X-Plane 11

Pros

• Detailed graphics
• AI controlled planes add touch of realism
• Difficulty levels with your skill
• Numerous real-world locations

Cons

• High hardware demands
• Poor graphics optimization

X-Plane 11 is a classic-style flight simulator that gives players the opportunity to jet around the world and interact with a plane's control as though they were a real pilot. The physics, as well as the look of he 3D cockpits, are authentic enough that X-Plane is nearly as good as some of the simulation systems used by actual pilot training programs.

Exterior graphics are all extremely realistic as well. If you've ever thought that you could see your house from a tall point, then you could probably get this feeling all over again in X-Plane 11. Each of the interior dials and buttons are interactive, even if they're minor and wouldn't normally do much of anything in other flight simulator games.

All visual effects and sounds are designed to give you the sense of complete immersion with flying your plane. Some gamers might prefer to use a virtual reality headset while others will opt for a more traditional set of USB flight peripherals. You should find that the game works with both of these options, as well as many others that you could get Windows to recognize.

A number of tugs, fuel trucks and other airplanes will surround any airport that you can land at, which gives the illusion of an actual living world around you. Consider the many real-life locations in game and you're looking at an excellent simulation of real world flying conditions.

Casual players might find this overwhelming, but they can tone down the realism and even make aircraft more flyable by canceling out some of the impact of weather and wind. A training mode makes it easy for new players to learn how to fly aircraft and explore the world around them.

Since players are free to select whichever kind of plane they want to, they're free to select a smaller more aerobatic model to learn with before switching over to the larger commercial options that many gamers prefer to fly. Best of all, you can import additional aircraft as you go along so you'll never be without something new to try.

Pros

• Detailed graphics
• AI controlled planes add touch of realism
• Difficulty levels with your skill
• Numerous real-world locations

Cons

• High hardware demands
• Poor graphics optimization