SimplePlanes Reviews

good game

its just a good game

Definitely one the games of all time👍

great game for kids

low quality but fun to mess around in

my plane keeps being reduced into nothing but a flight computer. 10/10.

One of the most user friendly introductions to the world of aviation.

SimplePlanes is a sandbox-style flight simulation and vehicle construction game developed by Jundroo LLC. Originally released on Steam in 2015, it has steadily built a loyal following due to its open-ended gameplay, intuitive building mechanics, and a modding community that continues to expand its boundaries. At its core, SimplePlanes allows players to design and fly their own custom aircraft, but the experience goes far beyond just planes. The game supports everything from helicopters and gliders to spacecraft, boats, tanks, and mechanical contraptions, with an emphasis on user creativity and physics-driven realism. The game begins with a surprisingly simple interface that hides deep complexity. Players are presented with a basic building area and a suite of modular parts—fuselage blocks, wings, engines, rotators, wheels, landing gear, and control surfaces—that can be assembled however the user likes. While there are default tutorials to teach the basics of aerodynamics, thrust, and lift, the true strength of SimplePlanes lies in its freedom. There are very few restrictions on design, and the physics engine reacts dynamically to each new build. Whether you're designing a supersonic jet with swing wings or an ornithopter that flaps to generate lift, every detail from mass distribution to drag and fuel consumption must be considered. Once you've built your aircraft, you can test it instantly in the same sandbox. The game includes multiple islands and environmental challenges such as wind, storms, and even moving carriers to take off from or land on. Flight physics are rooted in realism, though not to the point of overwhelming new players. Aircraft will stall, spin out, break apart under stress, or run out of fuel if not properly designed, which makes trial and error a natural part of the experience. There’s a powerful thrill in the first successful flight of a homemade jet after multiple catastrophic failures—and the reward is heightened by the game’s lack of hand-holding. It encourages experimentation and learning through play rather than rigid systems. Beyond solo building, SimplePlanes offers a surprisingly rich community and sharing system. Players can upload their creations directly to the Steam Workshop or the game’s own SimplePlanes.com platform, allowing others to download and fly user-made aircraft with the click of a button. Some of the most elaborate builds feature scripting through the in-game XML editor, including complex weapon systems, flight automation, functional cockpits, and even walking robots. This aspect elevates the game from a toybox into a legitimate engineering simulator. Some players have essentially built functional simulacra of real-world aircraft with flight characteristics closely matching their counterparts, while others go fully fictional, creating science fiction-inspired mechs and starships. The game also includes a mission mode, though it’s not the primary draw. Missions provide structured objectives like taking off and landing under specific conditions or racing through aerial obstacle courses. These are useful for learning the game’s controls and physics, but they pale in comparison to the open-ended nature of the sandbox and the creative potential of the editor. The AI in missions is rudimentary and the game lacks a formal campaign or progression system, which may turn off players looking for more conventional gameplay goals. However, for those who thrive in open environments and enjoy engineering challenges, the absence of imposed structure is a strength rather than a flaw. Graphically, SimplePlanes is functional rather than flashy. The art style is clean, with clear part visuals and readable UI, but it doesn’t push the boundaries of realism. Explosions, part damage, and flight effects are satisfying enough to serve their purpose, but visual fidelity takes a back seat to performance and physics accuracy. This design choice allows the game to run smoothly on modest hardware and keeps the experience accessible to a wide audience. More importantly, the clarity of the design system means players can focus on function over form, even though many creations still manage to look stunning in their own right. The modding potential of SimplePlanes is another standout feature. Players can integrate new parts, tweak flight characteristics, and import custom textures, making the game endlessly expandable. Mod tools are not deeply embedded into the core UI, so more advanced customization often requires diving into XML files or third-party tools, but the documentation and community support make this manageable. As a result, the game has maintained relevance long after its release, with active forums, YouTube tutorials, and update support from the developers, who have remained engaged with the community. In conclusion, SimplePlanes is a deceptively deep and endlessly flexible engineering sandbox that rewards creativity, patience, and problem-solving. While it lacks a formal campaign or polished visual spectacle, it excels in its core offering: letting players invent, iterate, and experience the joy of flight on their own terms. Whether you’re a casual player looking to fool around with silly flying machines or a serious aviation enthusiast aiming to replicate a B-52 to scale, the game accommodates and encourages both. Its blend of accessible design tools, realistic physics, and vibrant community makes it a standout title in the genre and a must-play for anyone interested in aviation, design, or just good old-fashioned experimentation. Rating: 9/10

Its a very fun game, even though it gets boring you can always download new planes and stuff from the workshop so theres a lot of fun to be had

It's a simple introduction to the basics of Aviation, good for beginners to toy around with, and visualize knowledge from textbooks. Maybe not too much replay-ability, but for a low price, it's a decent experience.