With so many air combat and flight simulator games in the app store, finding one to download can be a challenge. Here are five cool, fun, and sometimes frustrating air combat games to play on your smartphone.
Fractal Combat X
Fractal Combat X features missions that require you to fly a fighter jet and fight other aircraft. It utilizes motion controls to navigate the plane. Simply tilt the smartphone to the left or right and forward or backwards to fly the plane. Search for targets and lock on automatically as you approach, before firing a missile. There is an option to use touch controls, which places a directional joystick on the screen. It is responsive and offers more control. You can also opt to play in the simulator mode or use VR mode with a game controller. The environments look great, especially when you fly at very high altitudes and approach space.
This game is available on Google Play and iTunes.
Strike Fighters
This is a slower air combat game that plays over an expansive environment. Targets are clearly identifiable and a radar display on the corner of the screen makes it easy to track down planes and lock on to them. The plane is equipped with a machine gun, which is easy to fire, but extremely difficult to hit targets with. Some of the planes featured in this game include the F-100A, MiG-17PF, and Hunter F.1
This game is available on Google Play and iTunes.
Aircraft Combat 1942
This well-designed air combat game features a highly maneuverable plane, breathtaking environments, and enemies that are hard to kill. The controls are easy to use; just press the right side of the screen to accelerate and drag the left side of the screen in various directions to navigate the plane. The weaponry, namely machine guns, and planes such as the Shinden, P38, and Henschel add to the World War 2 era theme.
This game is available on Google Play, iTunes, and Windows Store.
Air Combat: Online
Air Combat: Online starts with an exciting tutorial that features the basic moves of the game. One in particular, a quick barrel roll to the left or right, is unique to this game and is easy to perform; just swipe the screen to the left or right. Navigate the plane by tilting the smartphone. When an enemy plane comes into view, lock onto it and fire missiles or use the machine gun. The game features several modes including survival, two on two, mission, and career. Additional modes are unlocked as you increase your level.
This game is available on Google Play and iTunes.
Air Strike
There are three game modes available in Air Strike – Classic, Modern, and Invasion. Classic features old-style planes and weapons, while Modern features state-of-the-art fighter jets and weapons. The maneuverability of the planes also differ in each mode. This game has over-responsive motion controls that make it difficult to fly the plane; it’s better to use the touchscreen controls, which make the game a lit bit more playable. Unlike other games, this one features a cockpit camera view.
This game is available on Google Play and iTunes.
Recommendation:
If I were to recommend just one game, it would be Air Combat: Online. It is the perfect air combat game for smartphones. Not only does the game have high replayability, the controls are easy to use, and the air to air dogfights are fun to play.
