MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR

James Davenport: It’s easy to say Microsoft Flight Simulator’s greatest trick is that it’s just Bing maps in an aeroplane costume, but it’s the flight simulation wrapper that grounds a free web application in reality like no other game. Flying over your hometown hits differently from typing its name into a search bar.

I can’t speak to the depth of the flying simulation. It’s not why I keep revisiting Microsoft Flight Simulator. Like so many of us, I’m stuck at home waiting out a pandemic. But in MFS

I’ve charted a course from a remote Siberian airport to the Tunguska meteor crater; I’ve skimmed the top of the Tetons; I flew to the northern tip of Iceland, turned on active pause, and stared out at the edge of everything. MFS’ to-scale rendition of Earth is much more than a bullet point, it’s the closest I’ve felt to the world glued to a monitor.

Andy Kelly: Before the pandemic I traveled a lot, and with every day I’m stuck at home I miss it more and more.

Which is probably part of the reason why Microsoft Flight Simulator landed so perfectly for me this year. It’s an astonishing technical achievement, and the feeling of picking somewhere in the world— anywhere— and near-instantly flying over a photorealistic representation of it still rules, even after doing it a thousand times. Whether it’s some dramatic landmark like the Grand Canyon, or just the small Scottish suburb I grew up in, it all looks amazing, with volumetric clouds, cities lighting up at night, and some of the prettiest, most realistic skies I’ve ever seen in a game.

I also love how customisable the experience is. Sometimes I like clipping the full yoke and throttle setup to my desk and really getting into the simulation. But it’s just as easy to plug in an Xbox controller, stream my PC to the TV, and play it on the couch. That’s a remarkable thing to say about a hardcore flight simulator, but a good example of how Microsoft Flight Simulator is more open and accessible than ever.