Choose X-Plane 11
Choose X-Plane 11 if you want the Shared/Split Screen PvP, PvP, and Tracked Controller Support side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 92.2% positive across 8,762 reviews.
X-Plane 11 vs Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition
X-Plane 11 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. X-Plane 11 (2017) is 3 years older than Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (2020). X-Plane 11 scores higher on Steam reviews (92.2% positive) than Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (78% 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 HDR available side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 43,584 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both X-Plane 11 and Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player and VR Supported, 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
 X-Plane 11 |  Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Genres | Simulation | Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 59.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.2% positive (8,762 reviews) | 78% positive (43,584 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Laminar Research | Asobo Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- X-Plane 11 (2017) is 3 years older than Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (2020).
- X-Plane 11 scores higher on Steam reviews (92.2% positive) than Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (78% positive).
- X-Plane 11 is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (29.99 USD vs. 59.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
X-Plane 11 vs Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition — FAQ
- Which is better, X-Plane 11 or Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition?
- On Steam reviews X-Plane 11 scores higher (92.2% positive) than Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (78% 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 X-Plane 11 or Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition first?
- If you want chronology, X-Plane 11 (2017) came out before Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition (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 X-Plane 11 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.