Find the best flight simulator for kids by age and device, with our top pick, free and mobile alternatives, controls and parent checks.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the best flight simulator for most kids aged roughly ten and up: it combines adjustable assistance, forgiving training aircraft, structured activities and spectacular world exploration. For younger children, a touch-based mobile simulator is usually easier; for a no-cost PC option, choose FlightGear.
For general civilian flight simulation, the right choice depends more on patience, reading ability and available hardware than age alone. The age bands below are practical guidance rather than official content ratings.
Which flight simulator is best for your child's age and device?
| Choice | Best for | Why choose it | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | Most children around ten and older | Excellent scenery, scalable assistance, approachable light aircraft and plenty of activities | Demanding graphics and streamed world data favour capable hardware and reliable broadband |
| Infinite Flight | Older children using iPad, iPhone or Android | Accessible touch controls with more authentic flying and procedures than a simple arcade game | Some aircraft, scenery and online features depend on its paid access model |
| FlightGear | Families needing a free desktop simulator | Free, open-source software with many aircraft and no subscription requirement | Installation, controls and menus are less welcoming, so adult help is often needed |
| Shared flying or a simple tablet app | Younger children, roughly under eight | An adult can handle menus while the child uses basic pitch, roll and throttle controls | Full cockpit procedures will usually be too complicated |
For a smaller screen, compare the control style and payment model in our shortlist of mobile flight simulators. Families avoiding an initial purchase should also consider our comparison of free PC flight simulator options.
Why is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 best for most kids?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers the best balance of accessibility and room to grow. It runs on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, and a standard console controller is enough for a child to begin.
Assistance settings can reduce the workload from rudder control, checklists and other cockpit tasks. A child can start by sightseeing in an external camera, then gradually move towards cockpit instruments, radio procedures and realistic weather.
For the first session, use Free Flight rather than placing the child directly into a complex airliner or career progression. Across our community, one of the most common beginner mistakes is choosing a jet because it looks exciting, then becoming stuck among autopilot modes, navigation displays and engine procedures.
A Cessna 172 is a far better first aircraft: it is stable, slow enough to stay ahead of and easy to operate with a gamepad or basic joystick. Our guide to the Cessna 172's beginner-friendly handling explains why it works so well.
If the family already owns Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on PC or Xbox, it remains perfectly suitable for learning and sightseeing; there is no need to buy the newer simulator solely for basic flying. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released on PlayStation, so PlayStation 5 owners need Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
How should a child start flying?
- Let an adult complete the setup. Install updates, configure the account and confirm that the controller works before handing over the aircraft.
- Use an assisted preset. Keep damage, weather and aircraft-management demands low initially. Assistance can be removed one item at a time later.
- Choose a simple aircraft and runway. Load a Cessna 172 at a familiar local airport in daylight, with clear skies and light wind.
- Teach only three controls first. Begin with throttle, pitch and roll. Add rudder, flaps, trim and cockpit switches after the child can fly straight and make gentle turns.
- Give the flight a short objective. Take off, fly over the child's home area or a recognisable landmark, then return. A clear task is more rewarding than an hour of unexplained cockpit instruction.
For the next stage, our beginner setup and learning sequence covers controls, first flights and sensible practice goals without overwhelming a new simmer.
What should parents check before buying?
- Hardware and internet: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 relies heavily on streamed world data. FlightGear is the better choice for an older or less powerful computer, or where required scenery needs to be prepared for offline use.
- Account controls: Use the platform's child and family settings, restrict unauthorised purchases and disable multiplayer if shared online traffic is unwanted.
- Peripheral compatibility: Do not assume that a PC joystick or yoke works on a console. Check the exact platform support before buying; a compatible gamepad is enough at the start.
- Advertising and purchases: Free mobile flying games may contain intrusive adverts, short timers or repeated purchase prompts. Review these before giving a child unsupervised access.
- Complexity: Avoid buying a yoke, pedals, throttle quadrant and add-ons immediately. Let the child demonstrate sustained interest with a controller or inexpensive twist-grip joystick first.
Can a flight simulator be educational for children?
Yes. Used with a simple goal, a flight simulator can teach cause and effect, map reading, headings, runway awareness, checklists and the basic relationship between pitch, power and airspeed. Asking a child to hold an altitude or find an airport gives the session more value than unrestricted sightseeing alone.
A home simulator does not reproduce physical forces, real risk or every handling characteristic, and it is not a substitute for instruction in a real aircraft. Its strongest role is building curiosity and procedural familiarity.
Our practical recommendation: choose Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 when the family has a compatible console or capable PC and reliable broadband. Choose Infinite Flight for convenient tablet flying, or FlightGear when cost matters more than polished setup.