For a novice, the world of flight simulator games can be a bit daunting. They are intricate, have a steep learning curve, and require hours and hours of play to master, not to mention benefit from having expensive equipment that many are unwilling to buy up front. Thankfully, there is this guide, which will get you acquainted to flight simulator games.

Flight simulator games come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and cater to many different tastes. If you want to get an in depth simulation of a real world jet, try one of the so-called “study sims” that so faithfully model a single aircraft that the manual for the program is as thick as the manual for real world pilots. Or, perhaps you want to play out historic dogfights from one of the last centuries great wars. Then try one of the historic flight simulator games. Or maybe you just want to get a general flight simulator that has a wide range of available aircraft, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator. Whichever your interest, choose a path and then do further research.

Once you have selected one of the flight simulator games that you want to play for yourself, you need to see if your home computer is compatible. Check minimum software requirements, hardware requirements, and operating system. Since part of the thrill of flying in flight simulator games  comes down to the Wow! factor you get looking at the breathtaking scenes the designers have packed into these games, make sure that your computer more than meets the minimum requirements.

After you have found a game that suits both your tastes and your system, you might want to consider getting a yoke. Flight simulator games played without a proper yoke are little more than toys. But once you set up your own yoke and soar through the digital skies, you will never want to go back to keyboard and mouse.

Finally, the only way to become familiar with flight simulator games is to play with them. And, while the learning curve to flight simulator games is steep, you will find that a little bit of discipline goes a long way. Eventually you'll be an ace pilot. And then you can take your game online to share you skills with others.