorial course of for any new gamers within the collection. If you wish to really feel like a real pilot, Microsoft Flight Simulator is a strong possibility.
IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad
Should you’re a fan of WW2 video games then IL-2 Sturmovik is the touchstone for aircraft video games set within the period. Whereas it performs like a strong flight sim, IL-2 Sturmovik can also be refreshingly accessible to freshmen and its newest iteration does an amazing job of drawing you in with its sensible graphics and harm modeling.
Small particulars like water streaming over the cover when flying via clouds or AI enemies flying towards the solar to make you lose monitor of them go a good distance towards making you’re feeling such as you’re actually within the cockpit of a WW2 fighter. It additionally boasts a devoted multiplayer neighborhood of dogfighters, so that you gained’t wrestle to discover a match.
Battlefield 5
Not the latest, however probably the shiniest of BF video games, Battlefield 5 takes place throughout WW2 and, for us a minimum of, catches that candy spot of dogfighting. Planes have made enormous technological leaps from WW1, however they’re nonetheless propelled by… effectively, propellers, and you’ll’t break the sound barrier out of your rickety cockpit. Because of this to achieve the skies, you’ll must depend on your wits and probably a little bit assist from down beneath.
It takes a minute to stand up to hurry with upgrades, however when you decide on a fighter of selection, dominating the skies feels extremely satisfying. Whether or not you go for a spry Spitfire or one thing heavy and decidedly extra bomber-adjacent, there’s rather a lot to like in Battlefield 5. Because the anti-cheat replace, the participant base has remained very wholesome, so that you gained’t wrestle leaping straight into the battle.
Arma 3
Whereas most fight aircraft video games concentrate on dogfighting, in Arma 3, you’ll be able to soar within the cockpit of a jet fighter and assist out on the battlefield by strafing heavy tanks and performing airstrikes. The flight physics and depth of mechanics don’t evaluate to among the hardcore flying video games on this record, however there’s nonetheless loads of scope for mastery.
Air-to-air fight is usually about managing your place and utilizing quite a lot of missiles to take down targets from excessive above the battlefield. There may be additionally a big position for air-to-ground plane, with trendy tech like laser-guided missiles and anti-armor cannons making good pilots important on the battlefield. There are even loads of helicopters do you have to tire of airplanes.
Ace Fight 7: Skies Unknown
Whereas it definitely appears genuine, the gameplay and story of Ace Fight 7: Skies Unknown is something however. The story is baffling until you’ve caught with the collection since its inception, so it’s useful that Ace Fight 7’s finest belongings are its slick visuals and breakneck dogfights.
Bandai Namco has performed all the pieces to make the marketing campaign missions as dramatic and overwrought as doable, resulting in canyon dogfights, daring raids below cowl of lightning storms, and the odd flyby between collapsing buildings. Should you’re searching for some arcade aircraft video games and are keen to undergo some silly motion enjoyable, then you’ll be able to’t go mistaken with Skies Unknown – try our Ace Fight 7 evaluate for extra info.
X-Aircraft 11
X-Aircraft 11 is a extra trendy tackle FSX, with much-improved graphics, cockpit fashions, and a menu system that gained’t depart you slamming your head on the desk earlier than your first take-off.
In actual fact, there’s a lot extra to get pleasure from about X-Aircraft 11 earlier than truly flying – simply sitting within the airport and watching the cavalcade of catering vans, tugs, refueling tanks, and cargo trolleys transferring about is endlessly engrossing. But it surely’s within the air the place X-Aircraft 11 is at its most convincing, particularly in mild plane the place you’ll be able to really feel each bump and quirk of the aircraft’s flight traits.
Superflight
Whereas there aren’t any planes in Superflight, we’re including it to the record for one motive: flying round in it feels phenomenal. Superflight is likely one of the most enjoyable video games round, which is spectacular because it’s all about flying down a deathly hazardous mountain in a wingsuit and racking up as many factors as doable on the way in which by flying near rock formations.
Each degree is procedurally generated making certain a relentless sense of discovery, and in case you discover a seed you significantly like it can save you it and problem associates to beat your rating.
Sky Rogue
Few aircraft video games abandon realism with as a lot reckless abandon as Sky Rogue, a neon-lit arcade fighter jet recreation that’s deceptively easy at first however hides some severe depth. Forward of every procedurally generated mission you’ll choose your jet, customise the weapons system, and slap on a livery that brings out your inside Tom Cruise, then it’s a case of barreling across the degree and blowing all the pieces to kingdom come.
With 12 jets and over 30 weapons to choose, it’ll be a while earlier than you get tired of shredding enemy aces, battleships, and tanks.
Bomber Crew
Bomber Crew places you accountable for choosing and managing the crew for a WW2 bomber, going out on bombing raids, and getting again to England with as few casualties as doable. Throughout each mission, you’ll must handle the positions of every crew member, battle with enemy fighter planes, and make sure you’re flying in the proper route and peak – too excessive and your crew will freeze to demise, too low and also you’ll be shot out the sky.
Whereas Bomber Crew appears mild and pleasant, the smallest errors on this plane-based technique recreation will in a short time result in crew deaths. It’ll take some getting used to, however a minimum of you’ll be able to be taught out of your errors within the subsequent bombing run.
Star Wars: Squadrons
Star Wars: Squadrons is an arcade-style flying recreation with intense dogfighting at its core, epic area battles, and attraction to spare. Gracefully taking down your foes and managing your energy distribution feels improbable, and whereas it’s simple to get into, Squadrons affords a comparatively excessive talent ceiling.
The quick however candy marketing campaign is pleasing from begin to end, however it’s the multiplayer motion that can maintain you hovering round area for months to come back. It’s a disgrace that EA’s post-launch plans by no means prolonged past easy cosmetics. Our Star Wars Squadrons evaluate goes into element about the way it’s top-of-the-line Star Wars video games in years and a rattling fantastic flying recreation in addition.
There you have got it – our record of the perfect aircraft video games and flying video games on PC. Hopefully, we’ve helped slender issues down for you so you’ll be able to set up the proper flight recreation with out encountering any turbulence. If it’s the navy side of those video games that appeals to you most, you need to learn our information on the perfect battle video games for extra suggestions.
