X-Plane 12 for Windows

A realistic flight sim

X-Plane 12 is a premium flight simulator from Laminar Research. It’s the 12th iteration for the X-Plane franchise, succeeding X-Plane 11. It boasts new and improved features and a handful of new aircraft with well-made models. It’s not as realistic as Microsoft Flight Simulator but it’s a great alternative.

X-Plane 12 lets players experience how it feels to be an aircraft pilot. It provides a realistic rendering of the world and an accurate representation of how aircraft are flown. Just like real-life aviation, flying a plane in this simulation is challenging and requires learning. A demo version is available.

New aircraft and features

X-Plane 12 feels strikingly similar to its predecessor X-Plane 11. This game improves on a lot of features and adds a good number of aircraft for players to experience, but the changes can feel insufficient to separate it from the previous title. For instance, some aircraft controls still don’t pop up. Regardless, this game offers better visual fidelity and introduces changes to runway handling that makes it noticeably better.

Furthermore, it allows players to set precise weather for the simulation. The game allows you to set price ceilings and visibility. For instance visibility by distance or runway visual range. You can also adjust the temperature, precipitation, wave height and direction, and runway conditions. Overall, it provides plenty of flexibility in weather scenarios. Adjusting these parameters also returns realistic results in the simulation. 

This iteration of the flight simulation franchise adds the following aircraft: Airbus A330, Cessna Citation X, Lancair Evolution, Cirrus SR22, Piper PA-18 Super Cub, Van’s RV-10, F-14 Tomcat, and the Robinson R22, plus its floats version. All of these new aircraft have beautifully rendered models for both the exterior and interior. Another notable improvement is better optimization, which can provide players with higher FPS numbers when running the game.

Is it worth playing?

If you’re an avid fan of flight simulators and want to try something other than Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane 12 is worth a try. The graphics are not as gorgeous and realistic as Microsoft’s offering, but the game’s realism and visual fidelity are still top-tier. However, it’s not a big leap from X-Plane 11, so consider whether the improvements are worth the price.