Video game flight is having a moment. Maybe being stuck inside due to the COVID-19 pandemic opened everyone's eyes to the joys of exploring the world from the skies. Microsoft Flight Simulator surprised us all with its blend of depth and accessibility, on PC as well as on the new Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. Whether it’s flying over real-world locations or contending with real-time weather patterns, this love letter to aviation is positively poetic.
Normal video game controls are already tricky enough, whether you’re using a gamepad or a keyboard and mouse. However, flight controls truly challenge you to take your technical skills to the next level. For that extra layer of accuracy when flying video game planes, for yaw control like you’ve never seen, you’ll need a flight stick (not to be confused with a fight stick).
Microsoft Flight Simulator Is a Love Letter to Aviation
Thanks to the release of the biggest flight sim in years, this niche hardware may tough to find. If you can’t get your mitts on a full hands on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) setup, you may need to settle for something like a vertical mouse or another joystick alternative. However, if you do spot a gaming flight stick, these are the ones we suggest you snatch up before take off.
These sticks are also good for more than just fun but dry flight sims. If aerial combat is more your thing, Ace Combat 7 resurrected that franchise after a decade-long hiatus. Meanwhile, Star Wars Squadrons delivers a next-gen upgrade to the classic sci-fi fantasy of piloting X-Wings and TIE Fighters. Here are the best flight sticks for Microsoft Flight Simulator and other flight-based video games.
Best for a Realistic Piloting Experience
Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog
Thrustmaster is a name you’re going to see a lot on this list considering just how strong the brand is when it comes to flight sticks. If you’re looking for the best of the best, no matter what it costs, go with the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog. This metal beauty looks like it was lovingly ripped right out of its real namesake airplane, and has the array of throttle and dual-engine inputs to match.
Best for Xbox Series X/S Owners
Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight
One of Microsoft Flight Simulator’s greatest achievements is how it turned the tricky and technical flight sim genre into something accessible and exciting for newcomers. That said, while you can enjoy the game on consoles with a standard Xbox controller, Xbox Series X/S owners who want to up their immersion should consider the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight. This premium, realistic, modular design gives you all the brake, rudder, and yoke inputs you need to turn your couch into a cockpit.
Best for Make-Believe Boeings
Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition
The whole point of playing a simulation is to approximate the real world as closely as possible. With this Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack, you don’t just control a real plane, but you specifically control a Boeing 787. Every bit of this flight stick is designed to resemble what you would find in the cockpit of the real aircraft, from its sturdy metal frame to the “surgically precise” proprietary throttles.
Best for PlayStation 4 Owners
Hori HOTAS Flight Stick
Hardware peripherals for PlayStation consoles tend to be slightly different than their Xbox and PC counterparts. Flight sticks are no different. From Hori, makers of fine fight sticks, this HOTAS Flight Stick lets PS4 owners put their hands on the throttle and joystick. It’s also compatible with PC, so this may be the one flight stick to suit all your needs. Just remember that you can't play Microsoft Flight Simulator on your Sony PlayStation.
Best for a Midrange Thrustmaster Experience
Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X
For a slightly more affordable Thrustmaster experience, consider the midrange T.Flight HOTAS X. While it is made of plastic, it’s hard to care since you enjoy Z-axis rotation for rudder controls (something the HOTAS Warthog lacks unless you get external pedals) and a nifty detachable throttle for a more comfortable setup.
Best for Arcade Action
Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick
Logitech’s budget flight stick is another accessible option. The streamlined controls and rapid fire button make it perfect for action-packed, arcade experiences rather than elaborate flight sims. Still, you can tweak the Extreme 3D Pro more to your liking with programmable buttons and Z-axis rudder control.
Best for Budget Flying
Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition
This is the budget pick for Thrustmaster flight sticks. However, along with saving you cash, the TCA Sidestick Airbus may prove less intimidating than a full-fledged flight stick that’s covered in scary buttons and knobs. The joystick still offers flight controls more powerful than a regular controller. When you’re ready to go further, this stick also plays nice with other Thrustmaster accessories.
Best for RGB Lighting
Logitech X56 HOTAS RGB Throttle and Stick Controller
Logitech’s premier flight stick is a great, new potential choice. The build quality impresses with its light, but solid, metal body and suction cup stability. You can customize it in a variety of ways, from programming more than 180 controls to flying with unlocked individual engines to adjusting throttle panel knobs to playing around with RGB lighting.
Best for Flight Pedals
Thrustmaster TFRP Pedals
Okay, this isn't a flight stick, but why should your hands have all the fun? With the Thrustmaster TFRP Pedals, you can expand your existing HOTAS setup with ergonomic foot pedals to give you smoother and even more precise control. Flying a plane should be a full-body experience.
Why You Should Game on a PC
