Choose Helicopter Simulator
Choose Helicopter Simulator if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Helicopter Simulator launched in 2020.
Helicopter Simulator vs Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition
Helicopter Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition both land in Simulation on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Simulation games on Steam. Helicopter Simulator (2020) is 6 years older than Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (2026). Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (78.7% positive) than Helicopter Simulator (58.9% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition
Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition if you want the Multi-player, VR Supported, and HDR available side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 73,114 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Helicopter Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition sit in Simulation on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Helicopter Simulator |  Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Genres | Simulation, Early Access | Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 20.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 58.9% positive (90 reviews) | 78.7% positive (73,114 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player |
| Developers | Lines Studio | Asobo Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- Helicopter Simulator (2020) is 6 years older than Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (2026).
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (78.7% positive) than Helicopter Simulator (58.9% positive).
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition is currently ~16% cheaper on Steam than Helicopter Simulator (20.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Helicopter Simulator vs Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition — FAQ
- Should I play Helicopter Simulator or Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition first?
- If you want chronology, Helicopter Simulator (2020) came out before Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (2026). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Helicopter Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition similar?
- They overlap on Simulation on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does Helicopter Simulator have multiplayer like Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition?
- No. Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Helicopter Simulator is listed as single-player only.