Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Review

Microsoft Flight Simulator is an odd little franchise. The series began back in 1982, but it never achieved the massive fame of other vintage franchises. Instead, these beautiful and highly-technical games were often regarded as more of a niche series among gamers.

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) is looking to change all of this. It’s the biggest and most ambitious entry in the series to date. Available now on PC (and coming in the future to Xbox One), it comes out during a time in which the last thing most of us can do in real life is catch a flight to an exotic location.

So, everything is in place for Microsoft Flight Simulator to be one of the breakout games of 2020. Did developer Asobo Studio succeed? For the most part, the answer is a resounding “yes” and here’s why.

Hefty specs

Normally I don’t comment on a game’s minimum specs. But in this case, Microsoft Flight Simulator’s specs are a subject of much conversation.

Many gamers have discovered that their computers can’t even run this game. And even gamers with fancy rigs soon discovered how choppy the FPS could get (especially when the game renders major metropolitan areas).

Overall, Microsoft Flight Simulator really impressed me. But don’t be surprised if you need to upgrade some of your gear to really get the most out of the game.

Absolutely gorgeous

So, what do you get for all that gaming horsepower? Simply put, one of the most beautiful games ever created.

When you’re flying through the clouds, everything around you looks beautiful and textured. It’s easy to imagine simply reaching out and touching the fluffiness of the nearest cloud.

The ground looks beautiful as well. The game is powered largely by data that Microsoft has gathered over the years. This allows it to create beautiful recreations of everything from the Eiffel Tower to the local airport in your own hometown.

This title may or may not be enough to garner mainstream appreciation from most of the gaming community. But I can guarantee that gamers of all stripes will be blown away by what they see.