Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is an advanced simulation game that puts you in the pilot’s seat, offering detailed flight experience. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Review Overview

What is Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF)?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a realistic flight simulation game developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios. It combines cutting-edge visuals with intricate gameplay, letting players take on the role of a professional pilot. Featuring a variety of gameplay modes, from Career Mode to Free Flight and Challenges, this game is designed to cater to both aviation enthusiasts and casual players.

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) features:

　⚫︎　Free Flight Mode
　⚫︎　Deep Career Mode With Specializations
　⚫︎　Stunning Global Landscapes
　⚫︎　Ranked Weekly Challenges
　⚫︎　New Aircrafts
　⚫︎　Different Activities Such As Rally Racing and Precise Landing

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Flight Simulator 2024 .

Digital Storefronts
Steam			Xbox
Price		$69.99

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Rich and Detailed Career Mode Global Landscapes and Real-World Weather Comprehensive and Optional Training modules	Long Login Queues Frequent Game Crashes Frame Rate Drops in Dense Areas Lackluster Audio Design

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Overall Score - 70/100

While Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers an unparalleled sense of freedom and immersion, it’s let down by its technical flaws. The game’s Career Mode is a highlight, bringing structure and variety to what could otherwise be a sandbox experience. The attention to detail in the aircraft, the training modules, and the sheer breadth of flight options demonstrate a clear passion for aviation. However, the long login queues, frequent crashes, and sometimes inconsistent performance make the game hard to recommend at full price. It’s a strong foundation, but one that needs polish before it can be fully appreciated.

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Story - 7/10

The Career Mode serves as the backbone for the game’s narrative experience. By allowing players to start their journey anywhere in the world and work their way through a variety of missions, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 creates a sense of progression and achievement. Each mission introduces new clients and tasks, from sight-seeing tours to more specialized operations like Medevac or Aerial Firefighting. This adds a layer of purpose to the gameplay, giving players something to work toward beyond free exploration. That said, the narrative elements feel underdeveloped. While the tasks are varied, the lack of significant character interactions or deeper storylines makes the missions feel somewhat mechanical.

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Gameplay - 8/10

The gameplay is undoubtedly the strongest aspect of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. From the moment you take control of your first aircraft, the game does a fantastic job of immersing you in the pilot’s seat. The optional training modules are especially impressive, offering an in-depth guide to flying without forcing players through mandatory tutorials. This approach caters to both novices and seasoned flight sim enthusiasts, ensuring that everyone can find their comfort zone. The variety of planes, coupled with the ability to customize routes in Free Flight, adds replayability and personalization. The Career Mode’s missions offer more structured gameplay, introducing challenges and objectives that keep things fresh. However, the technical issues, including planes banking unnecessarily and crashes disrupting progress, hinder what would otherwise be a near-perfect gameplay experience.

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Visuals - 7/10

Visually, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a marvel at times and frustrating at others. The game’s use of real-world data to recreate landscapes is stunning, offering breathtaking views of mountains, cities, and rural areas from above. The detail in the aircraft models and weather effects enhances the feeling of authenticity. However, the game is held back by performance issues. Frame rate drops are common in densely populated areas, and loading times can be inconsistent. These hiccups break the immersion, particularly in high-pressure moments like landing or navigating busy airspaces. While it’s clear the visuals are a step in the right direction, these performance flaws prevent the game from reaching its full potential.

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Audio - 6/10

Audio design in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is serviceable but leaves much to be desired. The in-game radio towers and ambient sounds do a good job of enhancing immersion during flight, but the lack of depth in other areas is noticeable. AI-generated voices for characters, including the mentor and clients in Career Mode, feel impersonal and detract from the experience; these could have greatly benefited from real voice acting. As it stands, the audio serves its purpose but does little to elevate the game’s atmosphere.

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Value for Money - 7/10

At a hefty price of $69.99, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers a substantial amount of content. The Career Mode, Free Flight, and challenges provide hours of gameplay, while the ability to explore the entire world is a feature few games can boast. However, the technical issues and server instability make it difficult to justify the cost at launch. Players who dive in now will likely spend as much time troubleshooting as they do enjoying the game. For those willing to wait, the potential is undeniable. Once the servers stabilize and the bugs are addressed, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 could easily become one of the best aviation games on the market. For now, however, the value proposition is shaky, and patience might yield a more polished and satisfying experience.

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Review: A Turbulent Takeoff

Before I could take to the skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, I was met with a frustratingly long wait. Login queues were the first hurdle, and they weren’t a minor inconvenience—I was stuck waiting for over two hours just to get to the main menu. For a game this grand in scale, the servers felt woefully unprepared. This issue is compounded by the fact that every time the game crashed—and yes, that happened multiple times—I was forced to endure those same queues all over again. It’s hard to fall in love with a game when getting back in feels like an uphill battle.

Downloading the game itself was smooth for me, but I know not everyone had the same experience. Some players reported issues even at that stage, which adds insult to injury. These problems overshadowed the game's potential, and frankly, I’d have a hard time recommending it right now because of this alone. No matter how polished the gameplay might be, if you can’t access it properly, what’s the point?

These connectivity woes felt like a significant misstep, especially since the game’s predecessor didn’t have this level of server congestion. It raises the question of whether the developers underestimated the demand or over-complicated their infrastructure. Either way, these issues made an otherwise immersive experience feel inconsistent and frustrating.

A Pilot’s Journey

Once I managed to actually get into the game, Career Mode was my first destination. Starting out, you pick from a preset list of avatars, a small but appreciated touch for personalization. From there, you’re dropped into the world of aviation with the freedom to choose your starting location. I went for a random airport near Edinburgh, but the world is your oyster. You can choose a familiar place or somewhere far away you’ve been wanting to visit for a long time.

The career mode introduces you to a mentor character who guides you through your first flight. This guidance feels natural, easing players into the basics without being overly restrictive. After learning the basics, you can choose to go under training or skip ahead to the license examination, which unlocks missions and more advanced gameplay.

Speaking of training, it’s incredibly thorough. The game teaches everything from starting the plane to managing altitude, banking, and perfecting your landings. While the detail is impressive, it’s also optional. You’re free to dive into missions immediately if you already have the know-how, but for someone like me, who wanted to take things slow, this training added layers of confidence before jumping into the action.

Missions themselves were a pleasant surprise, offering a narrative I didn’t expect. Each client had their own story, and as you level up, the scope of activities expands significantly. Eventually, specialization will become available and offer different aviation flights, whether it’s Medevac, firefighting, or even VIP charters, Career Mode offers something for everyone. It’s clear the developers wanted this to be more than just a sandbox.

A World Without Limits

For me, Free Flight is where Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 shines the brightest. This mode lets you map out your own routes, taking off from one location and landing at another, with complete freedom in between. Unlike Career Mode, I didn’t experience the same issues with unresponsive controls or bugs here, which made flying feel smoother and more intuitive.

What impressed me the most was the game’s recreation of local neighborhoods and landmarks. Flying over familiar areas felt surreal, like seeing the world through a completely different lens. The level of detail isn’t perfect, but it’s close enough to feel immersive. The joy of spotting iconic locations from above never wore off, even after several hours of play.

However, not everything about Free Flight is perfect. The frame rates could be inconsistent, especially when transitioning between densely populated areas. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s noticeable enough to pull you out of the immersion. I’d also love to see smoother integration of real-time weather effects, which sometimes felt a bit abrupt rather than organic.

That said, the freedom to explore the world at your own pace is unparalleled. Whether you’re soaring over mountains or buzzing through cityscapes, Free Flight captures the heart of what makes aviation so fascinating. It’s a feature that appeals to both casual players and hardcore sim enthusiasts alike.

Different Game Modes

Beyond Career Mode and Free Flight, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers a range of other modes designed to keep players engaged. Challenge League, for example, introduces a ranked competition aspect to the game. Unfortunately, my experience with it was marred by bugs, making it hard to fully enjoy. If the developers can iron out these issues, this mode has the potential to be a standout addition.

Activities like rally races and precision landing add variety to the gameplay, but for me, the Discovery Tours were the real highlight. These tours let you explore iconic landmarks and unique locales around the globe with tailored aviation experiences. There’s something magical about flying over a destination you’ve always wanted to visit, even if it’s just through a screen.

While these additional modes add value, they’re not without their limitations. Frame rate issues persisted in some areas, and the overall experience felt inconsistent at times. Still, they offer a break from the structured gameplay of Career Mode and provide a space for experimentation and exploration.

Ultimately, these modes round out the game’s offerings nicely. Whether you’re looking for competitive challenges or just a relaxing flight, there’s something here for everyone. It’s a testament to the game’s versatility and its appeal to a broad audience.

Immersive Aviation

At its core, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 delivers an experience that’s as immersive as it is detailed. The gameplay mechanics go beyond just flying planes; they replicate the intricacies of aviation with remarkable accuracy. From coordinating with radio towers to adjusting for weather conditions, the game pulls you into the role of a pilot like no other.

The radio communications stood out to me as a particularly strong point. Switching frequencies when moving between airspaces, requesting takeoff clearance, and navigating complex air traffic felt authentic and added an extra layer of depth. It’s not just about flying; it’s about managing the entire aviation experience.

For casual players, the game offers plenty of tools to ease the learning curve. Assistance options are available, allowing you to focus on the sheer joy of flying rather than getting bogged down in technical details. For sim enthusiasts, the game’s depth ensures that there’s always something new to learn or master.

Despite its strengths, the gameplay isn’t without flaws. The issue with planes constantly banking to the right was particularly annoying and detracted from the overall experience. It felt like a glitch rather than a feature, and I hope this gets patched in future updates. Still, when the game works as intended, it’s a beautiful and immersive experience that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.

Is Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) Worth It?

Grounded Experience That Needs Time

Right now, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 feels like a game with immense potential but significant barriers to fully enjoying it. The depth of its Career Mode, the freedom of Free Flight, and the sheer scale of its world are undeniably impressive, but these highlights are constantly overshadowed by different issues. Whether it’s the long login queues, persistent crashes, or the occasional gameplay bugs, these problems make it difficult to recommend the game in its current state.

At $69.99, the price tag is steep for an experience that might leave you waiting more than playing. The game’s intricate mechanics and immersive features are undoubtedly worth exploring, but only when the servers stabilize and the technical issues are addressed. Until then, it’s hard to justify the cost and frustration that come with the current release.

If you’re a die-hard fan of flight simulators, you might still find value here, especially if you’re willing to endure the rough patches for the moments when the game truly shines. However, for more casual players or newcomers, I’d strongly recommend holding off for a few weeks. Let the developers sort out the server congestion and patch the most glaring bugs. When the experience becomes more reliable, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 could easily become a must-have for aviation enthusiasts and gaming adventurers alike.

Digital Storefronts
Steam			Xbox
Price		$69.99

Flight Simulator 2024 (MFSF) FAQ

Are Career Activities Available Outside of Career Mode?

No, activities like Medevac, Aerial Firefighting, and more are only accessible in Career Mode. However, there are other activities that can be played without progressing in the Career Mode.

How Has The Scenery In Flight Simulator 2024 Improved Compared To Its Predecessors?

Flight Simulator 2024 now includes improved ground details, world wide aerial traffic, dynamic weather system and much more.

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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Product Information

Title	MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024
Release Date	November 19, 2024
Developer	Asobo Studio
Publisher	Xbox Game Studios
Supported Platforms	PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S
Genre	Simulation
Number of Players	1-2
ESRB Rating	Everyone
Official Website	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Website

Allisandra Reyes

I find joy in the adrenaline rush of horror games, but my thrill-seeking doesn't stop there. Beyond the digital realm, I like to take on the role of designated GM in TTRPGs.