It is always thrilling to experience flying simulations in video games. But once it broke out to the realm of online multiplayer gaming, the excitement of taking flight, at least virtually, has soared to truly impressive heights. It opened up more versatility among the player base, as well as truly creative features for developers to explore and experiment with. Here are a few groundbreaking online video games that let players immerse high up in the sky.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
One of the most revolutionary modern games released recently is Microsoft Flight Simulator. It isn’t exactly a video game, however, since the software is designed to really immerse its users what it is like to actually fly a plane. From the consoles and buttons that pilots need to press to the adjustments that they will need to do mid-flight, Microsoft Flight Simulator takes everything that a user will have to go through when flying an actual plane.
But Microsoft Flight Simulator takes its name very seriously. There are two features that make Microsoft Flight Simulator a sort of trailblazer among its contemporaries. These features enhance the immersion that the simulator can provide its users, all of which are considered cutting-edge by the latest industry standards.
Firstly, there is a wide range of aircraft in the simulator that are available to the user’s fleet. From humble jets like Cessnas to massive airline planes such as Boeings, every plane included in the simulator functions as meticulously as the real thing would. Now, users can explore and experience the difference between a jet and an industrial carrier.
Secondly, Microsoft Flight Simulator ramps up the immersion by introducing actual weather conditions happening all across the globe. Let’s say that a weather report came up that it would rain in Sapporo today in real life. Microsoft Flight Simulator includes this information into account to show how flights would go should a pilot have to fly over Sapporo.
The weather immersion feature is also enhanced by the simulator’s knack for replicating actual cities in the world. This means they can really see how it rains in Sapporo when their flight goes over it! So, if a pilot ever wanted to fly over the Manhattan skyline, chart a route to New York! These real-time updates are made possible by the game adapting to online data.
Aviator
In the game Aviator, players are immersed in the thrill of flight, echoing the age-old tale of Icarus with a modern twist. This engaging game employs a straightforward yet captivating mechanic where players, including those on platforms such as Betway, wager on the altitude a plane reaches before it either lands or vanishes from view. While nothing serious happens to the plane in every game, as it can land safely or fly too high to never be seen again, Icarus’ cautionary tale applies to the player.
Aviator has its highest multiplier for wagers when it’s at its peak, but this also means that the plane is prone to flying away or landing. Should both of it happen, the player might not get a payout at all. The technique for getting the most out of the game is to know when to bail out and collect earnings even before the plane disappears.
War Thunder
War Thunder is one of the more famous military warfare simulators today that has an excellent presentation of aircraft simulation. The game now has warships and tanks, but War Thunder started out first as an aircraft dogfight simulator. The game is so immersive that it has often been considered that the schematics presented in War Thunder are as close as the models that they base their vehicles in. It has since been lauded as a game that smartly incorporates physics and ballistics in every aspect of the game, creating some of the most immersive scenes in military combat simulation games today.
While the aerial dynamics are correct, as well as the aircraft designs, it can be difficult to say that War Thunder is truly immersive for one reason: anachronistic impossibilities. The difference between an F22 against an A6M Zero is more than substantial in all aspects. But this situation is possible in War Thunder. While it can break the immersion, it can certainly be fun to think about. But most importantly, the game is quite a lot of fun!
Star Wars: Squadrons
It is a flight simulation video game but in space! It’s not exactly the strictest flight simulation game out there, but Star Wars: Squadrons holds a lot of fun for players who would like to experience what it’s like to zip around in a galaxy far, far away. Players get to pilot Rebel spacecraft such as the Y-Bomber and the iconic X-Wing or any of the ships from New Republic’s fleet, such as TIE Fighters and TIE Bombers.
Critics have said that the game has been one of the best Star Wars games that has been made in recent years. It is further augmented by an excellent campaign from both sides of the conflict, although it falls short in terms of length. For an immersive experience when flying a spacecraft from Star Wars, play it in VR!
However, the multiplayer game modes that Star Wars: Squadrons have some of the very best dogfights in video games today in this side of space. There is the basic, 10-player deathmatch, composed of two teams of five. However, Star Wars: Squadrons also introduces Fleet Battles, where two teams of five pilots are out to destroy their opponent’s capital ships.
Online aviation games are still an incredible experience for gamers should they get to play any of it. For some, getting to pilot an aircraft of their own is impossible in this lifetime. Fortunately, there are many games that can take that fantasy into reality as close as possible. It’s even better, of course, with the avenues that online playing has opened up. It has brought innovation and features that weren’t possible before, heightening the immersion that players can experience as they take into the skies.
