Steam, a haven for gaming enthusiasts, offers a variety of exhilarating aircraft games that allow us to explore the skies with ease. Whether we’re chasing the thrill of dogfights or enjoying the serenity of flight simulation, Steam’s diverse library caters to every aviator’s dream. Here are the best aircraft games for Steam that captivate our imaginations and bring the wonder of flight to our screens.
Fly Up High: The Best Aircraft Games Available on Steam
1. Microsoft Flight Simulator
Entering the world of Microsoft Flight Simulator is like stepping into a breathtakingly realistic aviation experience. This game offers an unparalleled simulation of flying, with its incredible attention to detail and over 37,000 airports worldwide. We navigate changing weather, realistic landscapes, and various aircraft, feeling as though we’re piloting in real life. For those of us seeking authenticity, this simulator’s cutting-edge technology and immersive experience make it a must-have on Steam.
Microsoft Flight Simulator on SteamPowered
2. IL-2 Sturmovik
For those captivated by historical aviation, IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles transports us to the intense air combat of World War II. With meticulous attention to aircraft design and battle mechanics, we engage in historically accurate missions across iconic battlegrounds. The game’s rich narrative and challenging scenarios offer both single-player campaigns and multiplayer skirmishes, giving every history enthusiast a chance to relive pivotal aerial conflicts.
IL-2 Sturmovik on SteamPowered
3. War Thunder
Blending the thrill of air, land, and sea combat, War Thunder gives us an all-encompassing war experience in the best aircraft game for Steam. We pilot historically accurate aircraft through dynamic, massive multiplayer battles that demand strategic thinking and teamwork. With its impressive array of vehicles and upgrades, War Thunder continually challenges and rewards players. The game’s authentic audio and visual representation create an immersive battlefield atmosphere, setting it apart as one of Steam’s aviation highlights.
4. X-Plane 11
X-Plane 11 offers an extraordinary level of operational realism, with its advanced tech that competes with professional flight training programs. We test our piloting skills across a variety of aircraft, each crafted with precision and attention to detail. The game’s dynamic flight modeling and global terrain mapping make for an unparalleled simulating experience. Coupled with regular updates and a passionate community, X-Plane 11 consistently delivers new heights of flight simulation realism.
5. DCS World
For flight enthusiasts seeking depth, DCS World (Digital Combat Simulator World) provides a hyper-realistic combat experience. We engage in aerial battles with an impressive array of military aircraft, each with intricately detailed cockpits and combat systems. This simulator emphasizes precision and strategy, demanding we hone our skills as fighter pilots. With its ongoing updates and rich content, DCS World offers dynamic challenges and unforgettable moments in the virtual skies.
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6. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
In Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, the sky becomes our playground for thrilling dogfights and tactical aerial missions within the best aircraft game for Steam. We pilot advanced jets through beautifully crafted environments, each mission escalating with gripping intensity. The game’s engaging story and stunning graphics keep us on the edge of our seats. Known for its cinematic action sequences and intuitive controls, Ace Combat 7 seamlessly blends storytelling and aerial combat.
7. Elite Dangerous
Venturing into the vastness of space, Elite Dangerous presents an expansive universe of exploration and combat. We command spacecraft of all kinds, navigating through a galaxy filled with missions, trading, and dogfights. The game’s realistic portrayal of stellar phenomena adds depth to our journey, challenging us to adapt and survive. Elite Dangerous captivates us with its open-world design, where every star system is a new opportunity for discovery.
Elite Dangerous on SteamPowered
8. Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China
Step into the role of a fighter pilot in Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China, a game that captures the historic air battles over Southeast Asia during WWII. We undertake missions inspired by real events, piloting authentic aircraft with precision. The game’s gripping atmosphere and historical narrative immerse us in forgotten stories of war, emphasizing strategy and aerial acrobatics. Flying Tigers brings history to life with its captivating visuals and engaging gameplay.
9. Rise of Flight: The First Great Air War
Relive aviation history with Rise of Flight, set during the early age of military aviation in WWI out of the best aircraft game for Steam. We pilot biplanes in a game that combines historical accuracy with compelling flight mechanics. The combination of challenging dogfights and strategic bombing missions offers a deep gameplay experience. Attention to detail, from aircraft handling to atmospheric conditions, makes Rise of Flight a unique representation of aviation’s formative years.
Rise of Flight on Riseofflight.com
10. SimplePlanes
Embrace creativity and experimentation in SimplePlanes, where aircraft design and flying intersect. We construct unique planes and test them against physics-based challenges, exploring the limits of aerodynamics. The game encourages innovation, providing a sandbox for creative pilots to experiment with designs and take on challenges. SimplePlanes offers endless possibilities for those of us who love to tinker and fly, merging engineering with gaming fun.
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11. Bomber Crew
Bomber Crew mixes strategy and simulation as we manage a WWII bomber team. Tasked with planning missions and ensuring the crew’s survival, we juggle resources while evading enemies. The game’s charming art style and strategic depth keep us engaged, offering light-hearted yet intense gameplay. This blend of strategy and simulation invites us to experience the challenges of managing a crew under pressure, making every mission an adventure.
12. House of the Dying Sun
A mix of airborne and sci-fi action is coming in House of the Dying Sun among the best aircraft games for Steam. We control an assault fighter in a space sphere where an armed conflict is raging and are expected to perform bombardment on the opponent’s spaceships. The long-preceding strategy and the fast and breathless fight make this game intense and stimulate a high level of adrenaline. House of the Dying Sun has nice graphics and exciting battles and turns ordinary aerial combat into something different and quite enjoyable every time.
House of the Dying Sun on SteamPowered
13. VTOL VR
In VTOL VR we leap into the cockpit of innovative aircraft like no other, all because of the virtual reality system. This realistic flight simulator free download provides the easiest hand control making us struggle with real-life flight instruments more than ever. They include air-to-air combat, and one’s ability to conduct stealth operations while flying the aircraft. The game’s use of VR imposes a kind of realism that cannot even be achieved through controls within the cockpit. This title builds a unique aerial journey for all of us who are looking for the next level of escapism.
14. Aerofly FS 2 Flight Simulator
Compared to most of the flight simulators available on the market today, the Aerofly FS 2 Flight Simulator has presented an incredibly realistic flying experience with gorgeous graphics. While controlling the beautiful devised skies, the game is very effective at approximating real behavior but, at the same time, remains gimmick and enjoyable for newbies and old fans. The extensive number of aircraft available on Aerofly, as well as a diverse environment that was chosen during the test – both extensive city and beautiful countryside. Not only does it encompass every aspect of an aircraft including the instruments inside the cockpit, but the visuals are nearly photo-realistic making it more than just flying: it is living that dream.
Aerofly FS 2 Flight Simulator on Steampowered
15. Balsa Model Flight Simulator
Diving into Balsa Model Flight Simulator allows our inner creator to soar, crafting model planes before we take to the skies. This game emphasizes building and flying, with tools to design our own unique aircraft, stressing both physics and customization. Racing and combat challenges provide exciting opportunities to test our creations, requiring fine-tuned piloting skills to succeed. Its charm lies in the blend of creativity and skill, encouraging us to push boundaries and perfect our flying machines in a playful yet realistic environment.
Balsa Model Flight Simulator on Steamcommunity
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Conclusion
From historical battles to futuristic exploration, the best aircraft game for Steam offers rich experiences and varied gameplay. Whether we’re simulating real-world flight or commanding starships, these titles capture the imagination and satisfy our thirst for adventure in the sky. With each game opening a new horizon of possibilities, Steam ensures that our dreams of flight are never grounded.
Are there any VR-compatible aircraft games on Steam?
Yes, several games like Microsoft Flight Simulator and Elite Dangerous offer VR support for an immersive aviation experience.
Can these games be played with flight simulation hardware?
Many of these games are compatible with joysticks, flight pedals, and other simulation hardware to enhance realism.
Is there a community or multiplayer aspect to these games?
Games like War Thunder and DCS World offer robust multiplayer modes, along with active communities for collaboration and competition.
