X plane 11 vs. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 – Which One is Better?

X plane 11:

Better plane (according to me) X-plane 11 is a Windows-based flight simulation program with full functionality. Since it is a Windows-based game (available also on macOS, Linux), it supports most aircraft models with in-game compatibility.

It is not only a development of X-plane but also has taken many of its design features. In addition to various aircraft models, it supports a long list of geographical, time, weather and atmospheric conditions, including all our standard radar types. X-plane 11 also includes a large library of ground and airfields from a variety of geographical regions.

Airport vehicles:

There are airport dynamic ground vehicles that perform services for an aircraft, for example, vehicles pushing the plane backward from the terminal, adding fuel to the aircraft, putting luggage in the aircraft and more. It is like actual airport vehicles. Still, the vehicles that come with X plane 11 should be enough because in X plane 11 version, you should have the option of setting the vehicle density to any level like Flight Simulator program. You can also download additional vehicles packages add ons for free or extra dollars to make it more realistic.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020:

It took a while for Microsoft to release the highly anticipated Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. It is said to be the largest flight simulation ever made and offers the largest flight simulation terrain ever created. The games industry’s view of the tech leading years could be wrong because this one looks fantastic. There’s also live-sensing HVCS wing tips, real-time weather and miles of real scenery to go with it. There’s no substitute for the experience of looking down from the cockpit as you fly a plane for some people. As anyone who has flown in the real sky will know, there’s nothing like seeing the landscapes below.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 has attempted to recreate that by scaling down the entire landscape of the United States down to a couple of kilometres.

Airport vehicles:

What are the differences between X plane 11 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?

The biggest difference between the two versions is the display on the console. The X plane 11 game uses the LCD screens found on any recent iPad, with the exact resolution as they appear in the iPad version. This gives the game a more vibrant view than the more precise resolution offered by Microsoft’s simulator. The latter uses a more complex and detailed plasma display screen but provides a sharper image in return.

My big personal gripe with the Microsoft Flight Simulator series is its size and weight. Despite the use of the latest rendering and graphics technologies, it still feels plasticky and chunky. Compared to the X plane 11, the Flight Simulator takes up more space in your bag, and it’s hard to see why you would pay more for a simulator that weighs over kilo.

Why should you choose X plane 11 over Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?

Start with what’s new from a first person perspective. The cockpit view is a bit squashed in X plane 11, but it’s nothing a few well-placed levers and knobs can’t solve. In X plane 11, the view is pretty basic, the pilot is in the front left seat, and the instruments are on a computer monitor to your right.

You control the pitch and throttle with the triggers, and you can choose to go into FPV mode, which gives you an image of your cockpit through the in-cockpit camera. There’s a controller here too, but that’s for your own safety.

While it’s not a modern cockpit yet, it’s still easier on your neck than in last X plane 10, which was one of the first editions released.

Why should you choose Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 over X plane 11?

Microsoft’s Flight Simulator 2020 is a reasonably straightforward flight sim. For experienced sim pilot wannabes, it’s easy to pick up and play with, but you might be paying a little more than you need to. So if you’re a casual or never experienced flight sim pilot, maybe Microsoft isn’t the best choice? Well, that’s simply not true! Some might even argue that Microsoft merely has knocked out a run of the mill Flight Simulator without trying too hard.

Flight sim buyers often have a particular experience they’re looking for, whether that’s flying the cleanest, most stable flight or trading blows with a dashing L2 US fighter pilot. Microsoft’s Flight Simulator 2020 has spent plenty of time and effort figuring out what those experiences are and then devising a flight sim tailored explicitly to them.

Which is the best for you?

Honestly, X plane 11 is probably your best bet. It’s huge, about three times the size of the Microsoft Flight Simulator, and you can upgrade it too. It’s far from perfect though, there are problems with the hand-drawn images that it can’t fix, but the graphics look great, and the game is fun. Microsoft Flight Simulator series is for die-hard enthusiasts. Although X plane 11 isn’t for everyone, I recommend you go with X plane 11 and try it at least once.

I do have one more recommendation, though: a test drive both and choose the one you prefer. Don’t just pick the one you think the company advertised the best. It will make your setup appear far superior! Oh, and one last thing; turn the resolution up to 100.

At the end of the day, it’s you who decides what kind of experience you want to try. 😉

Conclusion:

Being able to choose between playing a more realistic flight sim or a more arcade one is something every gamer should experience. A few are better than others, but hey, the important thing is to try as many as you can to find the one that suits you and your taste.

For the first time, learning to fly is going to be more fun than it’s ever been and while some of us will be found one day picking up a massive eagle from its perch (aka Tupac Shakur), or piloting our wide-bodied Futuristic bus on an epic escapade through a cyberpunk post-apocalyptic future, for the majority of us VR (virtual reality) is here to stay.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you liked this article. Do not forget to share your opinion and thoughts in the comments below. 🙂