X-Plane 12
- December 17, 2022
- Laminar Research
- 117h median play time
Get on Steam"X-Plane 12 is a highly realistic flight simulator, featuring real-world physics, accurate aircraft systems, and an immersive simulation of the world. The game boasts new features like volumetric 3D clouds, physics-based lighting, global 3D forests, and a revamped real weather data system. Experience flying a range of aircraft including commercial airliners, military jets, and general aviation planes like the Cessna Citation X and Van's RV-10."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- X-Plane 12 offers one of the best flight physics and realistic flight dynamics in the market, making it ideal for serious flight simulation enthusiasts.
- The graphics have improved significantly from X-Plane 11, particularly in terms of lighting, weather effects, and overall visual fidelity.
- The game has a strong community support with a plethora of third-party add-ons available, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game suffers from performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware, leading to crashes and low frame rates.
- Many users report bugs and glitches, especially with the ATC system and aircraft functionality, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The scenery and default aircraft selection are considered lacking compared to competitors like MSFS 2020, requiring additional purchases for a more complete experience.
- graphics332 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in X-Plane 12 have seen improvements over its predecessor, X-Plane 11, with enhanced features like volumetric clouds and better lighting effects. However, many users feel that it still falls short compared to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, particularly in terms of scenery detail and overall visual fidelity. While some appreciate the realistic flight physics and find the graphics acceptable, others express disappointment with graphical bugs and performance issues, suggesting that further optimization is needed.
“The graphics are stunning and constantly improving.”
“The graphics are amazing, the new clouds are a nice touch, and the rain effects on the runway are spectacular.”
“X-plane 12 sets a new standard for flight simulation games with its exceptional graphics, realistic gameplay, and extensive aircraft selection.”
“I do not recommend it, its graphics are not good.”
“The graphics are terrible no matter what settings I choose.”
“Full of disappointment, bad graphics and no significant improvements from x-plane 11.”
- optimization100 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of X-Plane 12 has received mixed reviews, with many users expressing disappointment in its performance, particularly in VR and at larger airports. While some players report improvements and stable performance on mid-range systems, others highlight significant issues such as low frame rates, stuttering, and poor texture quality, especially compared to competitors like Microsoft Flight Simulator. Many reviewers hope for future updates to enhance optimization and address existing performance problems.
“I am confident the small but extremely talented development team at X-Plane can improve VR performance.”
“Performance is really good, framerate is finely optimized (better than MSFS) and the environment in general is really good.”
“Very good game and recent updates have improved overall performance by a lot.”
“Having supported and enjoyed X-Plane since version 9, I was disappointed with the current state of VR optimization in X-Plane 12.”
“Overall a very realistic simulator, but the only downside is that it's poorly optimized and using less than 50% of the GPU, and the framerate is horrible.”
“Unfortunately, it is the simulator with the worst graphics optimization ever made in flight simulator history.”
- stability48 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of X-Plane 12 is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant bugs, crashes, and glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players note improved hardware compatibility and decent performance on certain systems, the game is still considered very buggy, particularly in its early access state, leading to frustration among users. Many recommend waiting for further updates before fully engaging with the game.
“Runs great on Linux.”
“Love this game and it runs great on Steam Deck. :steamthumbsup:”
“We are currently on the actual launch of X-Plane 12, and it looks and runs great.”
“This garbage keeps crashing... many bug reports sent after crashes... won't run with Meta Oculus 3... has controller issues with Meta Oculus controller... won't let you set them up or even calibrate them... I really don't want to waste my time troubleshooting something that should run right out of the box... whether using the controllers or the mouse... this game is garbage... if you're still good with X-Plane 11, I recommend that you skip this one.”
“A buggy mess that misses all the important features a proper flight sim should have.”
“X-Plane 12 is in beta, and I look forward to helping iron out the glitches and promote this excellent sim in which I feel at home right off the bat.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of X-plane 12 is praised for its realistic mechanics and physics, offering a comprehensive flight simulation experience that balances complexity and realism. While some users note that it retains similarities to its predecessor, X-plane 11, the game has made significant improvements in graphics and aircraft selection. Overall, it is seen as a strong contender in the flight simulator market, appealing to both casual and serious flight enthusiasts.
“Absolutely love the physics, mechanics, the world editor & the gateway, the documentation, but most of all I appreciate being able to run on the OS of my choice.”
“X-plane 12 offers a comprehensive and realistic gameplay experience.”
“X-plane 12 sets a new standard for flight simulation games with its exceptional graphics, realistic gameplay, and extensive aircraft selection.”
“This mechanic, which pushes pilots to interact with the environment in meaningful ways, is missed deeply in the somewhat static world of X-Plane 12.”
“The graphics are almost the same, but the gameplay is more complicated than MSFS 2020.”
“This game is very similar in terms of gameplay to its previous version, X-Plane 11, which, as you know, the UI has not changed, the control of the plane, etc.”
- story29 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a general lack of a cohesive story in the game, with many users noting that it functions more as a sandbox for flying rather than a narrative-driven experience. While some mention the presence of missions and scenarios, they often highlight the limitations of mission editing tools and the absence of structured goals. Overall, players seeking a rich narrative may find the game lacking compared to other flight simulators.
“Moreover, the game offers a wide range of challenging scenarios and missions, allowing players to test their skills in different flying conditions.”
“With the instructor mode, you could set up complex combat or search and rescue missions if you're so inclined.”
“As a SAR pilot, it is nice to have a user-friendly mission editor.”
“☑ no story”
“Guess I'll stick with MSFS since it at least seems to work without searching for scenery and the VR story is much cleaner and actually works well.”
“* no goals (no missions, just a plane sandbox)”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Players overwhelmingly express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it feels like one would need a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in X-Plane 12 is widely praised for its significant improvements over previous versions, featuring stunning graphics, realistic volumetric clouds, and dynamic weather effects that enhance immersion. Users appreciate the detailed lighting and atmospheric conditions, such as seasonal changes and realistic precipitation, which contribute to a captivating flight simulation experience. However, some players have encountered challenges with scenery mods and performance issues, impacting their overall enjoyment.
“X-Plane 12 is a huge improvement from X-Plane 11, with better airport lights, atmosphere, lighting, clouds, physics, sounds, and everything.”
“The seasons are neat, and snow will fall or melt if the atmospheric conditions are right (snow also works on ortho).”
“Highly recommend lots of great aircraft and scenery; the default graphics in the atmosphere/sky look amazing and never cease to amaze me.”
“X-plane is miles better flight sim; the planes are interacting with the atmosphere, but I can't get scenery mods to work properly. I tried ortho4xp, simheaven, and autoortho, spent a day on tutorials, and got subpar results. Finally, I crashed while running out of memory with 20/32GB used.”
“X-plane 12 is a huge improvement from X-plane 11: better airport lights, atmosphere, lighting, clouds, physics, sounds, everything.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and whimsical nature, with players finding amusement in quirky elements like funny planes and playful sound effects. Overall, the comedic aspects contribute to an enjoyable and entertaining experience.
“Funny plane gem.”
“Haha, funny planes go brrrr.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, suggesting that it prioritizes profit over player experience and may exploit players with aggressive in-game purchases.
“The monetization feels like a blatant cash grab, prioritizing profits over player experience.”
“I can't believe how aggressive the monetization is; it ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases makes it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the flight simulator is criticized for being unnecessary and distracting, with some users feeling that it, along with the cluttered menus and animations, detracts from the overall experience.
“The music feels out of place and distracts from the overall experience of the game.”
“The soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The music, unnecessary animations, and sounds, along with cluttered menus, are counterintuitive for a flight sim.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express strong dissatisfaction with the game, feeling that its poor quality and performance negatively impacted their emotional experience, leading to regret over their financial investment.
