Is Microsoft Flight Simulator worth it for beginners and experienced simmers?
Is Microsoft Flight Simulator worth it? Get a clear verdict for beginners and experienced simmers, with version, hardware, add-on and cost caveats.
Yes—Microsoft Flight Simulator is worth it for most beginners and many experienced simmers, but for different reasons. Beginners get scalable assists, training and easy sightseeing; experienced users get a convincing global environment and a deep add-on ecosystem. The main drawbacks are demanding hardware, heavy internet use and uneven systems depth in default aircraft.
The verdict for each type of simmer
The value depends more on how you want to fly than on how much experience you already have.
| Type of simmer | Why MSFS is worth it | Main caution |
|---|---|---|
| Complete beginner | Training, adjustable assists, accessible light aircraft and instant flights from almost any airport | Too many assists can hide basic mistakes and make the aircraft seem unpredictable |
| Experienced simmer | Detailed global scenery, IFR and VFR flying, extensive hardware support on PC and a large add-on ecosystem | Not every included aircraft has the systems depth or failure modelling expected from a specialist simulation |
Is Microsoft Flight Simulator easy enough for a beginner?
Yes; a beginner can fly within minutes without understanding navigation, radio procedures or aircraft systems. Assistance options can simplify engine management, rudder control, checklists, damage and other tasks while the training activities introduce basic handling.
We recommend starting with a simple piston aircraft in clear weather, using an external view only when needed, and practising take-off, a circuit and landing at the same airfield. Reduce assists one at a time as your control improves. Our practical setup and first-flight advice for new simmers covers controls, aircraft choice and the skills to learn first.
A mistake we see constantly is enabling every assistance feature and then trying to learn from the aircraft’s behaviour. AI control or automatic rudder inputs may fight what the pilot is doing. If the aircraft turns, trims or changes power unexpectedly, check the assistance settings and eliminate duplicate controller bindings before blaming the flight model.
Does MSFS have enough depth for experienced simmers?
Yes, provided you judge systems fidelity aircraft by aircraft rather than treating it as a property of the whole simulator. Microsoft Flight Simulator is particularly strong for visual VFR flying, worldwide exploration and building a customised PC setup around sophisticated aircraft, scenery and utilities.
The included fleet ranges from accessible aircraft to more involved types, but an impressive cockpit does not guarantee that every electrical, hydraulic or failure mode is simulated. Experienced airline users should check the exact avionics, flight-management, navigation and failure features of the aircraft they intend to fly.
On PC, manually installed packages and external utilities offer the greatest flexibility. Our MSFS aircraft, scenery and utility library shows how much can be added beyond the base simulator. Consoles are simpler to maintain, but they do not provide the same unrestricted access to the Community folder or PC-based external tools.
The built-in ATC can also fall short of strict real-world procedural flying, and aircraft ground handling varies. Those weaknesses do not erase the simulator’s value, but they matter if your purchase depends on complete airline operations without additional software or aircraft.
Should you buy Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024?
New buyers should normally start with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, while existing MSFS 2020 owners should upgrade only after checking performance and compatibility with the aircraft and utilities they rely on.
MSFS 2024 is the newer platform and is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro. MSFS 2020 was never released for PlayStation and remains a PC and Xbox simulator. The 2024 release also adds Career Mode and more structured activities, but relies heavily on streamed content and does not make every older add-on automatically compatible.
Our feature-by-feature comparison of MSFS 2020 and 2024 explains the practical differences. If upgrade maturity is the deciding factor, see our focused assessment of the reasons to buy MSFS 2024 or wait.
What equipment do you actually need?
You need a supported PC or console, a stable internet connection and some form of analogue flight control. A gamepad is adequate for sightseeing and learning, while a joystick is usually the most useful first hardware upgrade. A yoke, throttle quadrant and rudder pedals are optional rather than beginner requirements.
- PC: Best for add-ons, external utilities, specialist controllers and adjustable graphics, but performance depends heavily on the processor, graphics hardware, memory and chosen settings.
- Xbox Series X|S: Predictable console setup and gamepad support, with less freedom for manually installed modifications and external programs.
- PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro: Supported by MSFS 2024, but not by MSFS 2020; console add-on and peripheral choices remain more controlled than on PC.
- Internet: Stable broadband matters because streamed scenery, updates and online services account for much of the simulator’s visual appeal.
Do not buy costly controls before confirming that you enjoy the simulation. Likewise, a more expensive simulator edition adds particular aircraft and airports; it does not make the core flight model universally more realistic.
When is Microsoft Flight Simulator not worth it?
MSFS is poor value when its platform requirements or design do not match what you actually want to simulate.
- Your internet connection is unreliable and detailed streamed scenery is a major reason for buying it.
- Your PC only just meets the requirements, but you expect maximum graphics settings, complex airliners or high-resolution VR.
- You expect every included aircraft to provide full system simulation without buying or installing add-ons.
- You need unrestricted manual mod installation but plan to play on a console.
- Your main interest is competitive combat flying rather than civil aviation, navigation and aircraft operation.
Our verdict: beginners receive one of the most approachable introductions to civil flight simulation, while experienced simmers receive a flexible platform whose real depth depends on aircraft choice, add-ons and hardware. Start with the standard content unless a higher edition includes a specific aircraft or airport you know you will use.