Exploring the immense, detailed world of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, just like its predecessor, provides an endless array of possibilities as every corner of the planet is up for discovery. Back in 2020, I awarded Microsoft Flight Simulator a rare perfect score due to its breadth and quality, and while the 2024 version offers significant new features, it also comes with a few hiccups. Unfortunately, the review process was delayed because codes weren’t available before release, and the game faced unexpected initial turbulence, making it unplayable for the first day. I’m steadily working my way through both my virtual piloting career and this review. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has added remarkable new aspects, yet it doesn’t quite leave me as astounded as the 2020 version. I find myself more impressed than truly mesmerized this time around.
The highlight of Flight Simulator 2024 is undoubtedly the new career mode. You choose a home base airport, join a fictional aviation company, and embark on your journey as an aviator. The progression is akin to a classic game skill tree: master beginner missions to unlock new ones, leading to further opportunities. For instance, gaining a tailwheel endorsement after your commercial pilot’s license opens new paths, like flying newer planes or taking on search and rescue missions. If you get certified in rotorcraft, helicopter operations come into play, like manning a sky crane, which is a definite “heck yeah” for me. Each endorsement or certification you earn expands your job options, offering an exciting range from simple flightseeing tours to more challenging helicopter tasks.
Earning enough money and reputation allows you to start your own aviation business. Although I haven’t reached this stage yet, I’m progressing well with my fixed-wing endorsements, envisioning a future of having my own company and capitalizing on a larger share of the earnings. These profits can then help expand the business, and I eagerly anticipate the moment when I can afford to own a whole fleet.
Early missions in career mode provide basic flight training, teaching the essentials of flying a plane. However, this segment was somewhat disappointing as it mirrors the tutorials from the 2020 edition. Training occurs at the Sedona, Arizona airfield, with tasks essentially unchanged. The main difference lies in clearer AI instructions and on-screen guidance, which is helpful given the numerous controls and functions. I appreciate these tooltips in 2024 because previously, I often needed to search online just to recall how to release the parking brake. I might even keep them on unlike in 2020, purely due to my forgetfulness.
As you advance further, various mission types become available. After the initial training, you’ll undertake several flights to accumulate enough hours to attempt the commercial pilot’s license test. While the test costs in-game currency, it’s a one-time payment, allowing unlimited retakes. Experience and proficiency in training missions are required, but experienced pilots can bypass lessons and jump straight into testing if they prefer.
A peculiar aspect is how newer missions don’t necessarily appear near your home airport. I chose KMVM Machias Valley Airfield in eastern Maine as my starting point, yet soon found myself flying to Europe for aircraft deliveries and skydiving assignments. While it didn’t greatly bother me, it did break the illusion of a cohesive career storyline I initially created.
Reflecting on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, it’s hard to articulate just how incredible it felt to pilot a plane with the freedom to traverse the entire globe. Even with the base game’s 20 aircraft, there’s plenty to keep even the most passionate aviation fans occupied. Adjustable assist settings allow customization to fit any skill level, making the experience accessible to anyone interested in flying. The integration of real-world mapping data transforms it from a solid game to an awe-inspiring simulation unparalleled in its execution. Despite some long loading times, flying over landmarks, landing at iconic airports, or touching down in remote outposts is stunningly cool and offers an exceptional virtual exploration of our world.
Returning to the present, I genuinely enjoy the career mode. Previously, I entertained myself with self-made missions, like flying pizza to Matinicus Island from Knox County Regional Airport, Maine. With structured missions, I can engage with the aircraft and navigation, ultimately enhancing my abilities as a simulator pilot. This might be my favorite part of Flight Simulator 2024 so far—I’m excited at the prospect of launching my own airline or a helicopter sky crane company, or maybe both, given enough time.
Newly introduced is the challenge league, which is quite game-like but maintains the simulation’s flight models and physics. Weekly challenges and leaderboards appeal to my competitive side, as I relish being a top contender. Among them, the initial F/A-18 rally race through the Grand Canyon stands out. Flying Maverick’s jet across canyon gates in pursuit of speed isn’t easy, but it’s exhilarating. Despite multiple attempts, I achieved a time of around 1 minute and 54 seconds, which only earned me a spot in the Bronze league. Still, overtaking the Xbox Live Gamertag of my unknown competitor was fulfilling, and I look forward to tackling the weekly challenges. The previous edition had landing challenges with leaderboards, but they didn’t quite capture the thrill of soaring a fighter jet through one of nature’s wonders.
One delightful feature of the past Flight Simulator was the ability to visit locales I’d never been to or couldn’t expect to see again. In Flight Simulator 2024, sightseeing is emphasized through photo challenges. You capture images of famous landmarks across the globe, with photo types and criteria varying by location. The first challenge involved snapping the Great Sphinx with the sun above its right shoulder during an equinox—on foot, no less.
Among the coolest new features, you can now land and explore on foot. Although it doesn’t work as seamlessly as anticipated, with realistic walking speeds feeling agonizingly slow and the level of detail varying, these elements still enhance the experience. Despite encountering odd GoldenEye-like objects around the Great Pyramid complex, the close-up terrain is impressively detailed. Elements like sand and rocks appear richly authentic, and ground features like tire tracks or mud effects are well-realized. Animal presence has expanded too; instead of static animal markers, creatures like a bull moose crossing the runway at my airfield in Maine create more immersive surroundings.
Lifting your gaze skyward, Flight Simulator 2024 can look even better than its predecessor, particularly in areas like the Grand Canyon. Previously appearing as a smoothly textured model, the canyon now resembles its real counterpart much more closely. Running Flight Simulator 2024 on a high-end PC with an i9-13900K processor, Radeon RX 7900XT GPU, and 64GB of DDR5 RAM (courtesy of Corsair) ensures superb visuals and performance most of the time, but the cloud-streaming reliance means not all problems are resolved. For example, while completing a scenic mission around Venice, Italy, St. Mark’s Basilica inexplicably appeared as a textureless polygonal model, and I’d prefer locally stored world map packs for higher fidelity in these scenarios.
Despite the impressive graphic capabilities on my powerful PC, the hardware runs at full throttle to achieve these visuals even at recommended settings, which isn’t ideal.
Reflecting on my experience thus far, despite a challenging launch, I’m falling for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. While it doesn’t quite capture the groundbreaking novelty experienced five years ago when flying anywhere on Earth was newly possible, it’s improved with smart new features. As the initial launch obstacles diminish, I can better appreciate the aspects I enjoy most about Flight Simulator. While typically I drift aimlessly through the skies, the career mode now fuels my flights with purpose and heightens my understanding of commercial aviation. I’ll continue exploring before making a final judgment, but even with its early setbacks, Flight Simulator 2024 is shaping up to be extremely impressive, even if it hasn’t quite recaptured the brilliance of its predecessor’s debut.
