Compare Microsoft Flight Simulator vs War Thunder on realism, combat, aircraft, controls, multiplayer and cost, then choose the right flight game.
Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator for realistic civilian flying, worldwide scenery, navigation, weather and aircraft procedures. Choose War Thunder for competitive air combat, damage modelling, quick matches and military progression. Neither is universally better: Microsoft Flight Simulator simulates operating an aircraft; War Thunder turns combat aviation into an online game.
Microsoft Flight Simulator vs War Thunder at a glance
The choice comes down to what you want the flight itself to achieve: authentic aviation or competitive combat.
| Criterion | Microsoft Flight Simulator | War Thunder |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Civilian aviation, exploration, procedures and career activities | Competitive military combat with aircraft, ground vehicles and naval forces |
| Flight realism | Strongest for navigation, weather, cockpit systems and normal aircraft operation | Strongest for combat manoeuvres, energy fighting and aircraft damage |
| World | A streamed recreation of the whole Earth with real airports | Purpose-built combat maps rather than a continuous world |
| Combat | No native weapons, combat damage or dogfighting game mode | Air-to-air and air-to-ground combat are central to the game |
| Multiplayer | Shared-world flying, formation flights and community events | Structured competitive matches with objectives and progression |
| Aircraft access | Included fleet plus optional aircraft and scenery add-ons | Vehicles researched through national technology trees |
| Cost model | Paid simulator with optional add-on purchases | Free-to-play with premium vehicles, account benefits and progression purchases |
| Platforms | MSFS 2024: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro; MSFS 2020: PC and Xbox only | PC, PlayStation and Xbox |
Which game is more realistic?
Microsoft Flight Simulator is more realistic for civilian aviation, while War Thunder is more convincing when modelling the consequences of aerial combat. MSFS gives you cold-and-dark starts, flight planning, radio navigation, fuel management, changing weather and flights between real airports. Aircraft fidelity varies: a detailed add-on may reproduce most normal procedures, while a simpler included aircraft may omit or simplify systems.
War Thunder models lift, drag, stalls, energy retention, ammunition and component damage, but the level of assistance depends heavily on the selected mode. Arcade Battles are intentionally forgiving, Realistic Battles reduce the assistance, and Simulator Battles demand more direct control. Even Simulator Battles should not be mistaken for a fully clickable, study-level cockpit simulation.
Realism is therefore task-specific. Our explanation of how flight-simulator realism is assessed covers why scenery accuracy, system depth and combat physics cannot be reduced to one score.
Which has better combat, aircraft and multiplayer?
War Thunder has far better combat and competitive multiplayer; Microsoft Flight Simulator has the broader aviation experience. War Thunder supplies weapons, damage, tactical objectives, opposing teams and military aircraft progression across several historical periods.
Microsoft Flight Simulator includes military aircraft, but they operate inside a civilian simulator. You can practise take-offs, formation flying, low-level routes and instrument procedures, but there is no native combat engine, ballistic damage system or competitive air-war objective. A common mistake is buying an MSFS fighter because it looks authentic and expecting its weapons and sensors to behave like those in a dedicated combat simulator.
MSFS is the stronger choice for airliners, general aviation, helicopters, gliders, bush flying and geographic exploration. Aircraft quality still varies between packages, particularly where classified military systems must be approximated. Our guide to how fighter jets differ across flight simulators explains what MSFS military aircraft can and cannot provide.
The multiplayer styles are equally different. MSFS is suited to group flights, formation practice and flying alongside other pilots without combat scoring. War Thunder is built around short or extended matches in which positioning, teamwork, ammunition and survival determine the result.
Do you need a joystick or HOTAS?
Neither game requires a HOTAS, and buying one does not automatically make War Thunder easier. The best control method depends on the mode you intend to play.
- For Microsoft Flight Simulator: a gamepad is workable, but a joystick or yoke gives smoother pitch, roll and trim control. Rudder pedals and a throttle become useful when practising coordinated turns, crosswind landings or multi-engine procedures.
- For War Thunder Arcade or Realistic Battles: mouse aim is precise and often more competitive than an unpractised joystick setup. A gamepad can also work well after sensitivity and dead-zone adjustment.
- For War Thunder Simulator Battles: a joystick or HOTAS is much more appropriate. Pedals, head tracking and careful axis curves help with cockpit visibility, gunnery and stall control.
A mistake we see constantly is applying the same control profile to both games. MSFS usually benefits from gentle response curves and small dead zones, while War Thunder may need different settings for mouse-assisted modes and direct simulator control.
Which is cheaper, and can either be played offline?
War Thunder costs less to start, but Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 provides the more useful offline option when prepared in advance. The headline prices do not tell the whole story.
War Thunder is free-to-play, although unlocking later aircraft can require substantial research time. Premium vehicles and progression benefits reduce that grind, so it can become expensive if the aim is to reach a particular aircraft quickly. MSFS is normally a paid product, with optional aircraft, airports and scenery available separately; subscription availability can change by platform.
War Thunder should be treated as an online-only game. MSFS 2020 can run in a reduced offline configuration after the required content and licence permissions have been prepared, but online scenery, live weather and other connected services will be unavailable. MSFS 2024 relies much more heavily on cloud-streamed content, making a stable internet connection part of normal use.
Common mistakes when choosing between them
Most disappointing purchases come from comparing screenshots rather than the activities each game supports.
- Do not choose MSFS solely for armed aircraft. Its military jets fly in a civilian environment without a complete combat layer.
- Do not choose War Thunder for airline procedures. It is not designed for gate-to-gate IFR flying, civilian navigation or detailed airliner management.
- Do not assume “Simulator Battles” means full systems simulation. The mode changes controls, views and assists, but War Thunder remains centred on combat and progression.
- Check the exact MSFS version on PlayStation. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available on PS5 and PS5 Pro; Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation.
- Consider your console before buying peripherals. Our comparison of flight games available on Xbox covers the platform-specific choices and control trade-offs.
Our recommendation
Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator when flying itself is the objective; choose War Thunder when combat supplies the objective.
- Pick Microsoft Flight Simulator for real-world routes, airliner or general-aviation procedures, worldwide exploration, weather flying and expandable aircraft.
- Pick War Thunder for dogfights, military progression, damage modelling, team objectives and faster sessions.
- Consider a dedicated combat simulator instead if you want both detailed cockpit systems and functional weapons. Our comparison of military flight simulators on PC covers that middle ground.
The two games are complementary rather than direct substitutes. War Thunder asks whether you can defeat another pilot; Microsoft Flight Simulator asks whether you can operate the aircraft and complete the flight properly.