Discover simulation games

Simulation games have been favourites among PC gamers for many years. Microsoft’s own Flight Simulator has been around for 25 years, making it even older than the Windows operating system. But simulator games need not be restricted to planes; these days you can simulate a range of experiences, from driving a bus to blasting off into space.

The idea behind simulator games is simple; to recreate, as realistically as possible, the experience of a real situation. The quality of simulation games varies greatly, though, making picking a good one a bit of a gamble.

Here we guide you through some of the best simulators available as well as pointing out some top bargains that can be found online.

Two of the most well-known simulator games are made by Microsoft. Microsoft’s Flight Simulator (£40 for Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe Edition) and Train Simulator (£35) are recognised as excellent examples of the genre with lots of expansion packs that add new elements, such as new vehicles and landscapes.

The secret of Microsoft’s success with these titles is the level of detail. Simulation games of this type offer complex controls that require time to learn. This may not sound much like a ‘game’, and many fans prefer not to use that word to describe them.

The complexity of the controls and the level of knowledge required to perform a successful flight can seem daunting but that’s what also makes them so compelling.

Try a free flight
We’ve always found the amount of technical detail in good simulation games to be their major selling point. With improving PC technology, flight simulators are becoming more realistic. If you would like to try a relatively simple simulator, Microsoft offers a free trial of Flight Simulator X, click here to download.

Games such as Flight Simulator and A-10C Warthog ($59.99, around £37, make getting started easy with simple-to-follow tutorial modes. This can involve memorising and performing complicated launch sequences and then following commands while in the air to perform tasks.

In A-10C Warthog there are tutorials for getting to know certain planes, taking off and basic handling, operating in-flight navigation and making a safe landing. The tutorials are easy to follow, with all the instructions both spoken out loud and appearing as on-screen text. We found this to be a good way to get to grips with what is a very complicated game.

There’s also a simple mode called ‘game mode’ which takes away all the complicated controls allowing you to simply push the throttle forward and take off.

Simulation games are all about experiencing something that you might not be able to do in real life. Very few of us will ever have the time, the money or the opportunity to learn to fly a real plane but there is something really enjoyable and rewarding about sitting down with a flight simulator.