Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 worth buying yet?
Yes—Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is worth buying if you want its career mode, stronger sense of progression and refreshed default content, and you can tolerate some rough edges. If you already own MSFS 2020 and care more about stability, mature add-ons and predictable performance, waiting is still a sensible call.
Buy now or wait?
Buy now if the new sim’s built-in structure matters more to you than absolute polish; wait if your priority is a settled platform with fewer surprises. For many simmers, the real dividing line is simple: if you own neither sim, 2024 is the easier buy, but if MSFS 2020 already works well for you, 2024 is a selective upgrade rather than an automatic replacement. Our in-depth look at what MSFS 2024 changes compared with 2020 is the quickest way to judge how big that step really is for your kind of flying.
| Buy now | Wait |
|---|---|
| You are new to Microsoft Flight Simulator | You already have a stable MSFS 2020 setup |
| You mainly fly default aircraft and built-in activities | Your favourite add-ons are the main reason you fly |
| You want career mode, missions and progression | You want mature compatibility and fewer patch-day surprises |
| You can tolerate some troubleshooting | You want a polished platform first and foremost |
Who should buy Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 now?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 makes the most sense for simmers who want more structure and are happy to live a little closer to the edge.
- First-time buyers: If you do not already own MSFS 2020, it is easier to justify starting with 2024 than buying the older sim and planning to move later.
- Default-content flyers: The value is much better if you spend most of your time in the aircraft and activities that ship with the sim instead of building everything around third-party products.
- Career and mission fans: If free flight alone does not hold your attention, 2024’s structured modes add something 2020 never offered in the same way.
- People who do not mind tinkering: If updating drivers, checking settings and sorting the odd control-profile problem does not put you off, the rough edges are easier to live with.
Who should wait and stay with MSFS 2020?
Staying with MSFS 2020 is still the smarter move for plenty of experienced simmers.
- Your 2020 setup already does the job: If you mainly fly a couple of aircraft you know well and your sim is stable, 2024 may not feel like a big enough jump to justify the disruption.
- Your add-on library matters more than the base sim: Aircraft, utilities, hardware profiles and scenery usually need time to settle around a new platform.
- Your PC or internet connection is already near the limit: Performance is not only about average FPS; stutters, loading delays and frame-time consistency matter more than headline numbers, especially on approach.
- You hate troubleshooting: If a patch that resets settings or a controller issue ruins the whole evening, waiting is the lower-stress choice.
What usually makes people regret buying too early?
Stability, performance swings, streaming hiccups and add-on churn are the four complaints we hear most often.
MSFS 2024 leans heavily on online-delivered content. When your connection is weak, or the service itself is having a bad day, the sim can feel slower and less consistent than the trailers suggest, with long loads or scenery detail arriving late.
On PC, hardware and driver differences still matter a lot. If hard crashes are your biggest worry, read our guide to the common causes of random MSFS 2024 crashes before buying; if that list sounds like work you do not want, waiting is the better answer.
A mistake we see constantly is assuming a new sim will instantly replace a mature one. If your flying depends on a specific airliner, utility or cockpit workflow, check that first and treat anything else as a bonus.
Does the included content justify the price?
For many buyers, yes—but only if the aircraft and airports included in your edition match how you actually fly.
Most buyer’s remorse comes from paying for extra content that looks nice in a comparison chart but never becomes part of a regular routine. Check which aircraft are included in MSFS 2024 and judge the value by the types you will still be using after the first week, not the total count.
Which edition is safest if you do buy?
If you are unsure, the base edition is usually the safest buy.
Move up to a higher edition only when the extra aircraft or handcrafted airports are part of your real flying plans, not just hangar filler. Our guide to choosing the right MSFS 2024 edition can save you paying for extras you will barely load.
Our blunt view: if you own neither sim, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is worth buying. If you already own MSFS 2020, buy 2024 for its new structure and included content, not because you expect a perfectly settled one-for-one replacement. If you can try it through a platform subscription first, that is the lowest-risk way to judge how it behaves on your own hardware.