Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 PC Review
Summary: The legendary flight simulator is back with options to earn your pilot license and compete with other pilots around the globe.
4.4
Focussed Flying.
The Legendary Flight Simulator Returns (Again) … It’s been about four years since the last installment, but we’re back in the cockpit with a new Microsoft Flight Simulator. While there are some tweaks here and there, the core game will feel familiar to series fans.
The first thing to note is the hard drive space required. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 demanded over 100 GB, while 2024 requires only around 30 GB. This is apparently due to providing much of the data via cloud streaming, a change I have mixed feelings about. While the idea of not needing over 100 GB for installation is appealing, there are trade-offs. The initial loading time is around three minutes—on an SSD! I haven’t experienced loading times this long since DOS games. Ignoring that (plenty of time for a cuppa), the reliance on servers is a concern. Presumably, server issues could prevent gameplay. I haven’t encountered this, but it’s a theoretical risk.
On the upside (besides the smaller install size), Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers significantly more detail than 2020, with a strong emphasis on ground textures. You can fly anywhere in the world and (within reason) land anywhere, even venturing out of your aircraft (probably easier with a helicopter in areas without designated landing strips). My first experience with this was a task requiring me to land near the Sphinx and take a picture. My recollection of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020’s ground textures is that they were very minimalist—impressive from a distance but rough and blocky up close. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 encourages not just aerial tours but also virtual walking tours. This is a nice touch, adding another layer of immersion and realism, especially when you can descend to ground level and still see impressive detail.
Other significant additions include a career mode. If memory serves, the 2020 version had challenges like landing on a specific runway in certain conditions, but mostly, you were left to your own devices. 2024 lets you start at (presumably) any airport above a certain size (my local regional airport wasn’t an option, likely due to its size) and build your career, starting with flight lessons and earning your license. As you gain experience, you unlock more challenging tasks like search and rescue, firefighting, VIP transport, and cargo transport. It’s a fantastic addition, providing a real focus for your flying and a great way to enjoy the stunning visuals.
For competitive players, there’s now a challenge league, pitting your skills against other global flyers in air races, rally races, low-altitude flying challenges, precision landings, and more. While I’m not generally interested in competitive play, it’s a welcome option for those who are. Photography challenges are a nice touch, too, encouraging sightseeing and appreciation of the visuals.
I experienced a few crashes initially, but they haven’t recurred in recent sessions. This may indicate bug fixes from the developers, or simply that I haven’t encountered the same issues. It’s a large game, and some bugs have been reported, so keep that in mind.
Final Thoughts?
Having played versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator since its early days, I’ve witnessed its detail and complexity evolve dramatically. Piloting now requires much more attention to detail and precision compared to earlier versions, but seeing fully realized airports instead of a few squares and lines is a real treat. This visually stunning game (my son even mistook it for a video at one point) can also be quite demanding in terms of controls. If you like your sims with a decent dose of realism, this might be right up your alley. If you prefer simpler flight mechanics, you might want to give it a miss. Either way, I recommend checking patch notes before purchasing, or at least waiting for a sale if you’re concerned about crashes.
The first thing to note is the hard drive space required… Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 required over 100 GB while 2024 requires only around 30 GB this is apparently due to providing a lot of the data via cloud streaming. I have mixed views on this. Whilst the idea of not having to make sure you have over 100 GB to install a new game sounds appealing… there are trade offs. The first issue is that just getting into the game takes around three minutes loading time! That’s on an SSD… I don’t think I’ve had loading times that long since firing up a game in DOS. If we ignore that loading time (I mean you can go and make a cup of tea or coffee while you wait), the issue becomes a case of servers. Presumably if there is an issue with the cloud storage, you won’t be able to play the game… I haven’t encountered this but it would theoretically be an issue.
But the up side (other than more storage space), is there is a lot more detail in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 compared to 202o with a big emphasis being on ground texture. You have the ability to fly anywhere in the world and (within reason) land anywhere and get out of your aircraft (probably easier when flying something like a helicopter if you don’t have designated landing areas). My first experience of this was when giving one of the tasks a try and I had to land near the Sphinx and take a picture. My memory of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020s ground texture is that it was very minimalist… locations looked pretty impressive from a distance… but once you got closer they became quite rough and blocky. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 just about encourages you to not just do a flying tour of the world but also a walking tour. It’s a nice focus because it really does add another level of immersion and realism to flying around when you can get down to ground level and still see an impressive level of detail.
There are some other big additions to the game, perhaps most notably is career mode. If my memory isn’t too shoddy… the 2020 version had challenges such as land on this runway in these conditions but mostly you were left to do your own thing (my memory is probably leaving things out there)… 2024 lets you start at any airport in the world (well, I suspect above a certain size as my local airport was not an option… but it is a regional airport so may have been too small) and build you career starting with learning how to fly and getting your license. As you gain more experience you gain the option for more challenging tasks such as search and rescue, firefighting, VIP transport, cargo transport etc. It’s a great addition and gives you a real focus for your flying (and a great way to enjoy some of those stunning visuals).
For the more competitive player there is now a challenge league as well which will pit your piloting skills against other global flyers in air races, rally races, low altitude flying challenges, precision landings and more. I’m not generally interested in competing against other players but if you are… there is now an option to show your skills against global competitors. Photography challenges are a nice touch as well and really encourage you to do some sight seeing and enjoy the visuals on offer.
I will note that I had a few crashes when I first started using Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 but the last few times I’ve played I haven’t… this may be an indication that the developers have been patching the bugs… or that I haven’t encountered the same issues again, it’s a big game so there have been a few bugs noted, so keep that in mind.
Final Thoughts?
I’ve been playing versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator since the early days and the detail and complexity has come along leaps and bounds. Piloting requires a lot more attention to details and precision in controls now compared to early versions but being able to see a fully fleshed out airport rather than a few squares and lines on the screen is a real treat. It is a truly visually stunning game (my son actually looked across at one point and thought I was watching a video)… but it can be quite detailed in controls as well. If you like your sims with a decent dose of realism then this might be up your alley. If you prefer very simple flight mechanics then you might want to give it a miss. Either way I’d recommend checking patch notes for whether you are comfortable grabbing a copy, or at least wait for a sale if you are concerned about game crashes.
About the Author
Chris O'Connor Father of four, husband of one and all round oddity. Gaming at home since about 1982 with a Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Moving on to the more traditional PC genre in the years that followed with the classic Jump Joe and Alley Cat. CGA, EGA, VGA and beyond PC's have been central to my gaming but I've also enjoyed consoles and hand helds along the way (who remembers the Atari Lynx?). Would have been actor/film maker, jack of many trades master of none.
Related Posts
The Sims 1 & 2: Legacy Collection Review →
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC Review (Plus Steam Deck) … and now patched! →
The Sims 4 Kit Reviews (Comfy Gamer, Secret Sanctuary, Casanova Cave) →
