Is Microsoft Flight Simulator fun to play casually, or does it require aviation knowledge?

Hi Georgina,

Yes—MSFS can absolutely be fun casually. You can treat it like a “virtual travel” game (pick a cool place, take off, sightsee, land somewhere scenic), or you can go as deep as you want with procedures and real-world flying. The nice thing is you’re not forced into the hardcore side on day one.

What “casual” flying looks like in MSFS

• Load up at a famous airport or landmark and go explore.
• Use external camera views and just enjoy the scenery.
• Fly simple aircraft where you can focus on steering and throttle rather than systems.
• Turn on the built-in assists so you’re not fighting the airplane.
• Do short hops (10–30 minutes) instead of planning “airline style” flights.

Do you need aviation knowledge?
Not really. If you can handle a car game, you can handle a basic flight in MSFS with a bit of patience. The “aviation knowledge” part is something you can grow into at your own pace:

• Day 1: takeoff, turn, fly around, land (even if it’s a bouncy landing).
• Later: learn trimming, pattern work, and basic navigation.
• Much later (optional): IFR flying, airliners, procedures, charts, etc.

If you never want to learn the deeper stuff, that’s totally fine—plenty of people use it as a relaxing sim/sightseeing sandbox.

A simple “first week” plan (no homework required)

1. Start with a small prop plane and a familiar airport in good weather (daytime, low winds).
2. Keep the flight short—take off, do a big loop, come back and land.
3. Use assists if you find yourself constantly fighting the controls (there’s no shame in it).
4. Don’t chase perfection. Your first landings will be… memorable. Everyone’s were.
5. Add one new thing at a time (example: learn trim, then later learn how to fly a traffic pattern, then later learn basic autopilot).

What makes it more “game-like” and relaxing

• Choose clear weather and low wind at first.
• Pick scenic areas and just explore.
• Use easier aircraft before jumping into complex airliners.
• If you don’t own a joystick yet, you can still try it with a controller/keyboard+mouse, but a basic stick makes it feel way better.

Quick questions so I can tailor a proper “full guide” to you

• Are you on PC or Xbox, and which MSFS version do you have installed (2020 or the newer one, if applicable)?
• What controls will you use (keyboard/mouse, Xbox controller, joystick/yoke, rudder pedals)?
• What kind of flying sounds fun to you: sightseeing, bush flying, airliners, or “learn like real training”?
• How much time do you usually have per session (15 minutes vs 1–2 hours)?

Answer those and I’ll map out a beginner path with suggested settings/assists and a couple of “starter flights” that won’t overwhelm you.