A game that not only entertains but also educates and inspires.
Disclosure: Xbox provided a Premium Deluxe Edition code for review.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a monumental achievement in simulation, with visual splendor and sound design that truly put you in the pilot’s seat. It isn’t without shortcomings, from the grind to unlock content to a big drop in quality when you step out of the cockpit, but it’s a game that not only entertains but also educates and inspires. It’s also on Game Pass.
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Story
There’s no story in the traditional sense. Career mode supplies the narrative instead. You start as a novice pilot and work up from short hops in light aircraft to long-haul international flights and specialized jobs like aerial firefighting, told through mission briefings, pilot logbooks and the experience points, credits and reputation you earn. It’s an engaging path, but it can feel repetitive, with much of that “story” built on the same types of missions.
Gameplay
Career mode is where you build your legacy from the ground up, and it’s challenging. You start by working toward your private pilot license, learning the controls, navigation, takeoffs and landings. A commercial license opens up passenger flights in bigger aircraft on international routes, where precision and passenger comfort become paramount. From there, careers branch into cargo, where you handle logistics, weight distribution and deadlines; aerial firefighting, scooping lake water in planes like the CL-415 to drop on wildfires; search and rescue through harsh weather and rough terrain; urgent medevac runs; precise low-altitude agricultural flying; and executive transport for VIPs.
Here’s the catch: progression is a grind. Earning certifications and experience can feel like climbing a corporate ladder, repeating the same tasks to unlock the next opportunity, and unlocking the other modes runs through career progression too. The tutorials are necessary but don’t give real-time feedback on your mistakes, which would help the learning curve a lot.
Beyond career, Challenge League adds weekly and monthly competitions, from precision landings to speed trials in bad weather, scored on time, accuracy and efficiency. World Photographer has you capturing landmarks, wildlife and phenomena like the northern lights, adding an artistic challenge. Rally races are time trials along scenic routes, Air Races draw on real events like the Red Bull Air Race with tight, low-altitude courses, and Free Flight is your playground with no objectives at all. There’s deep satisfaction in nailing a tough landing or flying through a storm. I’d love to see Microsoft try a more arcade-style take, something like a Forza Horizon for flight, with the same visuals and instant access to stunt flying, scenic routes and lots of aircraft.
Visuals
In the air, this sets a new benchmark for simulation. Microsoft’s Azure AI and Bing Maps data render an Earth in astonishing detail, from airport taxiways to dynamic weather that affects visibility and flight conditions. Volumetric clouds and day and night lighting are breathtaking. Step out of the cockpit, though, and quality noticeably drops. Walking around your aircraft or exploring a hangar is a cool novelty, but ground textures and models lack the same detail, lighting and shadows are weaker, and the contrast can pull you out of it. The character creator is underwhelming too.
Sound
The audio is exemplary. Engine roar shifts with altitude and throttle, wind rushes past the cockpit, and you can hear switches and dials click. Realistic air traffic control, with voices that change depending on where you are in the world, adds another layer of authenticity, and rain and thunderstorms are something you hear as well as see. On the ground, the soundscape feels more static than the rich audio in the air.
Verdict
The grind, the gap in quality on the ground, the underwhelming character creator and the tutorials’ lack of feedback all leave room for improvement. But the game’s educational value, the joy of exploration and the depth of the simulation make it a standout. For people who love learning and progression, it’s highly engaging.
Image: Asobo Studio / Xbox Game Studios
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The verdict: Great
A game that not only entertains but also educates and inspires.
Pros
- Breathtaking, benchmark-setting visuals in the air
- Huge variety of career paths and modes
- Exemplary audio, including location-based ATC
- Deep satisfaction in mastering flight
Cons
- Grindy progression gates content
- Big graphical drop on the ground
- Underwhelming character creator
- Tutorials lack real-time feedback
Platform played: Xbox
Where to buy
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