You don’t get the same realistic feel as the more expensive models, but it's enough to give you a sense of what flying a real plane is like.īe sure to check out our other game hardware buying guides, including our favorite wired and wireless headsets, and our favorite game controllers. It's a well-built joystick with a slider on the side that works as a throttle control. If you are just dipping your wingtips into the flight simulator world and you want a budget pick, the Logitech G Extreme 3D ($40, frequently on sale for less) is a great choice.

It costs over $200, but it is the most solidly constructed, most configurable, and most flexible controller for use with multiple types of planes in MFS and other flight simulators. There are many options for realistic flight controllers, and I looked at several that work well with MFS, including a simple joystick, a few “hands-on throttle and stick” (HOTAS) controllers like those in military jets, and a flight yoke that approximates what you would find on a small aircraft like a Cessna. One thing that can make the experience more enjoyable is flying your virtual airplane with a set of controls that mirrors the setup a real pilot might use in a real airplane.

Mind you, MFS (available for Windows and Xbox) is not really a game but rather a realistic flight simulator, which means that staying aloft on those rippling breezes is not easy. Playing MFS allows us to float on gentle winds above the earth and free ourselves of those sullen bonds that bind us.

The latest edition of the decades-old classic Microsoft Flight Simulator really struck a chord with those of us stuck in our living rooms in the two years (or so) since its release.

Instal Ultimate Flight Simulator Pro