SimplePlanes

Starting at $4.80Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Apple Store

"SimplePlanes" is a sandbox-style construction simulation game that allows players to build and fly their own aircraft. With realistic physics and an intuitive building system, players can design planes that range from simple gliders to complex military jets. The game also features a variety of challenges and missions to complete, as well as online sharing capabilities for custom-built planes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,495 reviews

graphics60 positive mentions

stability35 negative mentions

graphics
169 mentions
36 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and occasionally dated, with many users noting that they do not compete with more modern titles. However, the visuals are often considered adequate for the gameplay experience, allowing for smooth performance even on lower-end PCs. Overall, while the graphics may not be the main draw, they are complemented by solid physics and extensive customization options, making the game enjoyable despite its visual limitations.
- “The graphics are amazing, the interface is clear and easy to use, and the game is fun.”
- “I love the amazing graphics and smooth gameplay; I highly recommend this for people that are into sandbox games.”
- “The graphics may be a tad basic, but you still feel like you're taking your invention into the real world and seeing how it sizes up!”
- “The graphics are not AAA, but it surely makes up for it in gameplay and replayability.”
- “The graphics look dated, but that doesn't bother me at all.”
- “The graphics could also be more current gen, instead of mobile.”
gameplay
159 mentions
38 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of fun and frustration, with many players praising the intuitive building mechanics and realistic physics, which allow for creative aircraft design. However, there are significant criticisms regarding the interface and flight mechanics, which some find tedious and difficult to master. Overall, while the game offers a solid sandbox experience with high customization potential, it suffers from a steep learning curve and occasional gameplay limitations.
- “Few games can teach complex mechanics so easily.”
- “Awesome graphics, cool mechanics, great plane building system, etc.”
- “Amazing gameplay and easy building mechanisms that are fun and entertaining.”
- “A terrible interface design that will frustrate you more than the actual half-assed flying mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is limited, boredom sets in quickly, and the physics engine acts like it's on drugs.”
- “I've spent 4 hours on this game now, and got pretty much nowhere as the building mechanic is just so incredibly frustrating.”
story
107 mentions
14 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many users noting that there is no overarching narrative or campaign. While there are various missions available, they often feel repetitive and limited, leading to a sense of boredom over time. Players express a desire for more engaging and diverse missions, as well as the ability to create their own scenarios to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “From racing and dogfighting to cargo delivery and rescue missions, there's always something new and exciting to try.”
- “Very complex story arc, I love it.”
- “The combat challenges are particularly fun, especially the bomber escort mission, since that and the WWII dogfight challenge pit you against other aircraft.”
- “There is not a full campaign story, and it is also a game of patience when making planes or any other vehicle.”
- “If that's not enough for you and you want missions and goals, don't get this game - you'll get bored very quickly.”
- “I have spent 80% of my game time building and tweaking my planes, 19% of the time testing the planes, and 1% of the time actually playing missions or completing challenges.”
music
46 mentions
28 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it relaxing and fitting for the gameplay, enhancing the overall chill atmosphere. However, some users describe it as bland or repetitive, suggesting that players might prefer to turn it off and listen to their own playlists instead. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it may not appeal to everyone, and the option to mute it is appreciated.
- “The chill music combined with the pleasant atmosphere of flying around is almost therapeutic.”
- “Great (if a bit dated) soundtrack that really fits the game (but can be turned off if you don't like it or want to listen to your own instead).”
- “The graphics are nice, the soundtrack is very relaxing, the flight simulation is very realistic... I have nothing but good things to say about this game.”
- “I feel sorry to post a 'not recommended' but if you want to play this game please make sure you turn off the in-game music and play your favorite songs.”
- “The music is bland as hell, which, again, is probably to be expected because something more dynamic might not match the tone of what you're trying to do - dynamic combat music probably isn't going to go well if you're just trying to build a passenger jet, for instance.”
- “I recommend that you turn the game's music off and make your own playlists to play in the background that fit whatever you're trying to accomplish.”
humor
44 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the comedic aspects of building and flying planes, often resulting in hilarious crashes and glitches. Many find the physics system amusing, as it leads to unexpected and funny outcomes, making the game a lighthearted experience. Overall, the game is described as a fun and entertaining way to engage with aircraft design, filled with moments of laughter and absurdity.
- “Reasons are: smooth for lower-end PCs and relatively good graphics for higher-end PCs, good physics, entertaining, funny achievements, hilarious glitches, and overall a beast of making planes.”
- “It is a really fun game to pass the time and sometimes it's funny seeing planes explode.”
- “Super fun, it's amazing to get in there and mess around; really goofy and funny, I love it and definitely recommend it to others.”
stability
37 mentions
5 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting significant bugs, particularly in the building editor and controls, which can lead to frustrating experiences. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, others note that glitches can detract from gameplay and that the user interface is often unresponsive. Overall, while the game runs well on lower-end PCs and has a lively mod community, stability remains a major concern for many users.
- “Runs great even on Intel HD graphics.”
- “Runs great on low-end computers.”
- “Game is very buggy; plane controls invert for no reason mid-flight.”
- “Extremely buggy, particularly in the editor.”
- “Way too buggy; tried to make a jet numerous times, only for the mirror function to not work properly, then half of the plane just deconstructs and falls apart as soon as I launch in the game.”
optimization
20 mentions
40 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on mid-range and lower-end systems, users report significant performance drops and stuttering with higher part counts and larger vehicles. Older hardware struggles, leading to concerns about overheating and load times, but many players find it enjoyable and accessible on various PCs. There is a consensus that further optimization could enhance the experience, particularly for complex builds and older systems.
- “Great sandbox, fun gameplay, and it runs smoothly enough.”
- “The game is very nice and it runs smoothly on my potato PC, so you don't have to worry about buying an RTX 3000.”
- “Great optimization also.”
- “The only issue I had is the game feels poorly optimized for older hardware (Intel i3 2nd gen & Intel HD 3000) and laptop temperature rises quickly as if I was playing War Thunder without fans on.”
- “Many of these super-detailed planes do fly right, but even some of those are made with so many parts that they increase load times drastically and cause some light stuttering on my system which far exceeds the recommended specs for this game - I dread to think what they'd do to the low-end systems that this game's clearly meant to work on.”
- “Higher part counts can lead to lower performance, and everyone has to find their own 'part cap' through trial and error.”
grinding
19 mentions
5 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
68 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with players expressing that it feels like a second job. Many reviewers highlight the frustrating building mechanics, clunky controls, and the need for extensive time investment to create even simple designs, making the overall experience less enjoyable. While the game has potential and a supportive community, the laborious nature of crafting and editing detracts significantly from its appeal.
- “Do you love simulation that is not tedious?”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The capabilities of the game are cool, but the building mechanics are infuriatingly tedious and time-consuming to use.”
- “I cannot recommend this game unless you enjoy doing tedious things.”
replayability
18 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, largely due to its sandbox nature, community mods, and the ability to create and download custom content. While some players note potential boredom over time and suggest the need for additional game modes or multiplayer options, many find the gameplay versatile and engaging, offering countless hours of fun. However, a few users feel that the lack of challenge in certain aspects may limit long-term replay value.
- “Really fun, controls are solid, and endless replayability thanks to mods and community creations.”
- “With the ability to download planes from the website, the replayability of this game is almost endless.”
- “This game is incredibly versatile and has many, many hours of replay value.”
- “It's good, but I feel that this deserves a more full gaming experience, some new game mode that adds replayability.”
- “Replayability: I have played this game for a long time, but I can see why people would get bored.”
- “This is not a sim game, so don't expect any challenge or replay value from flying around this bland archipelago.”
atmosphere
15 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as both relaxing and therapeutic, enhanced by chill music and a focus on aerial exploration and engineering. While some users note issues with physics and a lack of depth compared to similar titles, the overall experience is characterized by a fun, wacky, and nostalgic ambiance that encourages experimentation and creativity within the confines of Earth's atmosphere.
- “The chill music combined with the pleasant atmosphere of flying around is almost therapeutic.”
- “Has a wacky and fun atmosphere to it overall - a fun engineering simulator.”
- “Other than that, the game is still quite great, and even with its limited scope, size, graphics, controls, avionics, and physics, it's very fun. It has a very chill and relaxing atmosphere, and there's nothing quite like taking off from a carrier in an F-14 at sunrise with the stock music in the background, or just listening to 'Danger Zone.'”
- “Great game, but the atmosphere physics are pretty terrible.”
- “We call this the lower atmosphere.”
- “Every time you crash a car, you go flying into the upper atmosphere.”
monetization
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively due to its low price point and absence of hidden fees or microtransactions, offering good value for players. However, recent updates have introduced more ads, which some users find detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, there are concerns about misleading advertising regarding game features, leading to disappointment regarding content and gameplay expectations.
- “With a low price point and no hidden fees or microtransactions, it's a great value for anyone looking for a fun and engaging gaming experience.”
- “It was a good game but with more recent updates that broke how the workshop was used, and with all the ads now, it's slightly less enjoyable.”
- “Don't get fooled by the advertisements on the store; this game is basically just Lego. Trying to do anything else with it feels like forcing it to do something it was never meant to do.”
- “It's a great game, but it gets boring almost immediately because the game doesn't really have that much content compared to what they are advertising.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, highlighting feelings of vulnerability and self-reflection, with one user expressing a willingness to experience the emotional journey again despite its intensity. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke deep emotions, earning high ratings for its emotional engagement.
- “Made me feel like a dumbass for 4 hours, but it was a very good game.”
- “10/10 would cry again”