Compare the best MSFS scenery developers for airports, cities and regions, with strengths, performance caveats and MSFS 2020/2024 checks.
The best Microsoft Flight Simulator scenery developers include FlyTampa, Flightbeam, Pyreegue, iniBuilds, Orbx, Drzewiecki Design and MK-Studios. FlyTampa and Flightbeam are particularly strong for major airports, Pyreegue for detail-heavy terminals, and Orbx or Drzewiecki Design for wider city and regional coverage. Judge the individual release, not only the brand.
Which scenery developer is best for each type of add-on?
There is no universal winner: the right developer depends on whether you need a large international airport, a regional field, a city enhancement or wider terrain coverage.
Our shortlist is not a league table. A developer may have one exceptional airport alongside an older release based on superseded taxiways or terminal layouts. For recommendations at product level, consult our editorial comparison of standout airport, city and regional scenery.
| Developer | Best suited to | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| FlyTampa | Large destination airports, major hubs and packages extending into the surrounding city | Scope and performance vary by location; establish how much detail exists outside the airport |
| Flightbeam | Polished international airports, particularly North American hubs | Confirm the represented airport layout and simulator version |
| Pyreegue | Highly detailed UK and European airports with extensive terminal and airside modelling | Dense interiors and landside objects can demand more GPU memory |
| iniBuilds | Large hubs, bespoke terminals and a broad airport catalogue | Assess performance and update status for the individual release rather than the catalogue as a whole |
| Orbx | Regional scenery, landmarks, city enhancements and airports | Check whether the product is a full airport, an enhancement pack or a broader regional package |
| Drzewiecki Design | Combined airport and city packages, skylines and dense urban areas | Look for overlap with photogrammetry, World Update content and separate airport replacements |
| MK-Studios | European and international airports, including large passenger hubs | Verify that the release reflects the layout and construction phase you want |
| Verticalsim | North American regional and secondary airports | Check parking positions, taxi signs and airline operations for the specific field |
| NZA Simulations | New Zealand and Pacific airports with strong regional character | Review the exact airport and surrounding-area coverage included |
For airline operations, we would prioritise accurate taxiway geometry, stand numbering, signage, jetway placement and sensible night lighting. Elaborate terminal interiors look impressive, but they should be a secondary consideration if they reduce frame rate from the cockpit.
Can freeware scenery match payware?
Yes, a well-scoped freeware airport or landmark can match paid scenery where the developer concentrates on a manageable area and maintains it carefully.
Freeware quality varies more between releases, so developer reputation alone is less useful. Our curated MSFS freeware scenery collection lets you compare airport, city, terrain and landmark projects individually.
Good examples of specialist work include steveli's regional Honolulu photogrammetry package and Jeppeson2001's focused Monument Valley enhancement. These projects address areas that a large commercial airport studio may never cover.
What should you check before installing scenery?
Check simulator compatibility, overlapping packages, airside accuracy, performance demands and update history before installing any Microsoft Flight Simulator scenery.
- Confirm the simulator and platform. A listing should explicitly identify MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024 or both. Do not infer compatibility merely because screenshots look identical.
- Remove duplicate airports. Running two complete replacements for the same ICAO commonly causes doubled terminals, flickering surfaces, misplaced jetways and conflicting ground markings.
- Check default-content conflicts. Handcrafted airports, World Update scenery, photogrammetry and regional mesh can overlap a third-party package. If buildings or terrain appear twice, disable competing scenery before reinstalling anything.
- Assess operational detail. Current runway use, taxiway names, parking positions and signs matter more during normal flying than modelled shops inside a terminal.
- Match detail to your hardware. High-resolution textures, interior modelling, animated objects and dense landside scenery consume GPU memory and can cause stutters at complex hubs.
- Separate visuals from navigation data. Scenery can correct the visible runway without updating instrument procedures or navigation data. A visual mismatch is not always the scenery developer's fault.
A mistake we see constantly is installing several enhancements for the same location and then blaming the newest package. On PC, test the airport with other local Community scenery temporarily removed. On consoles, disable the competing package through the simulator's content library where that option is available.
Does MSFS 2020 scenery work in MSFS 2024?
Some MSFS 2020 scenery works in MSFS 2024, but compatibility must be confirmed release by release rather than assumed.
An updated or native MSFS 2024 edition is preferable when offered, especially for packages using custom terrain, airport services, animations or extensive object libraries. Simulator updates can also change default terrain and airports, creating conflicts that were absent in MSFS 2020.
Platform availability is separate from technical compatibility. MSFS 2020 is available on PC and Xbox, while MSFS 2024 also runs on PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro. Console users cannot install arbitrary PC Community-folder packages and therefore need a Marketplace edition approved for their simulator and platform.
When two developers cover the same airport, choose the release with the more accurate operating layout, clearer performance record and fewer overlapping dependencies. Terminal interiors and decorative features should decide a close contest, not outweigh those fundamentals.