IMHO.

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition vs Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 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. Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (2020) is 4 years older than Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (2024). Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (78% positive) than Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (54.5% 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 VR Supported side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 78% positive across 43,584 reviews.

Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 if it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 11,553 Steam reviews back the pick.

Both Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player and HDR available, 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

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition vs Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 — Steam metadata comparison
Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition — Steam game coverMicrosoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary EditionMicrosoft Flight Simulator 2024 — Steam game coverMicrosoft Flight Simulator 2024
Released20202024
GenresSimulationSimulation
PlatformsWindowsWindows
Steam DeckDeck PlayableDeck Unsupported
Price59.99 USD69.99 USD
Steam reviews78% positive (43,584 reviews)54.5% positive (11,553 reviews)
MultiplayerMulti-playerMulti-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer
DevelopersAsobo StudioAsobo Studio

Side by side

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition vs Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 — FAQ

Which is better, Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition or Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
On Steam reviews Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition scores higher (78% positive) than Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (54.5% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
Should I play Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition or Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 first?
If you want chronology, Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (2020) came out before Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (2024). 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 Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 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.