Compare the best flight simulators for Steam Deck, including Aerofly FS 4, X-Plane 11 and free options, with key performance caveats.
We recommend Aerofly FS 4 as the best flight simulator for Steam Deck because its Linux support, modest overhead and gamepad-friendly design suit the handheld. Choose X-Plane 11 for deeper civilian systems, FlightGear for a free option, or War Thunder for accessible combat flying.
Which Steam Deck flight simulator should you choose?
Aerofly FS 4 is our best all-round choice for a Steam Deck running SteamOS, while X-Plane 11 offers more systems depth if you accept extra configuration.
| Simulator | Best for | Why it fits Steam Deck | Main compromise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerofly FS 4 | Overall civilian flying | Linux support, efficient rendering and sensible gamepad controls | Less operational depth than X-Plane |
| X-Plane 11 | Serious civilian simulation | Native Linux version, scalable graphics and detailed flight modelling | Small cockpit controls and considerable binding work |
| FlightGear | Free flight simulation | Linux-native, free and able to run as a non-Steam application | Aircraft quality and interface consistency vary |
| War Thunder | Accessible combat flying | Linux support, controller-friendly design and a simulator battle mode | Not a study-level cockpit simulator and requires an online account |
Aerofly FS 4 is the least troublesome handheld option. It loads quickly, works well with analogue sticks and does not depend on streaming the whole world during every flight. Optional scenery still consumes substantial storage, so plan installations rather than downloading every region at once.
X-Plane 11 is the stronger choice for procedures, navigation and aircraft systems. We favour it over X-Plane 12 on the Deck because X-Plane 12's weather, lighting and detailed airports place much heavier demands on the same hardware. Windows-only aircraft plugins will not load in X-Plane's native Linux build, so check add-on compatibility instead of assuming every desktop aircraft will work.
FlightGear is the zero-cost choice, although it must normally be installed through desktop mode and added as a non-Steam application. Our comparison of free PC flight simulators and their trade-offs explains where FlightGear fits beside other no-cost options.
War Thunder is easier to control from the Deck than most dedicated combat simulators. Its Simulator Battles mode provides cockpit views and more demanding flight controls, but players seeking clickable systems, detailed start-up procedures or realistic avionics should look elsewhere.
Can Microsoft Flight Simulator run on Steam Deck?
Microsoft Flight Simulator can sometimes be made to run on Steam Deck, but neither the 2020 nor 2024 release has native SteamOS or Linux support, so we do not rank either among the best Deck installations.
Proton compatibility can change after simulator, authentication or compatibility-layer updates. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 also demands a very large installation, while Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 depends heavily on streamed world data and a stable connection. The Deck's 16 GB of shared system and graphics memory leaves limited headroom at complex airports.
Installing Windows removes the Linux compatibility layer, but it does not make the Deck's processor or graphics hardware faster. Remote streaming from a more capable PC is usually the cleaner option if that equipment is already available.
If you still want a local installation, start with low settings, cap the frame rate and create a dedicated gamepad profile. Our Steam Deck control setup for Microsoft Flight Simulator covers Steam Input, sensitivity, trackpad use and essential bindings.
What settings work best for flight simulators on Steam Deck?
Use the native 1280 × 800 display resolution, target a stable 30 frames per second and reduce CPU-heavy traffic and scenery settings before sacrificing cockpit readability.
- Prefer the native Linux build. Do not force Proton when the simulator already supplies a Linux version. Doing so can download the Windows build and introduce unnecessary launcher or input problems.
- Start at 1280 × 800. Use low or medium graphics settings and a 30 fps cap. Lowering resolution helps a graphics bottleneck, but it will not fix a processor overloaded by AI traffic or dense world objects. Our guide to flight-simulator resolution and scaling explains that distinction.
- Reduce the right settings. Lower AI traffic, road traffic and object density for processor limitations. Reduce shadows, reflections, clouds and anti-aliasing when graphics load is the problem.
- Build a complete control layer. Bind pitch, roll, yaw, throttle, brakes, trim, flaps, landing gear, camera reset and autopilot disconnect. Use the rear buttons as modifiers and a trackpad as the cockpit mouse.
- Leave storage headroom. Scenery, shader caches and simulator updates need working space beyond the advertised installation size. A nearly full drive commonly causes failed updates and long maintenance operations.
Does Steam Deck Verified guarantee a good flight sim?
No—the compatibility badge does not guarantee readable cockpit text, reliable performance at dense airports or enough physical controls for a complex aircraft.
A common failure we see is double input: Steam Input creates a virtual controller while the simulator also reads the physical device. If an axis moves twice or buttons trigger two commands, use either the simulator's direct controller handling or the Steam Input mapping, not both. If forcing Proton replaced a working native build, return the compatibility setting to its default and remove custom launch options.
Trackpads make small switches manageable, but touchscreen input is imprecise in a crowded airliner cockpit. Increasing the simulator's interface scale and assigning a trackpad click as the primary mouse button is usually more effective than lowering the display resolution.
Can you connect a yoke and rudder pedals?
Yes, standard USB flight controls can work through a USB-C hub, but Linux driver support and power requirements must be checked for each device.
Basic USB human-interface devices are the safest choice. Hardware that requires proprietary Windows configuration software, custom drivers or background utilities may expose only limited functions under SteamOS. Use a powered hub with charging pass-through when connecting several devices; an underpowered hub can cause intermittent disconnects that look like a simulator fault.
Is Steam Deck OLED better for flight simulation?
The Steam Deck OLED improves display quality and battery life, but it is not a major processing upgrade over the LCD model.
Both models use a 1280 × 800 display and belong to the same performance class, so choose the same simulator and graphics targets. The OLED screen makes dark cockpits and small instruments easier to view, but it does not turn X-Plane 12 or Microsoft Flight Simulator into consistently high-setting handheld experiences.