See which PC flying games support joysticks and HOTAS controls, from MSFS and X-Plane to DCS, IL-2 and space-combat titles.
Most major PC flying games support a USB joystick, including Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and 2020, X-Plane 12, DCS World, IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles, Aerofly FS 4, War Thunder, FlightGear, Prepar3D and FSX. Elite Dangerous and Star Wars: Squadrons also support joystick or HOTAS controls on PC.
PC flying games with joystick support
These are the strongest joystick-compatible options across general PC flight simulation, aerial combat and space combat. Support for a joystick does not always mean that every device has a ready-made control preset.
| Game or simulator | Flying style | Joystick support |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and 2020 | Civil aviation | Supports separate joysticks, throttles, pedals and button panels. Popular devices often have presets; others can be mapped manually. |
| X-Plane 12 | Civil aviation | Broad support for generic USB joysticks and HOTAS equipment, with calibration and aircraft-specific control profiles. |
| DCS World | Military aviation | Extensive axis and button assignment. Each aircraft module has its own controls, so bindings usually need attention for every aircraft. |
| IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles | Second World War combat | Native joystick, throttle and rudder support. A joystick is particularly valuable when using the more realistic difficulty settings. |
| Aerofly FS 4 | Civil aviation | Supports analogue axes, buttons and multiple flight-control devices. |
| War Thunder | Air combat | Accepts joysticks and HOTAS controls, although mouse aim is often easier outside the simulator-style modes. |
| FlightGear | Civil aviation | Works with many standard USB flight controls. Less common devices may require manual configuration. |
| Prepar3D and FSX | Legacy civil aviation | Support conventional DirectInput joysticks, yokes, throttles and pedals, though automatic assignments can create conflicts. |
| Elite Dangerous and Star Wars: Squadrons | Space combat | Both support joystick or HOTAS flying on PC, including additional axes used for spacecraft movement. |
This is not an exhaustive list. Some aircraft-themed arcade games accept only a keyboard, an Xbox-style controller or a small selection of named HOTAS products. Before buying one specifically for joystick use, confirm that it offers assignable analogue axes rather than merely listing “controller support”. Our comparison of major PC flight simulators available through Steam helps narrow the choices by flying style.
Which joystick-compatible flying game should you choose?
Choose according to the type of aircraft and control depth you want, not simply the number of supported peripherals.
- Civil aviation: Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane provide the broadest airliner and general-aviation experience. Aerofly FS is another accessible option with straightforward control assignment.
- Detailed military aircraft: DCS World suits players prepared to bind many cockpit functions and learn controls separately for each aircraft.
- Historical combat: IL-2 Sturmovik is a natural match for a stick, throttle and rudder setup.
- Quicker online air combat: War Thunder supports a joystick, but its mouse-based control modes can be more competitive.
- Space flying: Elite Dangerous and Star Wars: Squadrons are suitable when six-axis spacecraft movement appeals more than conventional aircraft physics.
- Older civil simulators: FSX and Prepar3D remain joystick compatible, particularly for established add-on collections and cockpit setups.
A single stick with twist rudder and a small throttle slider is enough to start. Pedals and a separate throttle improve control but are not compulsory; our breakdown of useful PC flight controls explains which hardware adds a real benefit.
Will any USB joystick work with these games?
Most standard USB joysticks expose DirectInput axes and buttons that serious PC flight simulators can recognise. The absence of a named preset does not mean the joystick is incompatible: it may simply require manual calibration and binding.
Full HOTAS setups sometimes appear as two or more independent USB devices. A simulator must recognise multiple controllers simultaneously, which the major simulators listed above generally do. Force feedback is a separate feature and is not guaranteed merely because ordinary axis input works.
Older 15-pin hardware is different because a modern PC cannot use it as a native USB controller. Read our explanation of what is required to connect a game-port joystick before assuming a passive plug adaptor will work.
Why is the joystick detected but not controlling the aircraft?
A recognised joystick usually fails in-game because its axes are unassigned, duplicated or being translated into the wrong controller type.
- Test it in Windows. Run
joy.cpl, select the device and verify that its axes and buttons respond. If they do not, the problem is outside the game. - Select or create a control profile. Do not assume the game has loaded the correct preset just because it displays the joystick's name.
- Clear duplicate axes. Automatic profiles commonly assign pitch, roll or throttle to the joystick, gamepad and throttle unit at the same time, causing erratic input.
- Bind the four essential controls. Assign pitch, roll, yaw and throttle first. Our axis and button mapping instructions cover the correct assignments.
- Check direction and dead zones. Reverse an axis if the throttle or flight controls move backwards, then add only enough dead zone to stop unwanted movement around the centre.
- Check controller translation. If a Steam-launched game sees a virtual gamepad instead of the physical joystick, test its per-game controller settings with Steam Input disabled. Some controller-only games need that translation, so treat this as a diagnostic step rather than a universal setting.
Older games may enumerate controllers only during launch. Connect the joystick before starting the game, and avoid changing USB ports after creating bindings because some titles may then treat it as a new device.