Best Flight Simulators for Mac – Discover the Top 9 Games to Try Today:
The greatest Mac Flight Simulators range from stunning simulations to brutal war games, but they all have one thing in common: they allow players to fly.
Flight sims and other arcade-style games that were once exclusive to PCs have now found a home on Macs, and there are many options available whether you’re using an Intel or Apple Silicon Mac with the M1 or M2 processor.
With many unique experiences scattered over numerous sub genres, we’ve compiled our top picks for the finest flying Mac games.
1. X-Plane 11:
Microsoft Flight Simulator is undoubtedly the best Flight Simulator available, but X-Plane 11 has a strong argument for consideration as well.
The game boasts tremendous detail both inside and outside of the aircraft, with meticulously designed cockpits and interiors, and is playable natively on Mac. The ground has also received a surprising amount of attention, and even up close (but not too close! ), individual buildings still look fantastic.
Players may anticipate a variety of weather conditions and even the opportunity to modify the time of day for moody, night-based flying thanks to the eleven aircraft, which range in size from little Cessna planes to Boeing 747s, and the abundance of airports. Running smoothly on Apple Silicon, too, but Intel machines haven’t been left behind.
Perhaps most excitingly, though, is that X-Plane 12 development will feature a native Apple Silicon version.
2. Aerofly FS 4 Flight Simulator:
Similar to X-Plane, Aerofly is a wholly virtual experience with a number of aids to enable aspiring pilots go from beginner to intermediate to expert levels.
The nearly ten thousand routes that players can take with aircraft ranging in size from tiny two-seaters to enormous airliners are the true draw here. Airports and aircraft are richly detailed. Together with fighter planes and other types of aircraft, there are even manned helicopters.
It plays flawlessly on M1, although the higher resolution graphics may use a sizable portion of your hard drive—a 100GB minimum is required. You may still play it, Intel users, but a quad-core processor is required.
3. Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders 2:
Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders 2, the follow-up to the original that won an Apple Design Award, provides a quicker, combat-focused experience on Mac (as well as on iPhone and iPad) with joystick support.
You’ll find a lot to enjoy, including a campaign, a selection of upgradeable and customisable World War 2 aircraft engaged in combat throughout several theaters of war, and multiplayer options like Last Man Standing for an aerial battle royale.
You can quickly go from a beginner to an expert pilot by participating in training missions, and while there are micro transactions, these are used to unlock more aircraft.
4. Sky Rogue:
Sky Rogue, which is debatable the game on this list with the most striking visuals, isn’t just a pretty face; it rightfully belongs on any list of the greatest flight games for Mac.
Players fly (and blow stuff up) over randomly generated environments, providing a polygonal look that unmistakably evokes the glory days of Starfox. This ensures a new experience with every level. But be careful; if something shoots you down, you’re dead and have to start over.
With over 30 weapons, split-screen co-op, and the ability to earn upgrades that transfer over to later runs, there is enough tension added to make for nail-biting excitement. You’ve found the perfect aerial rogue like if you’re hunting for one.
5. FlightGear:
Since Flightgear is an open-source Flight Simulator, its community is essentially always improving it. It’s supported by aviation enthusiasts all over the world, which means it’s free for everyone to download and use.
The initiative intends to give users the ability to personalize and shape their experience. While there are many planes featured, more are being added through the open-source development process. There are over 20,000 airports included and modeled with astonishing details such the runway markings and lights.
Flightgear is a fantastic option if you want to download anything and start flying without spending a dime, and it’s only getting better.
6. AirFighters – Combat Flight Simulator:
Although we haven’t had a chance to go through all of its “thousands” of missions to confirm, AirFighters is an outstanding flight combat simulator.
It’s a dog fighting fan’s dream as you pursue adversaries around the skies while attempting to keep others off your tail, with over 500 real airports and aircraft carriers. Also, there are bombing runs to complete. You can design your own missions or attempt the community’s.
There is a lot to see, do, and, well, blow apart with aircraft like F-16s, F-22s, and A-10 Thunderbolts.
7. War Thunder:
Okay, so the flight mechanics are only a small portion of what War Thunder has to offer, but this Battlefield rival’s fighter jet battle has lots of depth.
With more than 2000 different combat machines at your disposal in this free-to-play game that features aerial, ground, and naval vehicles, there’s something for everyone. For example, you may command a tank battalion or drop bombs from above.
In addition to its primary multiplayer modes, this game features stunning aesthetics and solo historical adventures. It functions well on Intel Macs, although users of the M1 Pro have reported that they can reach 120 FPS.
8. Liftoff: FPV Drone Racing:
The majority of the games on this list are centered on flying aircraft, but Liftoff: FPV Drone Racing concentrates on something a little bit more little.
Although drones are becoming increasingly widespread, we doubt you’d want to send your pricey device flying through these challenges. The magic of Liftoff lies in its straightforward idea, which enables it to send players hurtling over a variety of tracks in a first-person perspective.
Drones can be modified, but probably the most fascinating feature is that players can create their own racetracks, offering almost limitless potential.
MacOS 10.9, 8 GB of RAM, 2 GB of video card memory, and 15 GB of free space are required for the system. Available only through a game controller or remote.
9. Avorion:
Avorion, which is more of a space exploration game than a Flight Simulator, allows users design their own spacecraft to fulfill their Milennium Falcon aspirations.
In addition to space battle (what self-respecting space game wouldn’t? ), the game also allows players to mine resources and engage in trade to increase their wealth. Just make sure to have your weapons ready in case you come under pirate attack.
While there is no native M1 version, the Rosetta emulation is outstanding and helps to some extent to make up for Elite Dangerous’ removal from the Mac platform.
Conclusion:
So, there you have it – the best flight games on Mac. What do you think about this list? Do you want to add something more on it? Feel free to share your thoughts in comments below and I would be happy to get back to you.
Thank you and see you soon in the next article.
I just stumbled upon your article about the best flight simulators for Mac, and I have to say, I’m impressed! As someone who knows absolutely nothing about aviation or flight simulators, I found your article to be super informative and interesting.
I had no idea there were so many different flight simulator games out there, let alone that there were options specifically for Mac users. It’s awesome to know that there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a more realistic experience or just a fun way to pass the time.
After reading your article, I’m definitely curious to try out some of these flight simulators myself. X-Plane 11 sounds like a great option for a more immersive experience, but Aerofly FS 2 and FlightGear also sound like they could be a lot of fun. And who knows, maybe I’ll even get hooked and become an aviation enthusiast myself!
So thanks for sharing your expertise with the world, lovely author. Your article has definitely piqued my curiosity, and I can’t wait to see where my flight simulator adventures take me. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the feedback. You should definitetly try X plane 11 or 12 as it gives you more realistic flying.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover just how many flight simulator options are available, and even more thrilled that there is an option specifically designed for Mac users. It’s great to know that everyone will have the chance to enjoy a realistic experience or simply use it as an enjoyable pastime! After reading your article about the best flight simulators for Mac, I was absolutely astounded. Although my knowledge of aviation and flight simulators is limited, it provided me with plenty of informative and engaging content to read. Your writing style is both captivating and educational – thank you!
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. Flight Simulator were mainly made for windows but you can play X plane 11 or 12 on Mac. I hope flight simulator will be made available soon on Mac.