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What Is The Best Real Flight Simulator?
There are a few options you can pick from these days when looking into Flight Simulator. It really depends on what you're looking for in the simulator to get the most out of it - so I'll cover all the basics for you to help make your decision easier. However, running current-day flight simulators can be very tolling on your computer and hardware so make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements before diving into the Flight Simulator.
MSFS (Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020)
I'm going to start with the most popular real Flight Simulator - known as MSFS or Microsoft Flight Simulator, this edition of the flight simulator came out in 2020 - with their new and updated Flight Simulator, 2024 coming out in November this year (2024). MSFS offers a truly open-world experience to the Flight Simulator, something that MSFS Captures perfectly.
MSFS is truly the best-looking flight simulator you can get from an out-of-best experience, the team at Asobo and Microsoft ( The creators of MSFS) utilized technologies that haven't been seen before in a flight simulator to bring cutting-edge sceneries and airports into the simulator, using photogrammetry to render most of the world in an incredibly realistic 3d environment. You won't find a better-looking Flight Simulator out of the box than, Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Let's talk about Flight Dynamics and Physics in MSFS - MSFS offers a very realistic platform and simulator of physics and dynamics, but it isn't the best out of all the selections. However, it's still very accurate and correct with how aircraft perform in the real world.
Video by Xbox
Xplane 12
Xplane offers an open-world flight simulator, not quite to the same degree as MSFS (Microsoft Flight Simulator) however where MSFS2020 lacks in physics, Xplane picks it up - you'll experience a more refined flight dynamics experience. However, Xplane focuses all of its power mostly on the simulation of flight dynamics and can be very lacking in its visuals, weather, and airports.
Image from Steam store page
The visuals of Xplane 12 aren't the worst but are also out of the box and can feel empty and underwhelming compared to MSFS, Xplane doesn't use the same technologies as Asobo and Microsoft. However, there is a lot of add-ons that can help add some life to the simulator to make it appear more alive
Image from Steam store page
Xplane 12 thrives on its flight dynamics, which they are pretty amazing - out of MSFS and P3D, Xplane 12 has the best flight dynamics hands down. Aircraft feel so realistic, for example in MSFS 737 during landing can feel somewhat discounted and light - however in Xplane 12, when landing a 737 you can feel the weight and mass, even during landing it feels heavy like it should. So in terms of flight dynamics, Xplane 12 is the winner.
Video by XPlaneOfficial
Prepar3D (P3D)
Prepar3d or P3D is a flight simulator developed by Lockheed Martin, P3D shines in its professional terms and area. P3D was created as a training application for educational, civil, military, and aviation professionals. P3D doesn't have amazing graphics by any means, it's built off the Microsoft ESP technology.
Just like all the Flight Simulators, Prepar3d has many add-on options to help bring the simulator to life and feel more like a flight simulator - however, prepar3d was developed for professional flight training so out of the box, in some areas, it can be better than Xplane but also not at the same time.
The flight dynamics and physics, like Xplane - P3d are more refined in flight dynamics and have a lot more customization to allow for training and more industrial use, you won't find any nice looking UIs - it's very bare bones but also very powerful of a simulator.
Video By FSElite
Overall Thoughts
Overall I can't say what the right flight simulator is for you, but personally, if you're asking What is the best real flight simulator? - then I'd say my personal opinion is Microsoft Flight Simulator, MSFS offers the best of all worlds - offering an open world that looks stunning and amazing along with very realistic flight dynamics. As well as being a hardcore simulator it also offers a lot of entry points for newcomers to flight simulators with very simple and well-designed UI's. This is my personal opinion and I do have a personal bias to MSFS by choice - however, in this review, I've kept my mind open for the readers
Disclaimer: Everything in this post is my personal opinion. I'm not a professional, and this isn't advice. I try my best to provide accurate information, but I can't guarantee it's all correct all the time. So I cannot be held responsible for any decisions you make based on what you read here
