Choose DCS World Steam Edition
Choose DCS World Steam Edition if you want a Free To Play game with Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 22,692 Steam reviews back the pick.
DCS World Steam Edition vs Helicopter Simulator
DCS World Steam Edition and Helicopter Simulator 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. DCS World Steam Edition (2013) is 7 years older than Helicopter Simulator (2020). DCS World Steam Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (84.6% 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 Helicopter Simulator
Choose Helicopter Simulator if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Helicopter Simulator launched in 2020.
Both DCS World Steam Edition and Helicopter Simulator 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
 DCS World Steam Edition |  Helicopter Simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2020 |
| Genres | Simulation, Free To Play | Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | Free to play | 24.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 84.6% positive (22,692 reviews) | 58.9% positive (90 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Eagle Dynamics SA | Lines Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- DCS World Steam Edition (2013) is 7 years older than Helicopter Simulator (2020).
- DCS World Steam Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (84.6% positive) than Helicopter Simulator (58.9% positive).
- DCS World Steam Edition is free; Helicopter Simulator is paid (24.99 USD).
- DCS World Steam Edition has co-op; Helicopter Simulator does not.
- Both are Deck Playable.
DCS World Steam Edition vs Helicopter Simulator — FAQ
- Should I play DCS World Steam Edition or Helicopter Simulator first?
- If you want chronology, DCS World Steam Edition (2013) came out before Helicopter Simulator (2020). 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 DCS World Steam Edition and Helicopter Simulator 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 DCS World Steam Edition?
- No. DCS World Steam Edition supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op), while Helicopter Simulator is listed as single-player only.
- Is DCS World Steam Edition free?
- Yes — DCS World Steam Edition is a free-to-play Steam title. Helicopter Simulator is paid (24.99 USD).