# Microsoft Flight Simulator Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/microsoft-flight-simulator/ 13 people recommended Microsoft Flight Simulator in Hacker News comments, 7 had mixed feelings and 8 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 9 of 12 months, in 14 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Recommended for its detailed real-world scenery, VR flying, and reliable performance. Critics point to inaccurate terrain, distorted visuals, and a disappointing 2024 version. Summary written by Claude from 29 comments. ## Why people recommend it - Detailed real-world scenery from satellite imagery (4 comments in the sample): "a very high-fidelity, realistic, inaccurate version of a city" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49425231)) "They’re using high res satellite imagery of the entire globe." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49636613)) "I love doing flybys of my house in MSFS" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50015342)) - Flies any plane anywhere in VR (3 comments in the sample): "nowadays Microsoft Flight Simulator has really good VR mode, and it's just such a great experience" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49702976)) "VR in Microsoft Flight Simulator allows you to fly in any plane in any part of the world." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49829094)) "flight simming is a killer app for VR" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48440374)) - Reliable and easy to keep running (3 comments in the sample): "The 2020 version is definitely set-and-forget once you log into your Microsoft account." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48140392)) "it's pretty much always worked fine for me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47824675)) "that runs fine through Protob" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45934035)) - Immersive and good for focus (2 comments in the sample): "working while sitting in an actual plane does provide me a bit of focus" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49724099)) "It was such a cool experience and totally immersive." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46030454)) ## What people warn about - Scenery less detailed or accurate than claimed (3 comments in the sample): "Wouldn't call most of the world high fidelity yet" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50012268)) "The mesh resolution in MSFS isn't any higher resolution. Looks about the same." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49424373)) "I think they cheat somewhat with the ocean when far from labdy" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50015892)) - Shadows and camera distortion artifacts (2 comments in the sample): "During camera angle changes, they get very noticeably distorted." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49848928)) "Microsoft flight simulator has weird sparkly shadows because it's tracing a few hundred rays and expects you to use TAA to cover it up and…" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45931090)) - 2024 version disappointing (2 comments in the sample): "2024 on PS5 IMO was a waste of money." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47095878)) "massive regression with 2024" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49171514)) ## Other flight simulators people recommend - [Comanche by NovaLogic](https://hackerapproved.com/p/comanche/): 8 recommend, 2 mixed, 2 criticize - [F-15 Strike Eagle II](https://hackerapproved.com/p/f-15-strike-eagle-ii/): 8 recommend, 2 mixed, 1 criticize - [Google Flight Simulator](https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-flight-simulator/): 6 recommend, 2 mixed, 6 criticize - [DCS World](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dcs-world/): 5 recommend, 2 mixed, 2 criticize ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://www.flightsimulator.com/) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Microsoft Flight Simulator", https://hackerapproved.com/p/microsoft-flight-simulator/ (13 recommend, 7 mixed, 8 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.