I have played previous iterations of Microsoft Flight Simulator, and while finding them to have a slightly steep learning curve for those of us who have the patience of a husky at dinnertime, they do give you a sense of satisfaction when you are soaring through the skies in your aircraft of choice. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 endeavours to continue that tradition while also keeping the game file size nice and small thanks to cloud-based gaming. There are tons of new mission styles to play through, including search and rescue, firefighting, air ambulance, and many more. You can also use your DLC from the previous version of the game, which is a really awesome addition. Now, I won’t pretend I didn’t feel the same frustration at the loading times as others have, but it seems to have been mostly fixed by now. All in all, it’s a great addition to the series.
ℹ️ Reviewed on Xbox Series X | Review code provided by PR/publisher, this review is the personal opinion of the writer. Got unanswered questions about this game? Get in touch on X!
| Developer | Asobo Studios |
| Publisher | Xbox Game Studios |
Things I liked!
- Extremely detailed instruction | The game really does have an exceptional number of planes to fly, and of course, you will need to learn how to utilise each to your best ability. The instruction you are given as you learn is clear, concise, and easy to understand. I actually felt like I was learning how to fly properly… although unless they give me an Xbox pad and a parachute, I probably shouldn’t be trusted.
- Graphics | As always, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has amazing graphics, from the planes themselves to the landscapes and weather cycles. You can even fly over your own hometown should the mood take you that way. I really enjoy checking out the scenery in free play mode, just casually idling a wee half hour taking it all in.
Mixed & disliked!
- AI Voice acting | Come on, Microsoft! Voice actors aren’t hard to come by these days, and hearing the AI mispronounce so many place names really got on my nerves. Plus, you know, as a voice actor myself, this will never not annoy me!
- Initial Loading times | When the game was first released, the loading times were atrocious. I don’t think they expected the number of people who wanted to play the game, and the servers were at capacity very quickly. I found myself sometimes waiting for 10 minutes just to get into training mode. For someone who has a very short attention span like me, that is a lifetime. Luckily, though, it seems to have been sorted out.
How long did I play the review before publishing? 30 Hours
How long to beat the story? 20 – 30 hours
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 10/27
How long to achieve 1000G | 50 hours
You’ll love this game if you like these | War Thunder, X-plane 12
CONCLUSION
Score: 68/100 – Although an enjoyable flight simulation experience, there were a lot of downsides to the game, which, as I was reviewing it, put me off slightly, such as the long loading times and the frequent crashes as the servers struggled to handle the number of players. Even though this has been fixed now, I have to base my score on my overall experience of the game. I feel like people would enjoy it more now and in the future with further patches, but it is far from perfect in my opinion. Grab it if you are a die-hard fan of Microsoft Flight Simulator games; otherwise, I suggest waiting until all the issues are sorted.
I’m just a tall bearded bald Scotsman who loves games of every type. I’m a voice actor as well and have been for a few years now. I have an odd sense of humour.
