The Best PC WWII Flying Games
By Jason Stuchlik
Flight simulation games are longtime favorites of PC gamers. Among these, WWII flying games are among the most popular. The slower speeds of the planes and older weapon technologies of this era make for more strategic flight combat then is often seen in games placed in more modern settings. While the list of WWII flying games is long, there are a few that soar above the rest in PC gaming.
Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater (2000)
An older WWII flight simulator, "Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater" is a solid WWII flier, if not spectacular. The game engine made only a few improvements over its predecessor. What makes this game important is the new bar that it established for modern WWII flight games graphics. Detailed terrain and cockpit rendering made for a more enjoyable flight experience, and plane model changes that reflected combat damage improved flight combat realism.
IL-2 Sturmovik (2001)
UBI Soft's "IL-2 Sturmovik" is the highest rated WWII flight game ever. Receiving a 90.65 percent from GameRankings.com and a 91 from Metacritic. This classic offers a choice of 31 different planes as well as a variety of combat types. "IL-2 Sturmovik" multiplayer dog-fighting is an intense aerial ballet that has yet to be matched by its more modern counterparts.
Wings of Power: WWII Heavy Bombers and Jets (2004)
An expansion for "Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004," "Wings of Power: WWII Heavy Bombers and Jets," puts the player in the cockpit of some of the most popular planes of the era. The game has been lauded by reviewers for its fantastic 3D graphics and authentic flight simulation. "Wings of Power: WWII Heavy Bombers and Jets" is one of the highest reviewed WWII flying games of all time receiving a Metacritic score of 83 and a GameRankings score of 87.83 percent.
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions
While only receiving moderate reviews, (72 Metacritic, 70.88 percent GameRankings) "Blazing Angles 2: Secret Missions" is among the highest rated modern WWII flying games. The game is praised for its beautiful graphics and player progression, but receives criticism for its sometimes clunky controls, especially when compared to its console iterations.
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Writer Bio
Jason Stuchlik has been a writer since 2003. He began writing routinely in college and began writing professionally in 2010 for various websites. He received a Master of Arts in English literature with a focus in creative writing from Kansas State University.