Choose DCS World Steam Edition
Choose DCS World Steam Edition if you want a Free To Play game with Online PvP, Online Co-op, and LAN PvP. 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 X-Plane 11
DCS World Steam Edition and X-Plane 11 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 4 years older than X-Plane 11 (2017). X-Plane 11 scores higher on Steam reviews (92.2% positive) than DCS World Steam Edition (84.6% 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 X-Plane 11
Choose X-Plane 11 if you want the Shared/Split Screen PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 92.2% positive across 8,762 reviews.
Both DCS World Steam Edition and X-Plane 11 sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player, PvP, and Tracked Controller Support, 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 |  X-Plane 11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2017 |
| Genres | Simulation, Free To Play | Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | Free to play | 29.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 84.6% positive (22,692 reviews) | 92.2% positive (8,762 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Eagle Dynamics SA | Laminar Research |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- DCS World Steam Edition (2013) is 4 years older than X-Plane 11 (2017).
- X-Plane 11 scores higher on Steam reviews (92.2% positive) than DCS World Steam Edition (84.6% positive).
- DCS World Steam Edition is free; X-Plane 11 is paid (29.99 USD).
- DCS World Steam Edition has co-op; X-Plane 11 does not.
- Both are Deck Playable.
DCS World Steam Edition vs X-Plane 11 — FAQ
- Which is better, DCS World Steam Edition or X-Plane 11?
- On Steam reviews X-Plane 11 scores higher (92.2% positive) than DCS World Steam Edition (84.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, X-Plane 11 is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play DCS World Steam Edition or X-Plane 11 first?
- If you want chronology, DCS World Steam Edition (2013) came out before X-Plane 11 (2017). 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 X-Plane 11 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.
- Is DCS World Steam Edition free?
- Yes — DCS World Steam Edition is a free-to-play Steam title. X-Plane 11 is paid (29.99 USD).