X-Plane 12

About

"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."

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

+34

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,296 reviews

graphics246 positive mentions

stability90 negative mentions

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 add-ons and mods available, enhancing the overall experience.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, particularly in VR mode, making it frustrating for users.
Graphics optimization is poor, leading to low frame rates and blurry textures, especially on lower-end hardware.
The ATC system and some aircraft systems are still buggy and not fully functional, detracting from the overall realism.

graphics
664 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The graphics in X-Plane 12 have seen improvements over its predecessor, X-Plane 11, with enhanced features like 3D clouds and better lighting effects. However, many users feel that the visuals still fall short compared to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, citing issues such as blurry textures, graphical glitches, and a lack of detail in scenery. While some appreciate the overall aesthetic and realism, others express disappointment, suggesting that the graphics need further optimization and refinement to meet modern standards.
- “The graphics are amazing and the cockpit is really good but they need to add more planes such as the A380 or 777.”
- “The graphics are stunning and constantly improving.”
- “A phenomenal physics engine meets great graphics, what more could you ask for?!”
- “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.”
optimization
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
74%
12%
Overall, the optimization of X-Plane 12 has received mixed reviews, with many users expressing disappointment in its performance compared to its predecessor and competitors like Microsoft Flight Simulator. While some players report stable performance on mid-range systems, others experience significant frame rate drops, stuttering, and issues with VR performance, indicating that the game is still in need of substantial optimization improvements. Despite recent updates showing some progress, many users feel that the simulator remains unoptimized and demanding on hardware, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- “Performance is really good, framerate is finely optimized (better than MSFS) and the environment in general is really good.”
- “X-plane's performance only gets better over time.”
- “With RC5, the overall performance has massively improved for me.”
- “Secondly, it's the horrendous optimization of XP12.”
- “Unfortunately, it is the simulator with the worst graphics optimization ever made in flight simulator history.”
- “The game itself runs like a turd.... they should get a special prize for having a game that runs on Vulkan that has such dismal performance.”
stability
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The stability of X-Plane 12 has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players note improved hardware compatibility and fewer issues compared to MSFS 2020, the overall consensus is that the game is still in a very buggy state, particularly in its early access phase, making it difficult to enjoy fully. Users recommend patience as the developers work on updates to address these stability concerns.
- “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.”
- “Extremely buggy at this stage, making it extremely difficult to fly.”
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
89%
5%
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. However, there are mentions of a lack of interactive mechanics that could enhance the overall experience.
- “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.”
- “As a result, they give a much more pleasant gameplay while maintaining a high level of realism in the behavior of aircraft.”
- “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.”
- “This is such a useful and intuitive mechanic that is sorely missed in X-Plane.”
- “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. The graphics of the game have improved greatly, some planes have been added, which was not far from expected, again.”
story
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
66%
28%
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a cohesive story, with many users noting the absence of missions and goals, describing it more as a sandbox experience. While some mention the availability of user-friendly mission editing tools, the overall sentiment leans towards a desire for more structured gameplay and narrative elements.
- “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 search and rescue pilot, it is nice to have a user-friendly mission editor.”
- “The game has no story.”
- “There are no goals (no missions, just a plane sandbox).”
- “XP's mission editing tools are separate, third-party plugins, which are limited and not user-friendly.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
81%
19%
Players overwhelmingly express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of dedication, akin to needing a "second life" to manage it effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
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 like rain and snow that respond to environmental conditions. Users appreciate the immersive experience created by enhanced lighting and atmospheric effects, although some have encountered challenges with scenery mods and memory usage. Overall, the atmospheric quality is considered a standout aspect, combining the best elements of previous flight simulators into a visually impressive and engaging environment.
- “X-Plane 12 is a huge improvement from X-Plane 11, with better airport lights, atmosphere, lighting, clouds, physics, sounds, and everything.”
- “The graphics are great, I mean great, with volumetric clouds, atmospheric effects, rain, fog, and clouds!”
- “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 at 20/32GB used.”
- “X-plane 12 is a huge improvement from X-plane 11, with better airport lights, atmosphere, lighting, clouds, physics, sounds, and everything.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and whimsical nature, with players finding amusement in quirky elements like the amusing portrayal of planes. The repetitive use of phrases suggests that the humor resonates well, creating a playful and entertaining experience.
- “Funny plane gem.”
- “Haha, funny planes go brrrr.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, suggesting that players feel the game prioritizes profit over player experience.
- “This game feels like a cash grab.”
- “The monetization strategy is just a cash grab.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the flight sim is criticized for being unnecessary and distracting, contributing to a cluttered experience alongside animations and menu design that detract from the overall functionality.
- “The music, unnecessary animations and sounds, and cluttered menus are counter-intuitive for a flight sim.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express strong negative emotions regarding the game, feeling disappointed and regretful about their purchase due to its poor performance and visuals. This dissatisfaction significantly detracts from their overall experience.