SimplePlanes is a simulation game perfect for those who dream of piloting their own aircraft. It offers a two-in-one experience for aviation enthusiasts—allowing players to both build and fly their own planes. With a vast selection of parts and intuitive controls, the game provides plenty of creative freedom and engaging gameplay.

In SimplePlanes, players can take their plane to the skies in two modes: Challenges and Sandbox. Challenge Mode presents various tasks, such as escorting firefighters, racing, and transporting goods, while Sandbox Mode offers an open-world experience for free flight exploration.

Extensive aircraft customization

As an aeronautical construction game, SimplePlanes offers you hundreds of parts and tools to build your airplane or other flying machine. The limits are your own creativity because, unlike games like Kerbal Space Program, this game does not feature ridiculous levels of realism. Hence, it is accessible, and you don’t need a degree in rocket science to get your machine off the ground.

As a flight simulation game, it leans more towards an arcade experience. Nevertheless, it doesn’t completely shun realistic physics—your aircraft’s performance varies based on its design, with each component affecting how it flies. While the planes and their parts are well-detailed, the overall visuals are not highly realistic, and some environments appear relatively plain. This might be a drawback for those seeking more immersive scenery.

If—for some misguided reason—you want to skip the fun of building your plane and jump straight into flying, you can do so with ease. The game offers more than 100,000 airplanes that you can download for free. The options span various styles and eras, from World War II bombers to modern fighters and even sci-fi vehicles. Simply click, download, and take to the skies.

VR version available separately

SimplePlanes also has a VR version, offering the same islands, locations, challenges, and aircraft as the standard game. However, it does not include the aircraft builder, meaning players can only fly pre-made planes rather than designing their own. Despite this limitation, the VR version delivers an immersive experience, letting players sit in the cockpit and control their aircraft from a first-person perspective. 

The sky is the limit

SimplePlanes offers a well-balanced mix of creativity and arcade-style flight simulation, making it an excellent choice for aviation enthusiasts. With its extensive aircraft customization, diverse challenges, and thousands of downloadable planes, it provides plenty of content to explore. While its visuals are not the most realistic, it remains an accessible and enjoyable experience for every pilot wannabe or those who just love designing planes.