The best airplane games for iPhone here run from casual games like Epic Plane Evolution to serious simulators such as Infinite Flight and X-Plane. All ten are free to download and every one has in-app purchases. None of their App Store listings promises offline play, so test them before you board.
Plane games on a phone come in two very different flavours. Some are quick, silly and colourful, and you're airborne in seconds. Others want you to work through a cockpit checklist before you've left the gate.
I read the App Store listings for ten popular free airplane games, noting the developer, download size, age rating, in-app purchases and any offline wording. They're in no particular order.
One point up front: if you're after games to play on a plane rather than games about planes, none of these listings says it works offline, so skip ahead to the section on taking them on a real flight.
Download size, age rating and shop, title by title
| Game | Developer | App Store size | Age rating | In-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Plane Evolution | Voodoo | 386.8 MB | 9+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Airline Commander: Flight Game | RORTOS SRL | 1.2 GB | 9+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Sky Warriors: Airplane Games | Wildlife Studios, Inc | 467.3 MB | 9+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Flight Pilot Simulator 3D! | Wildlife Studios, Inc | 337 MB | 9+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Airplane Pro: Flight Simulator | GameShark Studios LTD | 240.9 MB | 4+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Flight Simulator 2025 | Appsoleut Coders LLP | 947 MB | 4+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Infinite Flight Simulator | Infinite Flight LLC | 202.5 MB | 4+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| X-Plane Flight Simulator | Laminar Research | 1.1 GB | 13+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| AFPS Airplane Flight Pilot Sim | Phouthasone Bouapha | 174.7 MB | 4+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Flight Simulator Advanced | Panagiotis Drakopoulos | 2.2 GB | 4+ | Yes | Listing says it needs an internet connection while playing |
Ten games for pilots of every level
Epic Plane Evolution
Voodoo's casual game has you launch a plane, upgrade it and see how far it can go. It's rated 9+ and it's a short-session game rather than a simulator.
Airline Commander: Flight Game
RORTOS SRL's game mixes flying with running an airline: you take off, fly to a nearby airport, land and build up a fleet. At 1.2 GB it's one of the bigger downloads here.
Sky Warriors: Airplane Games
A fighter jet combat game from Wildlife Studios, Inc where you take on other players in the air. It's rated 9+ and weighs in at 467.3 MB.
Flight Pilot Simulator 3D!
Also from Wildlife Studios, with missions such as emergencies, rescues, rough landings and races, plus a free flight mode on a big open map.
Airplane Pro: Flight Simulator
GameShark Studios LTD's open-world simulator lets you fly realistic aeroplanes over detailed scenery and airports. It's rated 4+ and comes in at 240.9 MB.
Flight Simulator 2025
Appsoleut Coders LLP's game includes piston planes, water planes, cargo planes and military planes. Its listing says you drag the throttle up and tilt the phone to take off.
Infinite Flight Simulator
Infinite Flight LLC's simulator covers scenery around the world and has a multiplayer mode with human Air Traffic Control. Its listing aims it at everyone from curious beginners to experienced pilots.
X-Plane Flight Simulator
Laminar Research's listing describes it as a flight simulator rather than a game, and says its flight model is the same one used in the company's desktop simulator. It's the only one here rated 13+.
AFPS Airplane Flight Pilot Sim
Phouthasone Bouapha's simulator uses satellite maps, 3D buildings, air traffic and weather, with missions to work through. At 174.7 MB it's the smallest download on the list.
Flight Simulator Advanced
Panagiotis Drakopoulos's cockpit simulator lets you press the buttons and switches, push back, taxi and fly a flight plan. At 2.2 GB it's the biggest download here, and its listing asks for at least 4GB of RAM.
Arcade flying or a full flight simulator?
- Quick and casual: Epic Plane Evolution, Sky Warriors and Flight Pilot Simulator 3D!, where you're flying or fighting within seconds.
- Somewhere in between: Airline Commander, Airplane Pro, Flight Simulator 2025 and AFPS Airplane Flight Pilot Sim, which add realistic planes and missions without too much homework.
- Serious simulators: Infinite Flight Simulator, X-Plane Flight Simulator and Flight Simulator Advanced, where cockpit controls and flight models are the point.
If you've never flown a sim before, start in the middle group. You'll get a feel for take-off and landing without drowning in switches, and you can move up once it clicks.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Storage space on your iPhone
These games range from 174.7 MB for AFPS Airplane Flight Pilot Sim to 2.2 GB for Flight Simulator Advanced. Three of them, Airline Commander, X-Plane Flight Simulator and Flight Simulator Advanced, are over 1 GB, so check your free space before you start the download on mobile data.
Flight Simulator Advanced also says it needs at least 4GB of RAM, so older iPhones may struggle with it. The smaller casual games are kinder to an older phone.
Taking these games on a real flight
None of the ten listings promises offline play, and Flight Simulator Advanced says it needs an internet connection while playing. Before a trip, open each game at home with airplane mode switched on and see what still works.
If you need something that's sure to work at thirty thousand feet, my list of the best free games to play on a plane without WiFi is built for exactly that. Travelling with children who use an Android tablet? These free offline games for kids on Android tablets will keep them busy.
Age ratings for younger pilots
Airplane Pro, Flight Simulator 2025, Infinite Flight Simulator, AFPS Airplane Flight Pilot Sim and Flight Simulator Advanced are rated 4+. Epic Plane Evolution, Airline Commander, Sky Warriors and Flight Pilot Simulator 3D! are rated 9+, and X-Plane Flight Simulator is rated 13+.
Every listing shows in-app purchases. On an iPhone, Screen Time settings let you block in-app purchases altogether or ask for approval, which is worth doing before you hand the phone to a child.
Something calmer for the seat tray
If you're travelling with someone, a pack of cards still takes some beating when the battery runs low, and my guide to 2 player card games has plenty to learn on a long flight.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best airplane games for iPhone?
This list covers ten, from casual games like Epic Plane Evolution and Sky Warriors to serious simulators such as Infinite Flight Simulator, X-Plane Flight Simulator and Flight Simulator Advanced.
Are these airplane games free?
Yes. All ten are free to download from the App Store, and every listing shows in-app purchases.
Can I play these airplane games offline?
None of the ten listings promises offline play, and Flight Simulator Advanced says it needs an internet connection while playing. Test each game in airplane mode before you travel.
Which airplane games are the most realistic?
Going by their listings, Infinite Flight Simulator, X-Plane Flight Simulator and Flight Simulator Advanced are the most serious simulators here.
Which airplane games suit younger children?
Airplane Pro, Flight Simulator 2025, Infinite Flight Simulator, AFPS Airplane Flight Pilot Sim and Flight Simulator Advanced are rated 4+. Epic Plane Evolution is rated 9+ but it's the simplest to pick up.
Which airplane game takes up the least space?
AFPS Airplane Flight Pilot Sim, at 174.7 MB.
