Find the best PS4 flight simulator games, from Ace Combat 7 and War Thunder to PSVR flying, plus the realism and hardware limits to expect.
The best flight simulator game for PS4 is Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown for most players, although it favours fast arcade combat over authentic aircraft systems. Choose War Thunder for deeper flight physics and online battles, or Ultrawings for civilian-style flying in the original PlayStation VR headset.
Best PS4 flight simulator games compared
PS4’s strongest flying games cover several niches, but none combines global civilian aviation, detailed cockpits and realistic air traffic in the manner of a desktop simulator.
| Game | Best for | Simulation level | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown | Accessible combat and an offline campaign | Arcade | Simplified physics and aircraft systems |
| War Thunder | Realistic online air combat | Arcade to simulation, depending on mode | Online progression and demanding controls |
| Ultrawings | Civilian-style PSVR flying | Light simulation | Requires the original PlayStation VR system |
| Air Missions: HIND | Combat helicopters | Simulation-inspired | Narrow aircraft selection and a less polished presentation |
| Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers | Offline Second World War missions | Arcade | Older, simpler flight and mission design |
Which PS4 flight game should you choose?
Choose according to the type of flying and controls you want rather than assuming every game labelled a simulator models aircraft realistically.
Why is Ace Combat 7 the best overall choice?
Ace Combat 7 is the easiest recommendation for a strong single-player campaign, spectacular missions and controls designed around the DualShock 4. Its fictional weapons loads, forgiving stalls and cinematic manoeuvres make it an action game rather than a training simulator.
Its accessibility is precisely why it works well on PS4. Our comparison of Ace Combat 7’s arcade design with DCS-level simulation explains the difference in aircraft handling and cockpit depth.
Is War Thunder the most realistic PS4 flight simulator?
War Thunder is the closest PS4 gets to a serious fixed-wing combat simulator, particularly in Realistic and Simulator Battles. Aircraft energy, ammunition, damage and control technique matter far more than they do in Ace Combat 7.
Its Arcade, Realistic and Simulator modes are substantially different, so judging it solely by the default arcade experience is a common mistake. Simulator controls are also difficult on a standard controller until the axes, sensitivity and view controls are configured carefully. Our breakdown of War Thunder’s combat focus and flight modelling provides more detail on what it simulates and what it does not.
What is the best PS4 flight simulator for PSVR?
Ultrawings is the best PS4 option for relaxed, civilian-style flying in virtual reality. It uses fictional light aircraft and simplified systems, but take-offs, landings, cockpit interaction and open-area flying give it more of a flying-school character than the combat games.
Ace Combat 7 also supports the original PlayStation VR headset, but only through three dedicated VR missions rather than its full campaign. Buying it with the expectation that every mission works in VR is one of the most frequent PS4 flight-game mistakes.
Are there good helicopter or Second World War alternatives?
Air Missions: HIND is the specialist choice for attack-helicopter flying, with more deliberate controls than a typical arcade shooter. Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers is better suited to players wanting an offline Second World War campaign, although its flight model and mission structure feel dated beside Ace Combat 7 and War Thunder.
Is there a realistic civilian flight simulator on PS4?
No PS4 game provides a complete civilian simulator comparable to Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane on PC. Ultrawings offers the best civilian-style experience, while Island Flight Simulator has cargo flights but lacks the systems, navigation depth and flight modelling expected from a serious simulator.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released on any PlayStation, while Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available on PS5 and PS5 Pro but not PS4. Our PS4 platform explanation for Microsoft Flight Simulator clears up the version and console distinction. DCS World is also unavailable on PS4 because it remains a PC simulator.
Do PSVR2 and flight sticks work with PS4 flight games?
PS4 flight hardware works only when both the console and the individual game explicitly support it.
- PSVR: PS4 VR games require the original PlayStation VR hardware. PSVR2 is PS5 hardware and does not make PS4 flight games VR-compatible.
- Flight sticks: Use a PS4-compatible stick listed as supported by the game. A generic PC USB joystick will not necessarily be recognised by the console.
- DualShock 4: Ace Combat 7 is designed around it. War Thunder works with it too, but Simulator Battles benefit from carefully adjusted axes, dead zones and view bindings.
- Game modes: Start War Thunder in Arcade or Realistic Battles before attempting Simulator Battles; this avoids confusing unfamiliar controls with a poor flight model.
For most PS4 owners, Ace Combat 7 is the best complete game, War Thunder offers the deepest aircraft handling, and Ultrawings is the clear choice for original PSVR flying.