Recommendations for flight games on steam

[Wave Guy]

I have been sort of considering getting this game, as I have been wanting to get into flight games, but my current laptop probably can't handle it. Does anyone have any good recommendations for similar or starter flight games on steam, preferable a bit less hardware intensive? I an also currently considering buying Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition, however that and other flight simulator games seem a bit tedious. Any thoughts?

[eEXM-21]

ever considered getting a good pc

[sincerity]

Originally posted by warriorx:

you can emulate the playstation 1 and 2 Ace Combat games. works on laptop.

also this game on steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/895870/Project_Wingman/

Ace Combat on steroids. Literally.

[akisrs]

DCS WORLD if you like combat sims. You can download free mods too. From the official site you can play any plane for free for 2 weeks every 6 months

[F]

DCS and War thunder, if youre combat focused.

[Molly House]

+1 for wingman, Ace combat has a better story, but I would say Wingman is more fun for the diversity of being able to take multiple special weapons into each mission, but there are 0 check points and it sucks if you die near the end of a mission without even getting extra credits as a reward.

[Molly House]

Also, Everspace 2 is in early access on xbox games pass and you can use HOTAS with it and its super fun

[bingbean]

Project wingman is a good game, but definitely not less hardware consuming as AC7.

[Sir Woods]

get project wingman, legit better than ace combat in terms of sheer joy it gives me

[Wave Guy]

Unfortunately, Project Wingman also seems too hardware intensive for my current laptop. I will probably check out DCS once I have finished my current playthroughs of a bunch of other games so I can have the hard drive space.

[bingbean]

The base game of DCS without any DLC need 100GB of free space on hard drive. DCS is hardcore simulator. Even in low fidelity module (Flaming cliffs 3 DLC planes and the free Su-25T) whit are much simplifield compare full-fidelity plane with clickable cockpit, you will needs 50+ buttons. You can not handle any plane in DCS with 5 buttons and 4 axes like in AC7 or PW. It is still fun to fly it but it is different experience like in arcade game.
And what is probably the most important for you. If your PC is not powerful enough for PW or AC7, it won't be any better in DCS, rather the opposite.

[bingbean]

My recommendation is for looking something older. For WW2 era is really nice game Wings of prey. It is single player predecessor of War Thunder. If you like helicopters, then try to look for Apache air: Assault. It is game from Gaijin as well, but it was released under Activision so there is probably problem with licence, so it is officially no more available. However it is still popular so you can find some "free" version. If you are only looking for something in the style of Ace combat, then maybe HAWX . I dont like the HAWX 1 , because it force you to use in some point stupid external view in weird angle where you don't see where you fly, it was really stupid and thankfully removed in H.A.W.X 2. HAWX 2 don't get good reviews, but i like it.

[Tar_Playr]

Set display resolution to 1280 x 720 and all other settings to medium, should do the trick.

[Wave Guy]

Originally posted by Tar_Playr:

Set display resolution to 1280 x 720 and all other settings to medium, should do the trick.

Do the trick for what? Playing Project: Wingman?

[Wheaton Adams]

Sky Rogue is a clear low-end option.

[Wave Guy]

I am going to play the Wings of Prey demo soon. I played the Everspace 2 demo, and while it was kind of fun, it was also tedious and grindy. Also, I think I am just not that much of a fan of 6DOF games, though I may like to try helicopter games.

I guess I should also clarify a bit on why I want to get into flight games. It is admittedly a bit of a split/broad thing, but what it comes down to is wanting to have a better appreciation and understanding of the principles and mechanics of flight on the operational end (simulator), and also wanting to better appreciate and understand the principles of aerial combat (I guess more combat type stuff like ace combat).