Which is better, DCS World Steam Edition or IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition?

On Steam reviews DCS World Steam Edition scores higher (84.6% positive) than IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition (65.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, DCS World Steam 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 DCS World Steam Edition or IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition first?

If you want chronology, DCS World Steam Edition (2013) came out before IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition (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.

Is DCS World Steam Edition free?

Yes — DCS World Steam Edition is a free-to-play Steam title. IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition is paid (9.99 USD).

DCS World Steam Edition vs IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition

DCS World Steam Edition and IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz 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. DCS World Steam Edition (2013) is 4 years older than IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition (2017). DCS World Steam Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (84.6% positive) than IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition (65.6% 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 DCS World Steam Edition

Choose DCS World Steam Edition if you want a Free To Play game with Tracked Controller Support, VR Supported, and Color Alternatives. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 84.6% positive across 22,692 reviews.

Choose IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition

Choose IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition if it's the newer release (2017) and ships with the modern feature baseline. IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition launched in 2017.

Both DCS World Steam Edition and IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, 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.

DCS World Steam Edition vs IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition — Steam metadata comparison
	DCS World Steam Edition	IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition
Released	2013	2017
Genres	Simulation, Free To Play	Simulation
Platforms	Windows	Windows
Steam Deck	Deck Playable	Deck Unsupported
Price	Free to play	9.99 USD
Steam reviews	84.6% positive (22,692 reviews)	65.6% positive (739 reviews)
Multiplayer	Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op	Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op
Developers	Eagle Dynamics SA	Team Fusion Simulations, 1C: Maddox Games

Side by side

Both are Simulation games on Steam.
DCS World Steam Edition (2013) is 4 years older than IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition (2017).
DCS World Steam Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (84.6% positive) than IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition (65.6% positive).
DCS World Steam Edition is free; IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition is paid (9.99 USD).
Both support cooperative play.
Steam Deck: DCS World Steam Edition is Deck Playable, IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition is Deck Unsupported.