Ongoing Review of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Following in the impressive footsteps of its predecessor, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers eager pilots the chance to explore our planet like never before. Back in 2020, the flight simulator earned my highest praise, a perfect 10, due to its vast range of options. This latest edition carries over that enormous potential, but unfortunately, it also brings along some persistent issues. Due to codes arriving late and some unexpected launch hiccups, the first day was a wash as the game was unplayable. So, while I’m still logging hours in my virtual pilot career—and drafting this review—it’s clear that while Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is packed with standout features, it falls just short of recapturing the awe inspired by its predecessor. Instead of being utterly swept away, I find myself “merely” impressed.

One of the most notable new features in Flight Simulator 2024 is its career mode. Here you start at an airport of your choice and jump into the aviation world by joining a fictional company. The structure resembles a video game skill tree—master the initial tasks to unlock new opportunities and certifications. Perhaps you aim to get a tail wheel endorsement after securing your commercial pilot’s license, opening doors to larger aircraft and more exciting roles, like search and rescue missions. Alternatively, you could pivot to helicopters, earning certifications that let you tackle jobs like operating a sky crane—a feature that definitely earns a “hell yeah” from me. Every endorsement or certification unlocks unique job paths, ranging from leisurely flights to complex operations, especially when helicopters are involved.

As you build your reputation and financial stability, the game encourages you to branch out on your own and forge an aviation empire. I haven’t reached the entrepreneurial stage yet, but I am advancing briskly with my fixed-wing certifications. The ultimate goal? I’m still deciding, but the allure of running my own business and amassing a personal fleet is strong. I welcome the chance to grow my fledgling company with those hard-won profits.

Initially, the career missions walk you through basic flight training, getting you accustomed to the essentials of flying. The downside, however, is how these tutorials mirror those from the 2020 version almost exactly. Set at the same Arizona airfield, these missions haven’t changed much, although the AI instructions and on-screen guidance are a bit clearer this time around. These handy tooltips are welcomed, given the overwhelming number of controls. I suspect I’ll keep them on much longer than I did the first time around—they save me a few trips to Google whenever I blank on releasing the parking brake.

As you progress in career mode, a variety of mission types become available. What’s curious is how not all these missions originate from your chosen home airport. My hub, a quaint airfield deep in eastern Maine, soon had me jetting off to Europe for aircraft delivery and skydive gigs. It’s a minor oddity, but it does break the realism, causing a slight detachment from the career narrative I’ve constructed in my mind.

Reflecting on the 2020 iteration, Microsoft Flight Simulator was a marvel, offering players the chance to soar from any point on the globe. The rich assortment of aircraft and the ability to tweak settings to suit any skill level create a welcoming experience even for those just beginning their aviation journey. The integration of real-world mapping data turns it from an impressive game into a breathtaking simulator. Whether visiting famous landmarks, landing at renowned airports, or taking off from a remote field in South America, it was an exhilarating way to digitally traverse the Earth.

My early impressions of the career mode in this new version are overwhelmingly positive. Back in 2020, I crafted my own missions, such as an aerial pizza delivery from Maine to Matinicus Island, a genuine delivery route, by the way. Now, with structured missions guiding my progress, I’m not only keen on launching my own airline or helicopter sky crane service but also honing my virtual piloting skills along the way.

Adding to the appeal is the new challenge league, a gamified mode maintaining all the simulation’s beloved realism. With weekly challenges and leaderboards, this feature fuels the competitive spirit in me. I relish in competing— the desire to climb the ranks is tangible. Among the initial choices, the F/A-18 rally race inside the Grand Canyon stands out, where you expertly navigate a modern jet through this natural wonder. Unsurprisingly, mastering these flight models isn’t easy, but it’s intensely fun. After numerous attempts, completing the course in just over a minute and fifty seconds only earned me a spot in the Bronze league. Nevertheless, seeing my name surpass an Xbox Live tag of an anonymous yet unofficial rival is a delightful victory.

One of my favorite aspects of Flight Simulator 2020 was how it allowed me to “visit” previously uncharted territories, and Flight Simulator 2024 emphasizes this with its photo challenges. Tasked with snapping photos of famous landmarks, the gameplay enhances the sightseeing experience. For instance, the first challenge requires capturing the Great Sphinx with the sun perfectly positioned on the equinox. Intriguingly, you can now land, exit your aircraft, and explore the terrain on foot. The realism here means walking at a human pace, which feels sluggish for seasoned gamers accustomed to brisk movement. Your experience varies depending on your PC’s capabilities and internet connection.

Despite some dated graphics reminiscent of ’90s video game elements around the Great Pyramid, the overall detail is commendable. The environments—sand, rocks, grass—are vividly rendered and behave realistically. Impressive tracks are left behind when traversing mud or snow, adding depth to the experience. Wildlife has also seen a massive upgrade; animals now appear naturally instead of marked spots, creating immersive moments like a bull moose trotting across a Maine airfield.

Gazing skyward reveals that Flight Simulator 2024 can, in many cases, surpass its predecessor in visual quality, especially in locations like the Grand Canyon. During a flightseeing mission over Venice, the graphics hit a hiccup, as textures failed to load on St. Mark’s Basilica, while the rest of the city looked impeccable. The reliance on cloud-streaming for such details can be both a blessing and a curse, with no option yet for a local storage hybrid solution.

On my high-spec PC, I manage to run the game smoothly, but it puts my GPU through its paces, staying at maximum utilization even on recommended settings, which signals room for optimization.

Despite its turbulent start, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is already winning me over. While not as groundbreaking as its 2020 release, which gave a sense of boundless exploration, it still feels like a strong successor. Slowly overcoming its launch woes, my love for the series is being reignited, thanks to the career mode that guides me into the world of aviation. This iteration may not boast the same awe-impacting splash, but it’s proving to be a solid foundation for my continued virtual travels. I’m still delving into the experience before reaching a final verdict, yet so far, it’s shaping up to be a fantastic addition to my gaming library, albeit without the same fresh, explosive magic of its predecessor.