Continuing from where the previous installment left us with the entirety of Earth to explore, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 promises even more adventures for aviation enthusiasts. The 2020 edition was the first—and so far, the only—game that I awarded a perfect 10 in a review. Its sweeping options were mind-blowing, but those were tempered by some persistent issues. This year’s sequel brings some exciting new elements, yet it’s not quite the jaw-dropping experience I was yearning for. While the features are undeniably impressive, there’s a certain impact that seems diminished when compared to its predecessor.
Diving straight into it, the most significant addition to 2024’s Flight Simulator is the career mode. Here, players can choose an airport to call their base, join a fictional aviation company, and navigate their career path as pilots. It’s much like a skill tree in traditional games. Start with beginner missions, and once you ace those, new doors open up, granting access to advanced planes and jobs like search and rescue or helicopter operations, such as managing a sky crane. For a tech enthusiast like me, all I could think was, “Hell yeah!” These certifications lead to various career paths, from basic sightseeing flights to more demanding helicopter missions.
Over time, players can earn enough reputation and in-game currency to break free from their employers and establish their own aviation companies. While I’m not quite at that stage yet, I’ve made headway with fixed-wing certifications and am eager to eventually run my own business, reaping the profits to expand further.
The early missions in this career mode serve as flight training to get players acclimated with flying. Unfortunately, this part largely mirrors the 2020 tutorials, taking place at the same Sedona airfield and accomplishing the same tasks. The difference lies in the improved guidance from the AI instructor and on-screen prompts, which clarify expectations. I appreciate these by default, considering there are countless controls to remember; I often found myself Googling how to disengage the parking brake back in 2020.
As players progress, additional mission types become available. A curious aspect is that not all missions are local to your chosen home airport. I began at a small airfield in eastern Maine, but soon found myself undertaking various missions across Europe. While it added a sense of global adventure, it occasionally shook the illusion of a cohesive career path I had imagined for myself.
Reflecting on what made 2020’s Simulator remarkable, it’s essential to mention the sheer vastness and realism it offered. Flying anywhere in the world, the game’s 20 included aircraft provided ample variety even for the biggest aviation aficionados. The seamless blending of realism with player-friendly assists ensured that anyone could enjoy flying, no matter their skill level. The global mapping data elevated the game beyond a mere simulation into an awe-inspiring virtual exploration tool. Whether admiring landmarks or landing at famous airports, it was an unmatched digital journey into our planet’s wonders.
Jumping back to 2024, I find career mode genuinely enjoyable. Previously, I’d invent missions, like air-delivering pizza from Maine to remote islands. Now, structured career paths help me better understand flight patterns and aircraft—gradually nurturing me into a skilled sim-pilot. I’m thrilled about potential futures where I operate either an airline or a helicopter sky crane firm, or maybe even both if time permits.
Fresh to Flight Simulator this year is the challenge league. Among the trio of weekly challenges, the F/A-18 rally race in the Grand Canyon was thrilling—speed weaving through rugged terrain, it proved to be both challenging and exhilarating. While it pushed my skills, I found the thrill of competing immensely satisfying, even if my scores weren’t top-tier. It really adds a dynamic mode, contrasting with the static landing challenges from previous versions.
Sightseeing, a beloved feature of the past game, now takes center stage in the photo challenges mode, encouraging players to capture landmarks from novel perspectives. For instance, capturing the Great Sphinx during an equinox requires walking—yes, on foot. This feature, while intriguing, presents a few challenges. The pace mirrors real-world walking speed, which might feel slow to gamers accustomed to faster movement. Plus, the level of detail can vary based on your PC, internet, and cloud server reliability.
Still, the terrain detail has been improved. Environmental interactions, like leaving tracks in grass or mud, remind players of the natural world’s authenticity. Wildlife is now more dynamic, adding to the realism—just seeing a moose roam near a takeoff strip genuinely adds to the experience.
When it comes to graphics, Flight Simulator 2024 vastly improves upon its predecessor—assuming your setup supports it. My own high-end rig enables stunning visuals, particularly in areas like the Grand Canyon, which appear much more lifelike. Yet, the reliance on cloud streaming brings complications. Some graphical discrepancies appear, like a textureless Basilica in Venice amidst a highly detailed city, leading to a preference for local data storage that’s currently not feasible.
For all the visual glory on my powerful PC, it does demand a lot from the GPU. Even on recommended settings, resource usage peaks, indicating room for optimization.
Despite the rocky launch and early technical hurdles, my affection for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 grows. Although it hasn’t captured the unprecedented excitement of global exploration as before, its improvements in career mode and graphical fidelity are promising. As launch issues ease, I can focus more on what I enjoy: flying, wandering aimlessly, and exploring the strides made in virtual aviation. There’s much to enjoy here, even if it’s yet to fully recapture past magic.
