Compare all three Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator games, their WWII theatres, campaigns, add-ons and modern PC issues to choose the right one.
Microsoft released three main Combat Flight Simulator games: the original European air-war simulator, Combat Flight Simulator 2's Pacific and carrier campaign, and Combat Flight Simulator 3's dynamic European campaign. For most players, CFS3 offers the greatest depth; choose CFS2 for Pacific naval aviation and CFS1 mainly for nostalgia.
What are the three Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator games?
Microsoft published the trilogy between 1998 and 2002, and all three simulate the Second World War rather than modern jet combat.
| Game | Main setting | Key strengths | Best reason to play it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat Flight Simulator: WWII Europe Series (1998) | The European air war | Direct fighter combat, straightforward missions and the simplest learning curve | You want the original CFS experience or a less complicated campaign |
| Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater (2000) | The Pacific air war | Carrier operations, naval strikes, Japanese and American aircraft, and a mission builder | You want carrier landings, island operations or Pacific aircraft |
| Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe (2002) | North-west Europe from 1943 | A dynamic campaign, fighter and ground-attack operations, bomber positions and extensive add-on potential | You want the deepest campaign and the broadest range of combat roles |
The campaigns, aircraft and add-ons are not interchangeable. CFS2 is not simply CFS1 with better graphics, while CFS3 changes the campaign structure and places much more emphasis on the wider air-ground war. Our comparison of WWII bombing missions and simulator roles explains how the bombing experience differs between the Pacific and European theatres.
Which Combat Flight Simulator is best?
Choose Combat Flight Simulator 3 if you want one game with the most depth. Its dynamic campaign, varied mission types and stronger support for major community expansions make it the best general recommendation, provided you are prepared to configure an old Windows title.
- Choose CFS3 for campaign depth: missions feed into a changing strategic campaign rather than existing only as isolated sorties. It is the strongest choice for mixed fighter, bomber and ground-attack operations.
- Choose CFS2 for Pacific combat: carrier take-offs, arrested landings, naval targets and Pacific aircraft are its defining features. CFS3 is not a substitute if that theatre is your main interest.
- Choose CFS1 for simplicity or nostalgia: it gets you into European dogfights quickly, but its presentation, campaign design and add-on capabilities are the most dated of the trilogy.
If all three install and run correctly, CFS3 is our default recommendation. CFS2 is the better specialist choice for naval aviation, and there is no need to own or complete CFS1 before playing either sequel.
Will the CFS games run on Windows 10 or Windows 11?
All three may run on modern Windows PCs, but none was designed for Windows 10 or Windows 11, so the disc edition, legacy copy protection, graphics driver and installation location can affect the result.
- Start with a clean installation. Use a simple folder outside protected locations, such as
C:\Games\CFS3, rather than placing the game underProgram Files. - Apply the correct official update. Updates are specific to each game; a CFS3 update cannot repair or improve CFS2.
- Test the stock game first. Launch it and fly a default aircraft before installing scenery, aircraft, weapons packs or campaign expansions.
- Change one compatibility setting at a time. Applying administrator mode, several compatibility options and replacement graphics files together makes the actual fault difficult to identify.
- Configure the controller manually. A modern USB joystick can work if Windows recognises its axes and buttons, but these games predate modern HOTAS profiles and often require fresh assignments.
A disc that installs but produces no launch window may be encountering legacy copy protection rather than a graphics problem. Compatibility mode does not automatically fix blocked disc checks, and unknown replacement executables carry a real security risk. See our practical CFS guidance for Windows 11 before buying an old copy solely for a modern PC.
Can you add aircraft and missions to Combat Flight Simulator?
CFS1, CFS2 and CFS3 all have community content, but every download must match the exact simulator and may depend on additional models, weapons, effects or shared files.
The safest method is to preserve a clean, working installation and back it up before changing anything. A mistake we see constantly is installing several aircraft and scenery packages at once, then discovering that one has overwritten a shared file. Large CFS3 campaign conversions are often better kept in a separate installation rather than mixed into the stock game.
CFS3 has especially strong expansion potential; our overview of CFS3 aircraft, bomber and multiplayer add-ons shows the range available. Add-ons improve variety, but they do not turn these titles into modern simulators: expect period graphics, older AI behaviour, manual file management and no native VR support.