SimulationFit check
Is X-Plane 12 worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Aspiring pilots interested in flight simulation
- Aviation enthusiasts who want to fly named aircraft in detailed scenery
- Simulation players interested in live weather and changing environmental conditions
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking arcade-style flying may hit a wall at the focus on real-world physics and aircraft systems.
- Players looking for a puzzle-driven or mission-based structure may find the flight-simulation focus too narrow.
- Users seeking a game centered on role-playing or strategy will not find those activities here.
Our take on X-Plane 12
The likely sticking point is the simulation-first approach: players expecting quick, arcade-style flying may bounce when they encounter the focus on real-world physics and aircraft systems.
What is X-Plane 12?
X-Plane 12 is a flight simulator built around real-world physics, detailed aircraft systems, and a modeled world.
Live weather changes in real time based on global meteorological data, and volumetric clouds shift as conditions change. Photometric lighting displays surfaces according to real light intensity, with illumination varying through the day and under different weather. Scenery features wind-moving 3D trees, water that responds to weather, updated city and landscape autogen, and boats in motion. The simulator includes more than 20,000 3D airports from the X-Plane Gateway, with enhancements contributed by the community. Aircraft include the Airbus A330, Cessna Citation X, BETA Technologies ALIA-250, F-14 Tomcat, and Robinson R22.
How X-Plane 12 plays
- 01Live weather system
- Flight conditions update in real time using global meteorological data.
- 02Volumetric clouds
- Cloud formations change with the weather during flights.
- 03Photometric lighting
- Surface lighting reflects real light intensities across times of day and weather conditions.
- 04Weather-responsive scenery
- The world includes trees that sway in the wind and 3D water that reacts to weather.
- 053D airport network
- The simulator includes more than 20,000 airports with community-created enhancements.
Games like X-Plane 12
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SimulationTake Off - The Flight Simulator
astragon EntertainmentFor:Flight-simulation fans who want both free exploration and mission-based objectivesSkip if:Players seeking a focused aviation career simulation rather than a mix of open-world flying, missions, and airline management
SimulationFlyInside Flight Simulator
FlyInside Inc.For:VR flight-simulation fans who want to switch between several aircraftSkip if:Players seeking a narrowly focused simulation of one aircraft model may find the ten-aircraft roster broad rather than specialized.
SimulationFlyWings 2018 Flight Simulator
Thetis GamesFor:Flight-simulation fans who want a broad aircraft selectionSkip if:Players seeking a story-driven campaign rather than missions and free flightPicked by overlapping fit notes and genres, not an editorial comparison.
X-Plane 12: platforms & release
Is X-Plane 12 worth it?
It is worth it if: aspiring pilots interested in flight simulation. Skip it if: players seeking arcade-style flying may hit a wall at the focus on real-world physics and aircraft systems.
Where can I download X-Plane 12?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens X-Plane 12's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is X-Plane 12 on?
Windows, macOS and Linux.
