Frontier Pilot Simulator

About

"Frontier Pilot Simulator is a thoughtful flight adventure set in a distant colony, focusing on realistic flight mechanics and immersive story. Experience challenging weather conditions, diverse missions, and customizable aircraft while navigating through uncharted territories. Join the Kickstarter campaign for exclusive rewards and opportunities."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,330 reviews

story44 positive mentions

optimization54 negative mentions

Unique concept of flying VTOL aircraft while transporting cargo and passengers, providing a refreshing take on the flight simulator genre.
Challenging flight mechanics that require skill and attention to detail, making successful landings and deliveries rewarding.
Active development team that listens to community feedback and regularly updates the game, showing commitment to improvement.

Poorly optimized performance, with significant frame rate drops even on high-end systems, making the game difficult to play smoothly.
Clunky and unintuitive user interface that can be overwhelming, with a lack of clear instructions and tutorials for new players.
Flight model issues, particularly in fixed-wing mode, where aircraft handling feels unrealistic and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay.

story
436 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
88%
2%
The game's story is generally considered weak and underdeveloped, with many players noting its brevity and lack of depth. While there are some engaging side quests and dynamic elements that contribute to the world-building, the main narrative feels disjointed and often ends abruptly, leaving players wanting more. Additionally, mission clarity and progression can be hampered by bugs and a confusing user interface, detracting from the overall storytelling experience.
- “While the bulk of the game is transporting goods and passengers to earn credits to spend on your next aircraft or upgrade, there was an enjoyable storyline you could pick up pieces of lore about as you progressed. Being able to advance story missions by doing the odd under-the-table favor was a nice touch, offering the player a choice to make a little extra credits and start a new NPC relationship which could lead to its own rewards down the line.”
- “There's a surprisingly engaging, if simple, story that opens up more of the world as you play.”
- “The storylines work well; simple but keep you engaged.”
- “The 'story' as it is is extremely lightweight.”
- “So I completed the main story and it ends very abruptly.”
- “The storyline missions don't give enough information on what needs to be done.”
gameplay
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by engaging flight mechanics and a variety of challenges, including weather conditions and cargo management, which can be both rewarding and frustrating. While many players appreciate the depth and realism of the flight simulation, they also criticize the cumbersome controls, poor UI, and inconsistent performance that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game offers a unique and immersive environment for those who enjoy flight sims, though it may require patience to master its mechanics.
- “The weather really matters and the ski mechanic delivers a variable altitude component that keeps things different.”
- “The core flight mechanics of the game is what got me hooked, as well as the challenges imposed by the realistic flight model in plane and VTOL modes, weather systems ranging from sandstorms to typhoons and the terrain with canyon races, avoiding hazards like volcano and geyser emissions, etc.”
- “While this game is still in testing, gameplay is addictively enjoyable and therapeutically serene.”
- “Unfortunately, the flight mechanics are too cumbersome.”
- “This game is ridiculous; flight mechanics are impossible to use with a keyboard. The moment you get to 0 currency or even negative, the game is over. It's impossible to get into the positive, and if you lost your cargo in the water, it's impossible to get it back. So at the end of the day, you grind for hours and have one fatal error, and you have to start the game all over from the beginning.”
- “Horrible UI (that was supposed to be fixed but never really was), obtuse mechanics (that were never polished or improved), as well as the terrible performance. The developers simply decided it was good enough at some point and slapped a 'release' label on it.”
graphics
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals can be beautiful and immersive, they often suffer from poor optimization and performance issues, leading to low frame rates even on high-end systems. Some users appreciate the variety of graphical settings available, but many express disappointment that the graphics do not meet expectations for a game at its price point. Overall, while there are moments of visual appeal, significant improvements in optimization and graphical fidelity are needed for a better experience.
- “The graphics are beautiful (e.g., the sky, weather effects, lights, illuminated alien creatures, clouds, volcanoes, hot springs, etc.) and while the textures (terrain, buildings, ships) are not the best, they are still quite good.”
- “Spectacular visuals, the ships are interesting (I hope there will be more), and the various missions seem to build the world around you.”
- “The graphics are great; I had very few performance issues and overall thought the scale of the world was also very well established.”
- “Graphics in the game are not great; they aren't the worst I've seen, but definitely nowhere near the quality they should be at this price point.”
- “I appreciate the attempt at making a sci-fi game, but the graphics look like something out of a PS3 game, and the controls are hard to use on PC.”
- “This game has suffered from the start from an annoying, if not crippling, graphics issue due to a lack of decent graphics stability.”
optimization
184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
61%
29%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates even on high-end systems. While some recent updates have improved performance for certain users, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, requiring further work to achieve a smooth and enjoyable experience. Many reviewers express frustration over the inconsistent frame rates and the game's inability to run smoothly at higher settings, indicating a pressing need for optimization improvements.
- “Now, after the latest optimization update, this game runs like butter on high!”
- “Because of the recent patches, the performance of the game is very good, you will probably have no problems at all running it at a constant 50-60 fps (frame limiter can be enabled in game), if you have somewhat of a decent system - and for that performance, the game offers much in return, in the form of gameplay, physics and graphical effects.”
- “The game itself needs some fleshing out and there are a few niggly bugs here and there, but with optimization this should turn out to be a really nice game to add to your collection.”
- “It runs like crap; the discussion board posts are all 2022 based, and the supposed update does not fix optimization issues.”
- “Badly optimized; FPS is very inconsistent during gameplay.”
- “Very interesting game but completely ruined by absolutely awful optimization and performance.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
39%
8%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unique and immersive qualities, combining elements of challenging flight dynamics with a visually engaging environment. Players appreciate the nuanced atmospheric modeling, which includes dynamic weather conditions and environmental hazards, enhancing the sense of exploration and adventure. The combination of background music, NPC interactions, and the game's sci-fi setting contributes to a relaxing yet thrilling experience, making it stand out among flight and simulation games.
- “The game has a unique atmosphere, unlike any other flight/truck simulator (and I don't just mean the unbreathable and hostile air you have to fly through).”
- “Extremely atmospheric.”
- “Its fun to just fly around enjoying the landscape, and you do get the feeling of flying in an unusual stormy atmosphere, with lots of wind, geysers, and volcanoes to deal with.”
- “(there are NPC characters at bases and you'll see some boats around certain platforms in the ocean, but other than that, I haven't encountered anything else in the skies other than myself and the odd spaceship that either drops in from orbit or just stays floating in the air at a fixed location. Though, sometimes you'll see another ship take off from a landing pad as soon as it renders before it quickly disappears in the atmosphere.)”
- “(this game has something called a ski level, which is radiation in the atmosphere that fluctuates, causing the player to fly lower at times or the radiation will begin to shut down navigational systems. While this will break up the monotony of simple flying, it can be annoying with how often it fluctuates, especially if you're carrying precious cargo that you're trying desperately to get to its destination in one piece.)”
- “It has a challenging atmosphere where if you make a small mistake in the wrong storm, it can be devastating.”
stability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and graphical glitches that hinder gameplay. Players experience issues such as unresponsive controls, freezing during loading, and problems with objectives, which often require restarting the game to progress. While some enjoy the concept and gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game needs substantial polish and improvements to its stability.
- “Constantly freezes and crashes once you get to the second island.”
- “There are artifacts blinking on and off constantly in the distance, ground disappears and reappears, and then the game just freezes.”
- “Still needs plenty of polish though, the game will crash fairly often and there's weird graphics glitches.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The music in the game is described as calming, clean, and immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere and player experience. However, some users find the soundtrack to be repetitive and lacking in variety, suggesting that it can feel bland at times. Overall, while the music contributes positively to immersion, players recommend supplementing it with personal playlists for a more enjoyable experience.
- “The sounds and the music are very calming, clean, and uplifting as well.”
- “The combination of music and environment design makes it just right.”
- “The music and background chatter among other pilots really adds to the atmosphere.”
- “My only complaint is the music, it's a little bland.”
- “Lack of variety in sound effects and game soundtrack.”
- “Repetitive music track.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
5%
90%
Reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the enjoyable progression that comes from grinding, others find it tedious and time-consuming, often leading to long periods of inactivity. Additionally, issues like bugs and awkward mechanics can exacerbate the grind, making it feel more frustrating than rewarding.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Most simulation games of this type get tedious really quickly because they ask the player to spend huge amounts of downtime doing nothing.”
- “Boring and tedious.”
- “And hopeful passengers wait at a different place than the landing pad, creating a need for long, tedious taxiing maneuvers between locations.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedy from awkward physics and amusing scenarios, such as cargo retrieval mishaps and quirky radio chatter, though some players find it repetitive and not consistently funny. While some moments elicit laughter, others feel more frustrating than humorous, leading to mixed reactions overall.
- “The sporadic background radio chatter is a nice touch and humorous, if a bit repetitive after several hours.”
- “Well, Euro Truck Simulator is the same and is very funny to play.”
- “There happens strange and funny stuff like crashing and trying to retrieve the cargo from a mountain.”
- “It is not funny :/”
- “It is not funny :/”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The reviews reflect a mixed perspective on replayability, with some users noting that the game is currently in alpha and lacks replayability, while others express hope for future improvements that could enhance its playability. A few users mention that the game has the potential for infinite replayability once it is fully developed and optimized. Overall, the current state of the game limits its replayability, but there is optimism for future updates.
- “✅ infinitely replayable”
- “This game offers endless opportunities for new experiences and strategies, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “The variety of choices and paths available ensures that no two games are ever the same.”
- “No replayability.”
- “It's still in the alpha, so tweaking stuff should make it more playable.”
- “I can only hope this game gets the love and attention it deserves so that one day it will be in a much more playable state.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game's landing mechanics, highlighting the adrenaline rush experienced during landings. However, concerns about potential bugs and the need for manual save backups indicate a fear of losing progress, which adds to the emotional stakes of the gameplay. Overall, while the game can evoke excitement, technical issues may lead to frustrating moments that impact the emotional experience.
- “There is an automatic save and I recommend copying the 'save file' manually into a backup before going for story missions, to avoid some heart-breaking experiences.”
- “Touching that landing pad ever so softly makes your adrenaline spike every time!”
- “Had 1 game crash but cargo and money remained intact since I was just touching down, 1 or 2 meters above the ground.”

Buy Frontier Pilot Simulator

10h Median play time

19h Average play time

8-14h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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