We Love It's Guide to…
Pilot airliners and small aircraft in a flight simulator where weather, aircraft handling, systems, and procedures shape each flight.
Released 17 Dec 2022
Fly Through Live Weather
Practice IFR Approaches
Handle In-Flight Failures
Ultra-Realistic Flight Simulation
Developed by Laminar Research · Published by Laminar Research
X-Plane 12 puts you in the pilot’s seat of a flight simulator, with aircraft ranging from airliners and small planes to a fighter jet and helicopter. Flights take place across a simulated world with airports and changing weather.
Fly through takeoffs, routes, approaches, and landings while responding to wind, turbulence, icing, and runway conditions. Operate aircraft systems, follow procedures, and manage in-flight failures; flight plans and ATC instructions can also shape a flight.
Learn the controls and procedures of different aircraft, and tailor your setup by mapping peripherals. Community-made aircraft, scenery, and plugins can extend the simulator, while features such as VR offer another way to experience flights.
Recurring praise in the supplied reviews centers on the flight model and the way aircraft respond to weather and air conditions, which players say makes procedures and landings feel involving. Players also appreciate detailed aircraft systems and the community’s add-ons and tools. Some reviews enjoy the lighting and clouds, while others criticize ground scenery, the learning curve, paid aircraft add-ons, or performance.
Since 1995, X-Plane has been at the forefront of flight simulation, continually pushing the boundaries of realism and immersion. X-Plane 12 carries this legacy forward, offering a state-of-the-art simulator that combines real-world physics, unprecedented systems depth, and a true-to-life simulation of the world. Whether you're an aspiring pilot, an aviation enthusiast, or simply seeking an unmatched flying experience, X-Plane 12 is the go-to platform for any aviation fan.
X-Plane 12 takes immersion to new heights with its dramatically improved volumetric clouds and real live weather system. The new volumetric clouds create stunning, dynamic skies that evolve with the weather. Paired with our revamped live weather feature, which updates conditions in real-time based on global meteorological data, every flight feels truly authentic.
X-Plane 12 introduces a new lighting model that transforms the visual experience. With photometric lighting, every surface is rendered with real light intensities, capturing the subtleties of natural light across different times of day and weather conditions. The addition of bloom effects further enhances realism, creating stunning visuals and making every moment feel more vibrant and authentic.
X-Plane 12 redefines environmental realism with its enhanced scenery features. The world comes to life with new 3D trees that sway in the wind, realistic 3D water that reacts naturally to weather, and updated autogen that brings cities and landscapes to vivid detail. Airports are more immersive than ever with fresh textures, moving boats, and over 20,000 3D airports sourced from the X-Plane Gateway, each with unique, community-driven enhancements. Whether flying low over dense forests or landing at a bustling airport, X-Plane 12's scenery creates an unparalleled sense of place and realism.
New Aircraft in X-Plane 12
Airbus A330
Cessna Citation X
BETA Technologies ALIA-250
Lancair Evolution
Cirrus SR22
Piper PA-18 Super Cub
Van's RV-10
F-14 Tomcat
Robinson R22 (plus a floats version)
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
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| Age ratings |
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| Players | From 1 (maximum not specified) |
| Play modes |
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| Other modes |
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| Multiplayer | The provided information indicates single-player support and LAN co-op. Reviews mention online flying, shared cockpit on a 737, and connectivity through VATSIM or a local network, but the official store features do not explicitly confirm general online multiplayer modes or player counts. |
| Multiplayer & mods | The game is tagged as moddable, and reviews mention addons and shared cockpit on a 737, suggesting some multiplayer-related functionality may depend on specific aircraft addons or community services. No official details here define mod support for multiplayer broadly. |
| Controller support | Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 55 listed on Steam |
| DRM / EULA |
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| Content notices |
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| Website | Official website |
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