List of flight simulator video games

This is an incomplete list of flight simulation video games, including developer, versions, and release dates.

Released and under development flight simulator

TitleStatusRelease yearDeveloperPublisherPlatformModeNotesReferenceFS1 Flight SimulatorDiscontinued1979–1980SublogicSublogicApple II, TRS-80Single-player1979 published by Sublogic for Apple II, a TRS-80 version followed in 1980. Setting 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, starting 1982, were also sold by Microsoft as Microsoft Flight Simulator.Flight SimulationDiscontinued1982PsionSinclair ResearchZX81, ZX Spectrum, Timex Sinclair 1000Single-playerWritten by Psion and marketed by Sinclair Research for the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum home computers. In the United States, Timex Sinclair named it The Flight Simulator for the American version of the ZX81, the Timex Sinclair 1000. It was named Flug-Simulation in Germany and Simulador De Vuelo in Spain.International Virtual Aviation Organisation (IVAO)Active1998IVAO A.I.S. (non-profit)IVAO A.I.S.Cross-platformMultiplayerOnline network, simulates real-world aviation by linking virtual pilots and air traffic controllers in shared airspace; used alongside flight simulators rather than being a standalone simulator.Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0Discontinued1982SublogicMicrosoftIBM PCSingle-playerFlight simulator, released in November 1982 for the IBM PC. It is the first release in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series.Flight Simulator IIDiscontinued1983–1987SublogicSublogicApple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, PC-98, Amiga, Atari ST, Tandy Color Computer 3Single-playerWritten by Bruce Artwick, published by Sublogic as FS1 Flight Simulator sequel; released December 1983 for Apple II.Thunder BladeDiscontinued1987–1989SegaSegaArcade, Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, MSX, TurboGrafx-16, X68000, ZX Spectrum, Nintendo 3DSSingle-playerThird-person shooter combat flight simulator originally released by Sega for arcades in 1987. Players control a helicopter to destroy enemy vehicles. It 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 prior Sega Super Scaler games Space Harrier (1985) and After Burner (1987). The plot and setting are inspired by the film Blue Thunder (1983).Air WarriorDiscontinued1988KesmaiKonamiWindows, 3DO, Amiga, Atari ST, CDTV, FM Towns, Mac OSSingle-player, MultiplayerMultiplayer online combat flight simulation game. Was one of the first massive online games, hosting hundreds of users during busy periods.Super Thunder BladeDiscontinued1988–1990SegaSegaMega Drive/Genesis, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Virtual ConsoleSingle-playerCombat flight simulation shooter game developed and published by Sega for Mega Drive/Genesis console. It was one of the two launch titles for the console in Japan (the other is Space Harrier II), and one of six launch titles for the console for its U.S. launch. It is a follow-up to the 1987 arcade game Thunder Blade.Air InfernoDiscontinued1990TaitoTaitoArcade gameSingle-player1990 arcade video game developed and released by Taito, in Japan, Europe, and North America. A spin-off from Taito's Landing series, 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.Red BaronDiscontinued1990 - 1992DynamixSierra On LineDOS, Amiga, macOSSingle-playerSet on the Western Front during World War I; player can engage in single missions or career mode. Player can fly for the German Air Service or Royal Flying Corps, and can find themselves flying as the Red Baron, or encountering him as an enemy over the front.Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network (VATSIM)Active2001VATSIM Inc. (non-profit)VATSIM Inc.Cross-platformMultiplayerGlobal online network links virtual pilots and air traffic controllers in shared simulated airspace using compatible flight simulators.Flight Assignment: A.T.P.Discontinued1990SublogicSublogicDOSSingle-playerAmateur flight simulator released in 1990 by Sublogic Corporation; runs on DOS based PCs. It models being an airline transport pilot (ATP) for a Boeing 737, 747, 767, Airbus A320, and Shorts 360. It features most major aviation radio beacons in the United States and about 30 major airports, and includes a multi-voice air traffic control simulator.Falcon 3.0Discontinued1991Sphere Inc.Spectrum HoloByte, MicroProseDOSSingle-player, multiplayerCombat flight simulator 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.WarbirdsDiscontinued1991Atari CorporationAtari CorporationAtari LynxSingle-player, multiplayer1991 first-person Combat flight simulator developed and published by Atari Corporation in North America and Europe exclusively for the Atari Lynx. Set 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 to win the war against the enemies. Gameplay consists of mainly dogfights against either AI-controlled opponents or other human players using the Lynx's ComLynx system, with a main four-button layout.Steel TalonsDiscontinued1991–1992Atari GamesAtari GamesArcade, Atari Falcon, Lynx, Genesis, SNESSingle-player, multiplayer3D combat flight simulator arcade game released by Atari Games in 1991; player takes the role of a pilot for an "AT1196 Steel Talons combat helicopter"; was ported to Sega Genesis, Atari Lynx, Atari ST, and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Jaguar port was announced, but unreleased.A320 AirbusDiscontinued1991–1993Thalion SoftwareThalion SoftwareAmiga, Atari ST, DOSSingle playerReleased 1991; player pilots an Airbus A320; developed over three years with cooperation from Lufthansa, Deutsche Airbus, and Jeppesen; written by Rainer Bopf for Amiga and ported to Atari ST by Christian Jungen; newest version is 1.44.Gunship 2000Discontinued1991–1996MicroProseMicroProseDOS, Amiga, PC-98, Amiga CD32, PlayStationSingle playerhelicopter 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 WarDiscontinued1994MPS LabsMicroProseDOSSingle-player, multiplayerCombat flight simulation based on the U.S. and Japanese Pacific War conflict from 1942 to 1945.Fleet DefenderDiscontinued1994–1995MicroProseMicroProseDOS, PC-98Single-playercombat flight simulator published by MicroProse in 1994; 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 UnlimitedDiscontinued1995LookingGlass TechnologiesLookingGlass TechnologiesDOS, Windows 95, MacintoshSingle-player1995 aerobatics simulator developed and published by LookingGlass Technologies. Lets players pilot versions of real-world fixed-wing aircraft and perform aerobatic maneuvers. They may fly freely, race through floating rings against a timer or take lessons from a virtual flight instructor, who teaches basic and advanced maneuvers, ranging from rudder turns to the tailslide, Lomcovák, and Immelmann turn.Wings of GloryDiscontinued1995Origin SystemsElectronic ArtsDOSSingle-playerPlayer must take part in many missions, which involve taking off, completing objectives, then returning to base. Various planes are available, from Sopwith Pup to more advanced types. In Gauntlet mode, player must survive as long as possible.SimCopterDiscontinued1996MaxisMaxisWindowsSingle-player1996 game developed by Maxis; puts player in a 3D city. Like Streets of SimCity, SimCopter lets user import SimCity 2000 maps.FlightGearActive1997FlightGear developers & contributorsFlightGear developers & contributorsCross-platformSingle-player, multiplayerhttps://flightgear.gitlab.io/getstart/release-2024.1/en/HTML/getstart-ench6.html#multiplayerFlightGear 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.Flight Unlimited IIDiscontinued1997Looking Glass StudiosEidos InteractiveWindows 95Single-playerFlight Unlimited II is a 1997 game developed by Looking Glass Studios, published by Eidos Interactive; 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 civilian general aviation. As such, new physics code and a game 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)Active1997NovalogicNovalogicWindowsSingle player, multiplayerCombat flight simulation game released by Novalogic in 1997.Sabre Ace: Conflict Over KoreaDiscontinued1997Eagle InteractiveVirgin InteractiveWindowsSingle-player1997 game with Korean War era jet fighters and piston-engine aircraft.Falcon 4.0Discontinued1998MicroProse AlamedaHasbro InteractiveWindows, macOSSingle-player, multiplayerCombat flight simulation game developed by MicroProse and published by Hasbro Interactive in 1998; based on realistic simulation of Block 50/52 F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighter in a full-scale modern war set in the Korean Peninsula. A dynamic campaign engine runs autonomously.Enemy Engaged: Apache vs HavocDiscontinued1998RazorworksEmpire InteractiveWindowsSingle-player1998 featuring two fully simulated combat helicopters: the US AH64D Apache Longbow and Russian Mil-28N Havoc B.AeroWingsDiscontinued1999CRI MiddlewareCRI Middleware, Crave EntertainmentDreamcastSingle-player, multiplayerFor Sega Dreamcast video game console; player can train with squads, learn how to handle aircraft, and do tricks after mastering different stunts.Flight Unlimited IIIDiscontinued1999Looking Glass StudiosElectronic ArtsWindowsSingle-player1999 game developed by Looking Glass Studios and published by Electronic Arts. Players pilot simulations of real-world commercial and civilian aircraft in and around Seattle, Washington, and can fly freely or engage in "Challenge" missions, such as thwarting a theft or finding 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!Discontinued1999Terminal RealityGathering of DevelopersWindows, MacintoshSingle-playerAmateur flight simulator for Windows and Macintosh developed by Terminal Reality, published by Gathering of Developers.YSFlightActive1999Soji YamakawaSoji YamakawaWindows, Linux, macOSSingle-playerFreeware flight simulation game for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems such as Ubuntu.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002Discontinued2001MicrosoftMicrosoftWindowsSingle-player, MultiplayerReleased in October 2001, and is the 8th installment of the Microsoft Flight Simulator vid