Looking for the ultimate airborne experience on your gaming PC? Whether you’re dreaming of peaceful flights across vast oceans or itching for intense, action-packed dogfights, the world of PC plane games offers an incredible variety of experiences. Many even support realistic joystick and lever setups for truly immersive piloting. We’ve hand-picked the best plane games and flight simulators available for PC in 2025, focusing on titles that are readily accessible and run smoothly on modern systems, unlike some older classics that can be a bit tricky to get soaring, much like some classic submarine games.
Our Top Picks for PC Plane Games:
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad
- Battlefield 5
- Arma 3
- Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
- X-Plane 11
- Superflight
- Sky Rogue
- Bomber Crew
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
It’s no shock to see Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 grace this list, building on the legacy of its highly acclaimed 2020 predecessor. This latest installment continues to push the boundaries of hardcore flight simulation, introducing exciting new features that elevate the experience. With stunning visual enhancements and an expanded fleet of aircraft, it’s a treasure trove for both veterans and newcomers. The standout addition is the Career mode, a narrative-driven journey transforming you from a novice to a seasoned professional, complete with an excellent tutorial for those just starting out. For anyone seeking the authentic sensation of being a pilot, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is an unparalleled choice.
Star Wars: Squadrons
Star Wars: Squadrons delivers an exhilarating arcade-style flying experience, packed with intense dogfighting, epic space battles, and undeniable charm. The satisfaction of gracefully outmaneuvering foes and precisely managing power distribution is immense. While easy to pick up, Squadrons boasts a surprisingly high skill ceiling. The concise yet captivating campaign is a joy from start to finish, but it’s the multiplayer action that will have you commanding the skies for months on end. It’s a pity that post-launch content didn’t extend beyond cosmetic additions. Our analysis found Star Wars Squadrons to be one of the best Star Wars games in years and an exceptional flying game to boot.
IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad
For fans of WW2 games, IL-2 Sturmovik stands as the definitive plane game of the era. This title skillfully blends robust flight simulation with surprising accessibility for beginners, and its latest iteration captivates with realistic graphics and impressive damage modeling. Subtle touches, like water streaking across the canopy during cloud traversal or AI enemies strategically flying into the sun to break your line of sight, profoundly enhance the feeling of truly being in a WW2 fighter cockpit. The game also boasts a vibrant multiplayer community of dogfighters, ensuring you’ll always find a thrilling aerial match.
Battlefield 5
While not the newest, Battlefield 5 remains a shining example among Battlefield titles, specifically for its World War 2 setting and its perfectly pitched dogfighting mechanics. Aircraft in this era represented significant technological advancements from WW1, yet still relied on propellers and couldn’t break the sound barrier. This means aerial supremacy in Battlefield 5 hinges on your cunning and perhaps a little ground support. It takes a moment to grasp the upgrade system, but once you master your chosen fighter, dominating the skies becomes incredibly rewarding. Whether you prefer the agile Spitfire or a heavier, bomber-style aircraft, Battlefield 5 offers a wealth of airborne enjoyment. Thanks to recent anti-cheat updates, the player base remains robust, so you’ll have no trouble diving straight into the action.
Arma 3
While many combat plane games focus exclusively on dogfighting, Arma 3 uniquely allows you to pilot a jet fighter to directly assist ground forces by strafing heavy tanks and executing precision airstrikes. Although its flight physics and mechanical depth might not rival dedicated hardcore flying simulations on this list, there’s still ample opportunity for mastery. Air-to-air combat largely revolves around managing your positioning and effectively utilizing various missiles to eliminate targets from high above the battlefield. Furthermore, air-to-ground aircraft play a crucial role, with modern technologies like laser-guided missiles and anti-armor cannons making skilled pilots indispensable. For added variety, numerous helicopters are also available if you ever tire of traditional airplanes.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
Despite its authentic visual presentation, the gameplay and narrative of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown are anything but realistic. The story can be quite perplexing unless you’ve followed the series from its origins, which is fortunate because Ace Combat 7’s true strengths lie in its stunning graphics and exhilarating, high-speed dogfights. Bandai Namco has meticulously crafted each campaign mission to be as dramatic and over-the-top as possible, featuring canyon chases, daring raids under the cover of lightning storms, and spectacular fly-bys through collapsing cityscapes. If you’re seeking a thrilling arcade plane game experience, Skies Unknown is an excellent choice.
X-Plane 11
X-Plane 11 offers a more contemporary take on the classic FSX experience, boasting significantly improved graphics, detailed cockpit models, and a user-friendly menu system that won’t have you frustrated before your first takeoff. In fact, there’s plenty to admire about X-Plane 11 even before you start flying; simply observing the bustling airport with its continuous stream of catering trucks, tugs, refueling tanks, and cargo trolleys is endlessly captivating. However, it’s in the air where X-Plane 11 truly shines, especially when piloting light aircraft, where you can distinctly feel every subtle bump and unique characteristic of the plane’s flight dynamics.
Superflight
While Superflight doesn’t feature traditional planes, we’ve included it because the sheer joy of flying within it is phenomenal. Superflight stands out as one of the most relaxing games available, which is quite remarkable given its premise: soaring down treacherous mountainsides in a wingsuit, aiming to rack up maximum points by narrowly grazing rock formations. Every level is procedurally generated, ensuring a constant sense of novelty and discovery. Plus, if you stumble upon a particularly enjoyable seed, you can save it and challenge your friends to beat your score.
Sky Rogue
Few plane games embrace an anti-realism stance with as much gusto as Sky Rogue. This neon-drenched arcade fighter jet game appears deceptively simple at first glance but harbors a surprising amount of depth. Before each procedurally generated mission, you’ll select your jet, customize its weapon systems, and even apply a livery that speaks to your inner maverick. Then, it’s a thrilling ride as you barrel through levels, obliterating everything in your path. With 12 unique jets and over 30 weapons to choose from, it’ll be quite a while before you grow tired of tearing apart enemy aces, colossal battleships, and heavily armored tanks.
Bomber Crew
Bomber Crew places you directly in command of a World War 2 bomber, tasking you with carefully selecting and managing your crew, executing dangerous bombing raids, and ensuring a safe return to base with minimal casualties. Throughout each mission, you’ll need to expertly coordinate crew positions, engage in frantic battles with enemy fighter planes, and maintain precise navigation for altitude and direction. Fly too high, and your crew risks freezing to death; too low, and you’ll be an easy target for enemy fire. While Bomber Crew presents a charming and friendly aesthetic, even the slightest missteps in this plane-based strategy game can rapidly lead to dire consequences and crew losses. It demands a learning curve, but thankfully, you can apply lessons learned from each mission to improve your strategy on the next bombing run.
There you have it – our comprehensive list of the best plane games. We hope this guide helps you navigate the options and find the perfect flight game without encountering any turbulence. If the military aspect of these games particularly appeals to you, be sure to explore our guide on the best war games for even more recommendations.