Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 fulfills the promise of being the most true-to-life and detailed game of its kind.

58%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

optimization, stability

43% User Score Based on 10,259 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024" is a realistic flight simulation game that allows players to launch their aviation career and gain experience in various activities such as Medevac, cargo ops, firefighting, and search & rescue missions. The game features unlimited missions across the globe, competitive modes, and the opportunity to be a world photographer by capturing stunning images of famous landmarks and natural vistas. With its vast array of features, players can enjoy a truly immersive and authentic flight experience.

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 screenshot

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43%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,259 reviews

story99 positive mentions

optimization166 negative mentions

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 showcases breathtaking visuals and significant improvements in graphics and performance compared to its predecessor.
The new career mode adds variety and replayability, with engaging missions like aerial firefighting and mountain rescue that enhance the overall experience.
The atmosphere is impressive, featuring dynamic weather, detailed landscapes, and vibrant wildlife that create a more immersive virtual world.

The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including long loading times, crashes, and bugs that significantly detract from the overall experience.
Many players find the grinding nature of the career mode tedious, requiring excessive time to unlock meaningful content and progress.
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling the game is overpriced and released in an unfinished state.

story
1,461 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
88%
5%
The story aspect of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over the numerous bugs and glitches that plague the career mode and mission system. While some users appreciate the variety of missions and the potential for engaging gameplay, they often encounter issues such as mission failures due to technical errors, unresponsive ATC, and unrealistic mission parameters that detract from the overall experience. Despite these challenges, a few players find enjoyment in the career progression and the immersive nature of the missions, indicating that the game has potential but requires significant improvements to its stability and functionality.
- “Not gotten crazy far with it yet, but I have done a few missions and so far it's off to a strong start for me.”
- “The inclusion of advanced missions like aerial firefighting, mountain rescue, and cargo transport adds an extra dimension that makes the simulator engaging for seasoned simmers and pilots alike.”
- “From breathtaking visuals powered by cutting-edge cloud streaming technology to career paths like aerial firefighting and search-and-rescue missions, the game aims to redefine the simulation genre.”
- “The only reason I bought this game was for the career mode and the only missions I can get to work are the boring flightseeing missions; the rest of the missions just get stuck in an infinite loading screen when I try to view the briefing.”
- “Career mode is just an absolute bug/glitch fest, crashing into invisible walls, impossible missions (you want me to land in the middle of a forest with no clearing or on the side of a mountain?).”
- “The career mode (which is the main reason I bought the 2024 while already owning 2020) is full of bugs, and I mean 90% of the time the flight plan is completely off, there are weird penalties for doing stuff which you don't really do, and even had a mission glitch completely that I had to abort (not triggering next phase).”
graphics
1,175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The graphics in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 have received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant improvements over its predecessor, MSFS 2020, particularly in terms of realism and detail. While some users praise the stunning visuals and enhanced performance, others report issues such as graphical glitches, long loading times, and inconsistent quality, especially when relying on cloud streaming. Overall, the game showcases impressive graphics, but the experience can be hampered by technical problems and hardware demands.
- “The graphics are stunning and being able to walk around is really cool!”
- “The graphics in this new version are often breathtaking, and with my 4090, everything runs smoothly on ultra settings.”
- “Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a monumental upgrade over its predecessor, delivering an unparalleled experience in both graphics and physics.”
- “The graphics in msfs 2024, even on systems equipped with high-end cards like the nvidia 4090, do not meet expectations set by the promotional material.”
- “This game did not live up to my expectations, I for sure thought this was going to have much better graphics and textures than the previous one but I see little to no difference.”
- “The graphics are embarrassing: textures barely load, even on low/med settings, leaving you flying over blurry landscapes where a single pixel feels like it’s a square mile.”
optimization
763 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
63%
22%
The optimization of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance improvements over its predecessor, MSFS 2020, particularly in VR and graphical fidelity. However, numerous users report ongoing issues such as stuttering, crashes, and long loading times, indicating that the game still requires substantial optimization and bug fixes. While some players experience smooth performance on high-end systems, others find it unplayable on mid-range setups, suggesting that the game's reliance on cloud streaming may be impacting overall stability and performance.
- “The graphics in this new version are often breathtaking, and with my 4090, everything runs smoothly on ultra settings.”
- “Performance is as good as, if not better, than msfs2020 on my system (especially in VR) and I am sure it will only continue to improve over time.”
- “It's a monumental leap forward from msfs2020, showcasing breathtaking visuals, smoother performance, and an impressive level of detail both inside and outside the aircraft.”
- “The load times are ridiculous; ad-hoc performance degrades, crashes, and ANRs are plaguing the whole experience.”
- “Optimization is laughable.”
- “Performance is far worse than MSFS 2020, even on decent systems.”
stability
751 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players experienced long loading times, frequent freezes, and issues with the career mode, which is described as particularly buggy. While some users noted improvements over previous versions, the consensus is that the game feels unfinished and requires substantial updates to address its stability issues.
- “The game itself runs great and is barely utilizing my system's power.”
- “Runs great, looks great, and feels great.”
- “The load times do not take much time, and the game looks and runs great!”
- “Wait 30 mins to get into game, then it freezes and I have no choice but to restart.”
- “This is a broken, buggy, unfinished mess.”
- “The career mode is still very buggy in many ways; however, taxiways are non-existent/not drivable or the ability to respond to ATC is just sometimes not available, causing you to lose points on almost every mission through no fault of your own.”
gameplay
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
77%
6%
The gameplay of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the new career mode and enhanced realism, while others criticize the numerous bugs, long loading times, and repetitive tasks. Although some users report enjoyable experiences with the core mechanics and graphics, the overall consensus indicates that significant technical issues and gameplay flaws detract from the experience, leading to frustration and disappointment. Many reviewers express hope for future updates to address these problems and improve the gameplay experience.
- “The gameplay has also taken a big leap forward compared to its predecessor.”
- “The level of detail, the variety of gameplay, and the sheer joy of flying make it one of the best games I’ve ever played.”
- “Msfs 2024 is the gameplay that I wanted from msfs 2020, just with a handful of issues that I am confident will be patched out over time.”
- “There's a lot of sightseeing and passenger transport stuff, which has extremely repetitive gameplay as most of it is just flying in straight lines and circles while listening to uncanny AI voices trying to sound impressed.”
- “The big gameplay draw of the sim is a huge miss, and I can't recommend it neither for simmers nor casual players.”
- “After spending around 40 hours... it's not playable... bug after bug, after stupid bug... it's hard for me to believe that there was a proper amount of testing done to the gameplay.”
grinding
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
20%
76%
The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players noting that it requires an excessive amount of time—often hundreds of hours—to unlock meaningful content and progress in career mode. This grind is described as tedious and frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment of flying, as players often find themselves repetitively flying the same aircraft for minimal rewards. Additionally, issues with controls and bugs further exacerbate the grind, leading to a lack of polish in the career experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If you want to play a specific branch of aviation in the career mode (like SAR, like me), good luck. It'll take almost 200 hours of grinding and getting credits just so you can unlock more SAR missions.”
- “The grindy nature - it’s going to take multiple hours of play to get even close to the licenses and missions I actually want to do.”
- “First of all, the grinding part is not fun at all. The fact that you have to spend so much time flying just to receive barely enough money is frustrating.”
humor
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
4%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and glitches, which range from amusing to frustrating, often leading to unintentional comedic moments during gameplay. While some dialogue and scenarios are noted as funny, the overall delivery is criticized for being robotic and poorly executed. Many players find the game's launch to be a farcical experience, with the absurdity of the situation eliciting laughter amidst their disappointment.
- “And trust me, few things compare to the satisfaction of pulling off a textbook touchdown...or laughing as you nosedive into the ocean because you forgot to lower the landing gear.”
- “It's funny to me how people expected a worldwide launch of a cloud-based game to go smoothly from the first minute.”
- “But this isn't really about the game, this is about one of the most hilariously bad launches ever.”
- “The humor in the game falls flat, making it more frustrating than funny.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes are stale and poorly executed.”
- “The attempts at humor feel forced and often miss the mark entirely.”
monetization
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
9%
84%
The monetization aspect of MSFS 2024 has been heavily criticized by users, who describe it as a blatant cash grab by Microsoft, with many feeling that the game is overpriced and released in an unfinished state. Reviewers express frustration over the lack of meaningful new content, persistent bugs, and the aggressive marketing tactics that prioritize profit over quality, leading to a negative perception of the game's value and the company's integrity. Overall, players advise caution and suggest avoiding the game until significant improvements are made.
- “At worst, this gives Asobo/Microsoft incentive to intentionally modify credits earned and core gameplay features to compensate margins via microtransactions.”
- “- In spite of thousands of repeated requests from the community, Microsoft has still not added or commented on their plans to add in-game purchase options for the iconic Boeing 767, or add the option to fly aircraft like said classic aircraft in different beautiful cities like New York with year-accurate classic skylines like August 2001.”
- “This is what the world of microtransactions and pre-orders has led us to, a world where games are published completely unfinished.”
- “Msfs2024 in this state is nothing more than a cash grab.”
- “I will never fall for the hype and advertisement again; not worth the money they are asking for this game, way overpriced.”
- “How many times do we see launches with unfinished games, infrastructure not ready in time, while we are still bombarded by ads calling us to come and buy just a few hours before the release, when they know that nothing but a frozen screen will be there to welcome us.”
music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
67%
19%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the soothing and nostalgic qualities of the soundtrack, particularly the loading screen music, which many found enjoyable. However, others criticized the intrusive and loud music during the launcher and loading screens, expressing frustration over the lack of volume control options. Overall, while some players appreciate the music as a highlight, others find it a significant drawback that detracts from the gaming experience.
- “The visuals are incredible and the music is so soothing.”
- “The music in the loading screen alone made the purchase worthwhile!”
- “The menu song is forever going to be embedded into my soul.”
- “I was hoping this would be awesome... I'm likely going back to MSFS2020 because, oh I don't know, I want to actually play a game... not listen to your god awful music for 20 minutes while nothing happens.”
- “We once again, just like in MSFS2020, have one of the worst launchers ever created, playing loud music immediately without even giving you a chance to go into an options menu or so much as a volume slider in the install/loading screen.”
- “It's a bloody joke, the launcher with its obnoxiously loud music is terrible, and if you eventually, after many hours, get into the game, you get to customize your character.”
emotional
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to the game highlight a significant sense of frustration and disappointment, particularly regarding control issues and performance problems that detract from the overall experience. Players express a mix of hope for future improvements and heartbreak over perceived mismanagement in the game's development, leading to a roller-coaster of emotions as they navigate its complexities. Despite the challenges, some users acknowledge the potential for a rewarding experience for those with patience and emotional resilience.
- “There is an amazing looking, complex simulation for those with patience, maturity, and emotional control.”
- “Seeing that captainsim and random stolen liveries and rushed airports get sold on the marketplace is heartbreaking to see that consumers get misled by that.”
- “Tldr: emotional roller-coaster trying to get it to launch, have patience (unlike I did).”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The atmosphere in the game has received positive feedback for its impressive lighting, atmospheric effects, and dynamic weather that enhance realism. Users appreciate the detailed landscapes and wildlife, noting that the virtual world feels more vibrant and alive compared to previous versions. However, some criticism exists regarding overexposed bloom effects on sunny days, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The virtual world feels more alive than ever, with diverse wildlife, detailed cloud formations, and dynamic weather that replicates real-world atmospheric conditions.”
- “The attention to detail in the landscapes, weather effects, and overall atmosphere is truly impressive—it's like a work of art.”
- “Aside from the horribly overexposed bloom on certain sunny days, the overall atmospheric effects are great.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
68%
19%
The game has shown significant improvements in replayability since its launch, with many users noting the quick fixes and the availability of previously purchased aircraft. The addition of a career mode has enhanced the game's variety and replay value, making it more engaging for players. However, some recommend waiting for further updates to fully enjoy the experience.
- “So many hours of replay value... looks amazing!”
- “Great game, better than 2020. The career mode brings so much replayability for me.”
- “My best advice would be to get this when most of the bugs are ironed out at a later date, or when on sale like I did with MSFS 2020 when it was much more playable some months after launch.”
- “It gives more variety and replayability (as if flight simming the world needed more replayability).”
- “After a few major updates, the career side of the game will hopefully be much more playable.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development has been criticized for its poor design, with users expressing disappointment in the character customization options available, labeling it as one of the worst in recent gaming history.
- “Managed to get past the customize identity screen tonight and was met with one of the absolute worst character designers in modern memory.”

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74%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews

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9h Median play time

63h Average play time

5-19h Spent by most gamers

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