Online Games

It is hard to find a good flight simulator game these days. Ever since Microsoft decided to move from the serious flight simulator market to the more casual market, with the release of Microsoft Flight, it has become almost impossible to find serious games with a realistic flight model. The good news is that there are some interesting, visually appealing flight simulator games online, and many of them offer a range of control options from "arcade" to "full sim" modes.

The Best Flight Simulator Games Online

One of the best online flying games at the moment is War Thunder. This is an online war game with a strong emphasis on aerial combat. The game is free to play, and you can take part in battles against other players, or play single-player matches against the AI. War Thunder is still in development, and there are plans to add infantry and tanks to the game, but that does not take away from its core, which is a serious flight sim game. You can play War Thunder in casual flight mode using a keyboard and mouse, or you can choose one of the more advanced options. The realistic option is good for casual flight-sim fans, and the "Historic" modes are aimed at serious fliers who want the full experience, including proper take-offs and landings.

Another popular flight simulator game is World of Warplanes. This game has a slightly more casual flight mode than War Thunder, but it is ideal for people who want an action-focused flying experience. World of Warplanes is free to play, and is available as a download for both the PC and the Xbox 360.

If you want a game which can be played in your browser, try the Google Earth Flight Simulator. This has a less realistic flight model, but allows you to fly around real cities which are generated from the satellite views in Google Earth. You can chat with other users while you play.

There are also many Flash based flight simulators

games online. These tend to be more casual experiences, and do not require a serious knowledge of how to control the aircraft. However, they can be a lot of fun. One popular flash game is Airplane Flight Simulator - a mission-based flight sim where you pilot a passenger plane and have to safely get your passengers to their destination.

Before you install any online games, be sure to research them carefully. Games from well-known developers such as Gaijin or War gaming are safe to download and install, but there are many scammers out there so you should not download a game made by a company you have never heard of. Only use installers from the developer's official site, and do not use cheats or hacks to try to improve your aircraft or get more money. If anyone offers you a link to such cheats, ignore them. All that will happen if you run the cheat is that you will lose your account.