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This is a list of flight simulator video games , including the developer, versions, and release date.
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Title | Status | Release Year | Developer | Publisher | Platform | Mode | Notes | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FS1 Flight Simulator | Discontinued | 1979–1980 | Sublogic | Sublogic | Apple II, TRS-80 | Single-player | FS1 Flight Simulator is a 1979 video game published by Sublogic for the Apple II. A TRS-80 version followed in 1980. FS1 Flight Simulator is a flight simulator in the cockpit of a slightly modernized Sopwith Camel. FS1 is the first in a line of simulations from Sublogic which, beginning in 1982, were also sold by Microsoft as Microsoft Flight Simulator . | [1] |
Flight Simulation | Discontinued | 1982 | Psion | Sinclair Research | ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Timex Sinclair 1000 | Single-player | Flight Simulation is an amateur flight simulation program written by Psion and marketed by Sinclair Research for the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum home computers. In the United States, Timex Sinclair marketed the ZX81 version as The Flight Simulator for the American version of the ZX81, the Timex Sinclair 1000. It was also marketed as Flug-Simulation in Germany and Simulador De Vuelo in Spain. | [2] |
Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 | Discontinued | 1982 | Sublogic | Microsoft | IBM PC | Single-player | Flight simulator video game, released in November 1982 for the IBM PC. It is the first release in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series. | [3] [4] [5] |
Flight Simulator II | Discontinued | 1983–1987 | Sublogic | Sublogic | Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, PC-98, Amiga, Atari ST, Tandy Color Computer 3 | Single-player | Flight Simulator II is a video game written by Bruce Artwick and published by Sublogic as the sequel to FS1 Flight Simulator . It was released in December 1983 for the Apple II. | |
Thunder Blade | Discontinued | 1987–1989 | Sega | Sega | Arcade, Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, TurboGrafx-16, X68000, ZX Spectrum, Nintendo 3DS | Single-player | Thunder Blade is a third-person shooting combat flight simulator game originally released by Sega for arcades in 1987. Players control a helicopter to destroy enemy vehicles. The game was released as a standard stand-up arcade cabinet with force feedback, as the joystick vibrates. A helicopter shaped sit-down model was released, replacing the force feedback with a cockpit seat that moves in tandem with the joystick. It is a motion simulator cabinet, like the previous Sega Super Scaler games Space Harrier (1985) and After Burner (1987). The game's plot and setting was inspired by the film Blue Thunder (1983). | |
Air Warrior | Discontinued | 1988 | Kesmai | Konami | Windows, 3DO, Amiga, Atari ST, CDTV, FM Towns, Mac OS | Single-player, Multiplayer | Multiplayer online combat flight simulation game. Was one of the first massive online games, hosting hundreds of users during busy periods. | |
Super Thunder Blade | Discontinued | 1988–1990 | Sega | Sega | Mega Drive/Genesis, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Virtual Console | Single-player | Super Thunder Blade is a combat flight simulation shooter game developed and published by Sega for the Mega Drive/Genesis console. It was one of the two launch titles for the console in Japan (the other one being Space Harrier II ), as well as being one of the six launch titles for the console for its U.S. launch. It is a follow-up to the 1987 arcade game Thunder Blade . | |
Air Inferno | Discontinued | 1990 | Taito | Taito | Arcade game | Single-player | Air Inferno is a 1990 flight simulation arcade video game developed and released by Taito, in Japan, Europe and North America. A spin-off from Taito's Landing series, Air Inferno is an aerial firefighting simulation that involves piloting a helicopter on various rescue missions, shooting a fire extinguisher to extinguish flames while rescuing civilians. | [6] |
Red Baron | Discontinued | 1990 - 1992 | Dynamix | Sierra On Line | MS-DOS, Amiga, MacOS | Single-player | Red Baron is set on the Western Front during World War I. The player can engage in single missions or career mode. Player can flying for either the German Air Service or the Royal Flying Corps. In the course of the game the player might find themselves either flying in the Red Baron, or encountering him as an enemy above the front. | |
Flight Assignment: A.T.P. | Discontinued | 1990 | Sublogic | Sublogic | DOS | Single-player | Flight Assignment: A.T.P. (Airline Transport Pilot or simply ATP) was an amateur flight simulator released in 1990 by the Sublogic Corporation. It runs on DOS based PCs. The simulation models the Boeing 737, 747, 767, Airbus A320 and Shorts 360. It features most major aviation beacons in the United States and about 30 major airports. It also includes a multi-voiced air traffic control simulator. | |
Falcon 3.0 | Discontinued | 1991 | Sphere Inc. | Spectrum HoloByte, MicroProse | DOS | Single-player, Multiplayer | Falcon 3.0 is a combat flight simulator video game developed by Sphere Inc. and published by Spectrum HoloByte in 1991 as third official main entry in the Falcon series of the F-16 Fighting Falcon simulators. | |
Warbirds | Discontinued | 1991 | Atari Corporation | Atari Corporation | Atari Lynx | Single-player, multiplayer | Warbirds is a 1991 first-person combat flight simulation video game developed and published by Atari Corporation in North America and Europe exclusively for the Atari Lynx. Taking place in the 1910s during World War I, players assume the role of a rookie aircraft pilot from the Army Air Force who joined the titular squadron taking control of a prebuilt biplane in order to win the war against the enemies. Its gameplay mainly consists of dogfights against either AI-controlled opponents or other human players using the Lynx's ComLynx system, with a main four-button configuration. | |
Steel Talons | Discontinued | 1991–1992 | Atari Games | Atari Games | Arcade, Atari Falcon, Lynx, Genesis, SNES | Single-player, multiplayer | Steel Talons is a 3D combat flight simulator arcade game released by Atari Games in 1991. The player takes on the role of a pilot for an "AT1196 Steel Talons combat helicopter". Steel Talons was ported to the Sega Genesis, Atari Lynx, Atari ST, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. A Jaguar port was announced, but never released. | |
A320 Airbus | Discontinued | 1991–1993 | Thalion Software | Thalion Software | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS | Single player | A320 Airbus is an amateur flight simulation video game released in 1991 in which the player pilots an Airbus A320. The game was developed over three years with cooperation from Lufthansa, Deutsche Airbus, and Jeppesen. The game was written by Rainer Bopf for the Amiga and converted to the Atari ST by Christian Jungen. The most recent version of the game is 1.44. | |
Gunship 2000 | Discontinued | 1991–1996 | MicroProse | MicroProse | DOS, Amiga, PC-98, Amiga CD32, PlayStation | Single player | helicopter combat flight simulation video game developed and published by MicroProse as a follow-up to their earlier game Gunship . It was originally released in 1991 for DOS; this version received an expansion in 1992. The Amiga, PC-98, Amiga CD32 and PlayStation versions were released in 1993, 1994 and 1996 respectively (the PlayStation version was retitled as simply Gunship, but was sometimes still referred to as Gunship 2000). | |
1942: The Pacific Air War | Discontinued | 1994 | MPS Labs | MicroProse | MS-DOS | Single-player, multiplayer | Combat flight simulation based on the U.S. and Japanese Pacific War conflict from 1942 to 1945. | [7] |
Fleet Defender | Discontinued | 1994–1995 | MicroProse | MicroProse | MS-DOS, PC-98 | Single-player | Fleet Defender is a combat flight simulator published by MicroProse in 1994. The game uses the F-14B version of the F-14 Tomcat even where anachronistic because the developers found the original, underpowered F-14A unforgiving and "not much fun" in an entertainment flight simulator. An expansion pack, Fleet Defender: Scenario, and a port for the PC-98 were released in 1995. | |
Flight Unlimited | Discontinued | 1995 | LookingGlass Technologies | LookingGlass Technologies | DOS, Windows 95, Macintosh | Single-player | Flight Unlimited is a 1995 aerobatic flight simulator video game developed and published by LookingGlass Technologies. It allows players to pilot reproductions of real-world aircraft and to perform aerobatic maneuvers. They may fly freely, race through floating rings against a timer or take lessons from a virtual flight instructor. The instructor teaches basic and advanced techniques, ranging from rudder turns to maneuvers such as the tailslide, Lomcovák and Immelmann turn. | |
Wings of Glory | Discontinued | 1995 | Origin Systems | Electronic Arts | DOS | Single-player | Wings of Glory is a game where player must take part in numerous missions, which involve taking off, completing certain objectives, then returning to base. Various plane are available, from Sopwith Pup to more advanced airplane. There is a Gauntlet mode, where player must survive as long as possible. | |
SimCopter | Discontinued | 1996 | Maxis | Maxis | Microsoft Windows | Single-player | 1996 flight simulator video game developed by Maxis. It puts the player into a 3D city. Like Streets of SimCity , SimCopter lets the user import SimCity 2000 maps into the game. | |
FlightGear | Active | 1997 | FlightGear developers & contributors | FlightGear developers & contributors | Cross-platform | Single-player | FlightGear is an atmospheric and orbital flight simulator used in aerospace research and industry. Its flight dynamics engine ( JSBSim ) is used in a 2015 NASA benchmark to judge new simulation code to the standards of the space industry. | [8] |
Flight Unlimited II | Discontinued | 1997 | Looking Glass Studios | Eidos Interactive | Windows 95 | Single-player | Flight Unlimited II is a 1997 flight simulator video game developed by Looking Glass Studios and published by Eidos Interactive. The player controls one of five planes in the airspace of the San Francisco Bay Area, which is shared with up to 600 artificially intelligent aircraft directed by real-time air traffic control. The game eschews the aerobatics focus of its predecessor, Flight Unlimited , in favor of general civilian aviation. As such, new physics code and an engine were developed, the former because the programmer of Flight Unlimited's computational fluid dynamics system, Seamus Blackley, had left the company. | |
F-22 Raptor (video game) | Active | 1997 | Novalogic | Novalogic | Microsoft Windows | Single player, multiplayer | F-22 Raptor is a combat flight simulation video game released by Novalogic in 1997. | |
Sabre Ace: Conflict Over Korea | Discontinued | 1997 | Eagle Interactive | Virgin Interactive | Windows | Single-player | Sabre Ace: Conflict Over Korea is a 1997 video game featuring early jet fighters and aircraft with piston-engines from the Korean War era. | |
Falcon 4.0 | Discontinued | 1998 | MicroProse Alameda | Hasbro Interactive | Windows, Mac OS | Single-player, Multiplayer | Falcon 4.0 is a combat flight simulation video game developed by MicroProse and published by Hasbro Interactive in 1998. The game is based around a realistic simulation of the Block 50/52 F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighter in a full-scale modern war set in the Korean Peninsula. Falcon 4.0's dynamic campaign engine runs autonomously. | |
Enemy Engaged: Apache vs Havoc | Discontinued | 1998 | Razorworks | Empire Interactive | Windows | Single-player | Enemy Engaged: Apache vs Havoc is a 1998 video game featuring two fully simulated combat helicopters: the US AH64D Apache Longbow and the Russian Mil-28N Havoc B. | |
AeroWings | Discontinued | 1999 | CRI Middleware | CRI Middleware, Crave Entertainment | Dreamcast | Single-player, multiplayer | AeroWings is a flight simulator for Sega's Dreamcast video game console. The player can train with squads, learn the ropes of handling the aircraft, and doing tricks after mastering the different stunts. | |
Flight Unlimited III | Discontinued | 1999 | Looking Glass Studios | Electronic Arts | Microsoft Windows | Single-player | Flight Unlimited III is a 1999 flight simulator video game developed by Looking Glass Studios and published by Electronic Arts. It allows players to pilot simulations of real-world commercial and civilian aircraft in and around Seattle, Washington. Players can fly freely or engage in "Challenge" missions, such as thwarting a theft or locating Bigfoot. The development team built on the general aviation gameplay of Flight Unlimited II , with more detailed physics and terrain, more planes, and a real-time weather system. Roughly half of Flight Unlimited II's team returned to work on the sequel, supported by new hires. | |
Fly! | Discontinued | 1999 | Terminal Reality | Gathering of Developers | Microsoft Windows, Macintosh | Single-player | Fly! is an amateur flight simulator for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh developed by Terminal Reality and published by Gathering of Developers. | [9] |
YSFlight | Active | 1999 | Soji Yamakawa | Soji Yamakawa | Windows, Linux, macOS | Single-player | Freeware flight simulation game for Windows, OS X and Linux-based operating systems such as Ubuntu. | |
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 | Discontinued | 2001 | Microsoft | Microsoft | Microsoft Windows | Single-player, Multiplayer | Released in October 2001, and is the 8th installment of the Microsoft Flight Simulator video game series. A version called Professional Edition was released at the same time as standard edition that added two aircraft, a flight instructor feature, and an editor to create buildings and aircraft. | |
Jane's Attack Squadron | Discontinued | 2002 | Looking Glass Studios, Mad Doc Software | Xicat Interactive | Microsoft Windows | Single-player, Multiplayer | Jane's Attack Squadron is a 2002 combat flight simulator developed by Looking Glass Studios and Mad Doc Software and published by Xicat Interactive. Based on World War II, the game allows players to pilot fifteen reproductions of that era's military aircraft and to carry out missions for the Axis or Allies. Although it contains dogfights, the game focuses largely on air-to-ground combat, hence the title. | |
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight | Discontinued | 2003 | Microsoft Game Studios | Microsoft Game Studios | Microsoft Windows | Single-player, Multiplayer | Flight simulation video game released in 2003, and is part of the Microsoft Flight Simulator video game series. It is the last version to support Windows 98/9x series of operating systems. | |
Falcon 4.0: Allied Force | Discontinued | 2005 | Lead Pursuit | Graphsim Entertainment | Windows, Mac (OS X) | Single-player, Multiplayer | Falcon 4.0: Allied Force (F4AF) is an F-16 based combat flight simulator released by Lead Pursuit in 2005. The game is based around a realistic simulation of the Block 50/52 F-16 Fighting Falcon in a series of missions in the Balkans. | |
Microsoft Flight Simulator X | Discontinued | 2006–2014 | Aces Game Studio | Xbox Game Studios | Microsoft Windows | Single-player, Multiplayer | It is the sequel to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and the tenth installment of the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, which was first released in 1982. It is built on an upgraded graphics rendering engine, showcasing DirectX 10 features in Windows Vista and was marketed by Microsoft as the most important technological milestone in the series at the time. FSX is the first version in the series to be released on DVD media. | [10] |
Digital Combat Simulator | Active | 2008–2009 | Eagle Dynamics | The Fighter Collection | Microsoft Windows | Single-player, Multiplayer | Free-to-play game that includes two free aircraft and two free maps. Modules are downloadable content that expand the game with add-on aircraft, maps, and other content. Campaigns are scripted sets of missions. Modules and campaigns are produced by Eagle Dynamics as well as third-parties. | |
Rise of Flight: The First Great Air War | Discontinued | 2009 | Neoqb, 777 Studios | 777 Studios, Aerosoft, ND Games | Microsoft Windows | Single-player, Multiplayer | A World War I combat flight simulation video game by Russian developer 777 Studios and released on May 7, 2009. | |
IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey | Discontinued | 2009–2010 | Gaijin Entertainment, DiP Interactive, SME Dynamic Systems Ltd. | 505 Games, 1C Company | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable | Single-player | IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey (Wings of Prey on Windows), is a combat flight simulation video game. As with previous installments of the series IL-2 Sturmovik , it depicts combat aircraft from World War II, although with less focus on realistic simulation than other entries in the series. The game has a campaign mode in which players are able to fly the Allies against the Axis, and also a multiplayer mode in which they are able to select either faction. | |
GeoFS | Active | 2010 | Xavier Tassin | Xavier Tassin | Web platform, Android, iOS | Multiplayer | The game features a variety of planes including aircraft contributed from the community. The game also features multiplayer environment for pilots to interact with each other. In Q4 2018, the GeoFS app was released for both Android and iOS devices. GeoFS on mobile features the Original, as well as a Lite app. | [11] |
Infinite Flight | Active | 2011 | Infinite Flight LLC | Infinite Flight LLC | Android, iOS | Single-player, multiplayer | An amateur flight simulator developed by Infinite Flight LLC. The game is available for Android and iOS. The simulator includes single-player and multi-player modes, including an option to play as air traffic control. As a mobile game, Infinite Flight relies on the device's accelerometer for flight control. | [12] [13] [14] |
Air Mail | Active | 2012 | Chillingo | Chillingo | IOS | Single-player | Air Mail is an iOS game developed by British studio Chillingo Ltd and released on May 24, 2012. | |
Wings Over Flanders Fields Between Heaven and Hell II | Active | 2013 - 2023 | OBD Software | OBD Software | Microsoft Windows | Single-player | Wings Over Flanders Fields Between Heaven and Hell II is set on the Western Front during World War I. The player can engage in a dynamic career mode with uniquely generated missions, or Quick Combat missions, or pre-set Scenarios. The player can choose to fly for the German Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps, the French Air Force or the US Army Air Service. | |
World Of Warplanes | Active | 2013 | Persha Studia | Wargaming | Microsoft Windows | Multiplayer | Free-to-play aerial combat massively multiplayer online (MMO) game developed by Persha Studia and published by Wargaming.net. | |
Ace Combat Infinity | Discontinued | 2014 | Project Aces | Bandai Namco Games | PlayStation 3 | Single-player, multiplayer | Free-to-play combat flight simulation video game. Sixteenth title in the Ace Combat series. | |
SimplePlanes | Active | 2014–2015 | Jundroo LLC | Jundroo LLC | iOS, Android, OS X, Microsoft Windows | Single-player, Multiplayer (with mod) | The game includes a builder with various parts, engines and mechanical gizmos. On the website, there are shared builds and mods created by the community surrounding SimplePlanes. There are also forums, where community members can communicate with others, as well as help one another. | [15] [16] |
X-Plane 11 | Active | 2016 | Laminar Research | Laminar Research | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, WebOS, Microsoft Windows | Single-player, Multiplayer | X-Plane latest simulation series. | |
Aerofly FS | Active | 2017 | IPACS | IPACS | Microsoft Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android | Single-player, Multiplayer | One of the realistic Flight Simulator. Has 25 aircraft and worldwide scenery for player to play. The flight simulator can run on PC, mobile device, and VR. | [17] [18] |
VTOL VR | Active | 2017 | Boundless Dynamics, LLC | Boundless Dynamics, LLC | Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality | Single-player, Multiplayer | A military-focused VR flight simulator. The game currently has Six aircraft; four jet fighters, one tilt-jet VTOL, and a helicopter. Players control their aircraft by flipping switches, pressing buttons, and using the virtual throttle and joystick in the cockpit. Players can create custom missions and maps, and upload them to the Steam workshop to be downloaded and played by other users. | [19] [20] |
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown | Active | 2019 | Bandai Namco Studios | Bandai Namco Entertainment | Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |||
Real Flight Simulator | Active | 2019 | RORTOS | RORTOS | Android, iOS | Single-player, Multiplayer | Multiple Playable Aircraft with ATC control and ATC handling | |
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 | Active | 2020 | Asobo Studio | Xbox Game Studios | Microsoft Windows, OpenXR, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Cloud Gaming | Single-player, Multiplayer | Flight Simulator simulates the topography of the entire Earth using data from Bing Maps. Microsoft Azure's artificial intelligence (AI) generates the three-dimensional representations of Earth's features, using its cloud computing to render and enhance visuals, and real-world data to generate real-time weather and effects. Flight Simulator has a physics engine to provide realistic flight control surfaces, with over 1,000 simulated surfaces, as well as realistic wind modelled over hills and mountains. Some places are handcrafted, introduced in region-specific updates. | |
X-Plane 12 | Active | 2022 | Laminar Research | Laminar Research | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | Single-player, Multiplayer | X-Plane 12 is a sequel to X-Plane 11. It was released in 2022. | [21] |
Flyout | Active | 2023 | Stonext Games | Stonext Games | Microsoft Windows | Single-player | A game where player can design an airplane, then fly it | |
Juno: New Origins | Active | 2023 | Jundroo | Jundroo | Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS | Single-player | 3D aerospace sandbox where players can use customizable parts to construct and test rockets, planes, cars, or anything they can imagine in an environment with realistic physics across land, sea, air, and space. It entered early access on Steam with the name SimpleRockets 2 in 2018. | |
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | Under Development | TBR 2024 | Asobo Studio | Xbox Game Studios | Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S | Single-player | The sequel of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. The game will include career mode. | [22] [23] |
Title | Status | Year Active | Developer | Publisher | Platform | First Release | Latest Release | Notes | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Microsoft Flight Simulator | Active | 1982–present | Sublogic, Bruce Artwick Organization, Aces Game Studio, Dovetail Games, Asobo Studio | Microsoft, Xbox Game Studios, Dovetail Games | DOS, Classic Mac OS, PC-98, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Cloud Gaming | Microsoft Flight Simulator November 1982; 39 years ago November 1982 | Microsoft Flight Simulator August 18, 2020; 21 months ago August 18, 2020 | Series of amateur flight simulator programs for Microsoft Windows operating systems, and earlier for MS-DOS and Classic Mac OS. It is one of the longest-running, best-known, and most comprehensive home flight simulator programs on the market. It was an early product in the Microsoft application portfolio and differed significantly from Microsoft's other software, which was largely business-oriented. At 39 years old, it is the longest-running software product line for Microsoft, predating Windows by three years. Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the longest-running PC video game series of all time. | [24] [25] |
Landing (series) | Discontinued | 1987–1999 | Taito | Taito | Arcade game, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Game Boy Color | Midnight Landing 1987 | Landing High Japan 1999 | Landing is a series of flight simulator video games by Taito. Almost all games were released for arcades, except the Jet de Go! series released for PlayStation consoles. They are amateur flight simulation arcade video games that run on the Taito Air System and use 3D polygon graphics. They simulate commercial airliners, while utilizing motion simulator cockpit arcade cabinets. Air Inferno (1990) is a spin-off 3D aerial firefighting helicopter simulation running on the same hardware. | [26] |
Wing Commander (franchise) | Discontinued | 1990 - 2007 | Origin Systems | Origin Systems, Electronic Arts | MS-DOS, Amiga, Amiga CD32, Sega CD, Windows, FM Towns, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, MacOS, PlayStation Portable | Wing Commander September 1990 | Wing Commander Arena July 25, 2007 | Wing Commander is a series of combat flight simulator developed by Origin System and published by EA | |
Ace Combat | Active | 1995–present | Namco, Bandai Namco Studios, Access Games | Namco, Bandai Namco Entertainment | PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, Mobile phone, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PC, iOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 | Air Combat June 30, 1995 | Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown January 18, 2019 January 18, 2019 | Arcade-style combat flight simulation video game franchise published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. Debuting in 1995 with Air Combat for the PlayStation, the series includes eight mainline installments, multiple spin-offs, and other forms of media, such as novels, model kits, and soundtrack albums. Since 2012, the series has been developed primarily by Bandai Namco Studios through its internal development group, Project Aces. | [27] |
X-Plane | Active | 1995–present | Laminar Research, Austin Meyer | Laminar Research, Aerosoft | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, WebOS, Microsoft Windows | X-Plane 1.00 1995 | X-Plane 12.06 September 15, 2023 | Flight simulation engine series developed and published by Laminar Research since 1995. Commercial desktop versions are sold for macOS, Windows, and Linux, although Laminar Research also distributes FAA-certified versions for professional use. A mobile version is available for Android, iOS, and webOS since 2009 as well. | [28] [29] |
WarBirds (video game series) | Discontinued | 1995–2008 | Interactive Creations of Grapevine | iEntertainment Network | Microsoft Windows, MacOS | WarBirds 1995 | WarBirds 2008 2008 | WarBirds is a series of massively multiplayer online and offline World War II combat flight simulation video games originally developed by Interactive Creations of Grapevine and published by iEntertainment Network in 1995. The game includes an air combat flight simulator as well as a simulator for tanks and other ground vehicles and inspired a fan cult and conventions, and a book titled WarBirds: The Story So Far. | |
Fighter Ace | Discontinued | 1997–2002 | VR-1 Russia, BST Soft | Microsoft, VR-1, Ketsujin Studios | Microsoft Windows | Fighter Ace/Air Attack 31 December 1997; | Fighter Ace 3 2002 | Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online combat flight simulation game series in which one flies World War II fighter planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots. Each of the games ran on a subscription-based model with players paying monthly to compete against each other. Microsoft, as well as later publishers, hosted tournaments in which players could compete against each other. | |
IL-2 Sturmovik (series) | Active | 2001–2013 | 1C:Maddox Games, Team Fusion Simulations, 1C Game Studios | 1C, Ubisoft | Microsoft Windows | IL-2 Sturmovik November 18, 2001 | L-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles November 19, 2013 | IL-2 Sturmovik (Russian: Ил-2 Штурмовик) is a series of World War II combat flight simulation video games originally created in 2001 by Russian video game developer Maddox Games under the brand name 1C:Maddox Games, following its association with 1C Company. Maddox Games left 1C Company in 2011. Since 2012, 1C's new developers are 1C Game Studios (who develops the Great Battles series of simulation games) and Team Fusion Simulations (who develops the Dover series of simulation games). Thus, 1C Company currently owns the IL-2 Sturmovik label and runs three different accumulated generations of IL-2 games (three generations of IL-2 games have been established as three different game engine stages have been developed since 2001). |
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for MS-DOS, Classic Mac OS and Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was an early product in the Microsoft application portfolio and differed significantly from Microsoft's other software, which was largely business-oriented. As of November 2022, Microsoft Flight Simulator is the longest-running software product line for Microsoft, predating Windows by three years. Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the longest-running PC video game series of all time.
X-Plane is a flight simulation software initially launched by Laminar Research in 1995. Commercial desktop versions are sold for macOS, Windows, and Linux. In addition, Laminar Research also distributes FAA-certified versions for professional use. A mobile version has been available for Android, iOS, and webOS since 2009 as well.
A train simulator is a computer based simulation of rail transport operations. They are generally large complicated software packages modeling a 3D virtual reality world implemented both as commercial trainers, and consumer computer game software with 'play modes' which lets the user interact by stepping inside the virtual world. Because of the near view modeling, often at speed, train simulator software is generally far more complicated software to write and implement than flight simulator programs.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 98, abbreviated commonly as FS98, is a flight simulator video game. It was released in September 1997 for Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft Flight Simulator began as a set of articles on computer graphics, written by Bruce Artwick throughout 1976, about flight simulation using 3-D graphics. When the editor of the magazine told Artwick that subscribers were interested in purchasing such a program, Artwick founded Sublogic Corporation to commercialize his ideas. At first the new company sold flight simulators through mail order, but that changed in January 1979 with the release of Flight Simulator (FS) for the Apple II. They soon followed this up with versions for other systems and from there it evolved into a long-running series of computer flight simulators.
Microsoft Flight Simulator X is a 2006 flight simulation video game originally developed by Aces Game Studio and published by Microsoft Game Studios for Microsoft Windows. It is the sequel to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and the tenth installment of the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, which was first released in 1982. It is built on an upgraded graphics rendering engine, showcasing DirectX 10 features in Windows Vista and was marketed by Microsoft as the most important technological milestone in the series at the time. FSX is the first version in the series to be released on DVD media.
Microsoft Train Simulator 2 was a train simulation game in development by Microsoft Game Studios on two occasions. Meant to be the successor to Microsoft Train Simulator, it was originally announced in 2003, until being cancelled in 2004. The second attempt at the game was first announced on January 19, 2007, and originally scheduled for release in the last quarter of 2009. It was postponed indefinitely and virtually cancelled due to the closure of Aces Game Studio in 2009.
Longbow 2 is the sequel to Jane's AH-64D Longbow from Jane's Combat Simulations. The game was developed by Origin Systems with executive producer Andy Hollis on board, and released by Electronic Arts on November 13, 1997.
FlightSim.Com is a flight simulation review and resource website that focuses heavily on Microsoft Flight Simulator. It is one of the main flight simulation websites along with Avsim.com and provides users access to information and addons for the flight simulator series of video games.
AVSIM is a nonprofit flight simulation social networking service that focuses on Microsoft Flight Simulator, Prepar3D, and X-Plane. It features a community forum, file library, and product reviews. The website is maintained by a group of volunteers. Bandwidth and equipment are paid for by donations and advertising. It is one of the world's largest flight simulation websites and provides users access to information and add-ons for the flight simulator series of games. On May 12, 2009, the website was attacked by a hacker which resulted in a catastrophic loss of data. AVSIM was able to fully recover from the hack with the help of IT support from around the world.
A flight simulation video game refers to the simulation of various aspects of flight or the flight environment for purposes other than flight training or aircraft development. A significant community of simulation enthusiasts is supported by several commercial software packages, as well as commercial and homebuilt hardware. Open-source software that is used by the aerospace industry like FlightGear, whose flight dynamics engine (JSBSim) is used in a 2015 NASA benchmark to judge new simulation code to space industry standards, is also available for private use. A popular type of flight simulators video games are combat flight simulators, which simulate combat air operations from the pilot and crew's point of view. Combat flight simulation titles are more numerous than civilian flight simulators due to variety of subject matter available and market demand.
Microsoft Flight is an amateur flight simulation from Microsoft Studios created as a spin-off of the Microsoft Flight Simulator series. The game is offered "free-to-play"; charging players for downloading extra content, aircraft or scenery.
War Thunder is a free-to-play vehicular combat multiplayer video game developed and published by Gaijin Entertainment. Announced in 2011, it was first released in November 2012 as an open beta with a worldwide release in January 2013; it had its official release on December 21, 2016. It has a cross-platform format for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Oculus, and Vive. A spinoff game called War Thunder Mobile was released in May 2023 for Android, with an iOS version released in August 2023.
Dovetail Games (DTG), a trading name of RailSimulator.com Ltd (RSC), is a British simulation video game developer and publisher established in 2008 by former Electronic Arts executive Paul Jackson, Fund4Games backers Tim Gatland and Charlie McMicking, and a development team from Kuju Entertainment.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a flight simulation video game developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is an entry in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series which began in 1982, and was preceded by Microsoft Flight Simulator X in 2006. The game is a return of the series after 14 years, with development beginning six years prior to its release. It was released on August 18, 2020, for Windows, with a virtual reality (VR) version released in December of the same year as part of the free Sim 2 update. Microsoft Flight Simulator is the first game in the series to see a VR and console release, with it being released on the Xbox Series X and Series S on July 27, 2021.