List Of 2000 Pc Games
Here is the previous thread: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=12009443&m=104096506&r=147098216#147098216
Windows 2000 Game Compatibility List
126 rows 2000 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as. Best PC games of the past decade (2000-2009)? Could be in terms of innovation, playability, or overall quality execution. I decided to make a list of the best games from each year in the last decade based on my opinion, using the 200. in video gaming pages from wikipedia as reference. 2000 - Thief 2.
When Windows 2000 Beta 3 came out I began to dual-boot between it and 98SE. It was then that I started this list and have been adding to it ever since. When I got my hands on the RTM of Windows 2000, 98SE was wiped totally off of my system and only Windows 2000 remained. As you can see by looking at this list almost all games work under Windows 2000. Some games require patches and such but if you compare 9x to Windows 2000 you will note that Windows 2000 is a MUCH better gaming platform. Alot of these games would require a reboot to play under DOS or a reboot to adjust memory settings. Under Windows 2000 this is not necessary. Windows XP will only increase upon the Application Compatibility in Windows 2000. The issues you see below will be in XP because XP is NT. If anyone has any hints or suggestions on how to get the games working in the 'Games that do not work section' please email me at d0sfreak@yahoo.com
I own all of the following games and have tested them myself. So you can be sure that they work.
WINDOWS GAMES WITH NO PROBLEMS IN WINDOWS 2000
By no problems I mean that no problems were experienced by me while installing the game or playing the game. I am only human (unfortunately) so I may have missed something. The networking portion of these games has not been tested either.
Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings
Age of Sail 2
Aliens vs Predator Gold Edition
Anachronox
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate Tales of the Sword Coast
Baldur's Gate 2
Baldur's Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal
Battlezone 2
Black & White
Civilization
Civilization 2: Conflicts in Civilization
Civilization 2: Fantastic Worlds
Close Combat 4: Battle of the Bulge
Colonization
DarkStone
Delta Force 2
Descent 3
Deus Ex
Diablo
Diablo 2
Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction
Drakan: Order of the Flame
Driver
Dune 2000
Dungeon Keeper Gold
Dungeon Keeper 2
Earthworm Jim
Escape from Monkey Island
Everquest: The Ruins of Kunark
Fallout 2
Gangsters 2
Giants
Ground Control
Gunship!
Half-Life: Opposing Force
Heavy Metal FAKK2
Heretic 2
Heroes of Might & Magic 3
Hitman: Codename 47
Homeworld
Homeworld: Cataclysm
Icewind Dale
Kingdom Under Fire
Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Lemmings for Windows 95
Lords of Magic Special Edition
Max Payne
MDK 2
Mechwarrior 3
Mechwarrior 4
Messiah
Metal Gear Solid
Microsoft Arcade
Might & Magic 6: The Mandate of Heaven
No One Lives Forever
Omikron
Oni
Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis
Outpost
Outpost 2: Divided Destiny
Pax Imperia Eminent Domain
Pizza Connection 2
Planescape Torment
Postal
Project IGI
Quake 2
Quake 3: Arena
Quake 3: Team Arena
Rage Rally
Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear
Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear Urban Operations
Return to Krondor
Rune
Sacrifice
Sega Rally Championship
Serious Sam
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Simcity 3000
SimFarm
Sonic & Knuckles Collection
Starcraft
Starcraft: Brood War
Star Trek: Borg
Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The Fallen
Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force
Star Wars Episode 1: POD Racer
Steel Panthers: World at War
Swat 3
Team Apache
The Ardennes Offensive
The Longest Journey
Thief
Thief 2
The Sims
The Sims Livin' Large Expansion Pack
Tomb Raider 2
Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation: The Core Contingency
Total Annihilation: Kingdoms
Ultima Ascension
Unreal
Unreal Tournament
Urban Chaos
Vampire The Masquerade
Virtua Cop 2
Warcraft 2: Battle.net Edition
Windows Entertainment Pack
You Don't Know Jack Volume 2
Zeus Master of Olympus
TOTAL=113
WINDOWS GAMES YOU HAVE TO MODIFY TO GET TO WORK
Games work fine after modification.
3-D Ultra Pinball: Creep Night
INSTALL
When it say's: 'Setup needs to test your system to make sure it can run 3D Ultra Pinball 2. Do you want to perform this test before installing?'. Click NO. Then it will ask if you wish to continue installing. Click YES.
Next you will receive this error message: 'The procedure entry point SUnMapLS_IP_EBP_12 could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.DLL'. Hit OK.
You do not need to restart to play this game. Choose Restart Later.
Afterlife
There are 2 ways that you can play this game.
1. From the CD.
2. From the Hard Drive.
1. To play from the CD. Just run ALIFE.EXE. This will create a saved game directory on your C: drive called ALIFE.
2. To play from the Hard Drive simply create a directory on your hard drive called ALIFE. Now copy all of the files and folders from the CD to this directory. Now edit the ALIFE.INI file and change the 'C:ALIFE' line to wherever you placed Afterlife on your hard drive.
Betrayal in Antara
INSTALL
When it say's: 'Setup needs to test your system to make sure it can run Betrayal in Antara Do you want to perform this test before installing?'. Click NO. The it will ask if you wish to continue installing. Click YES.
GAME
Game runs in a Window if your desktop resolution is higher than 640X480. Fairy tale slot games. To make it run fullscreen either change your desktop resolution to 640X480 or
Download the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility toolkit from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/compatibility/
Use QfixApp on ANTARAR.exe and click 'Force640X480X16.dll'
Click the 'Advanced' tab. Then click 'Create attributes file'.
Then go to the AppPatch folder in the Windows folder and click on ANTARAR.reg
Now all you have to do is run the game and it will always run in 640X480!
Reinstall this .reg if you reinstall windows!
Civilization 2
INSTALL
When it comes to the 'INSTALLING INDEO VIDEO INTERACTIVE' screen. Hit the EXIT button. DO NOT INSTALL THIS.
If you did install it then read the following:
If you receive this error when you run Civ 2:
'CIV2 caused a Stack Fault in module IR41.dll at 0002:019D. Choose close. CIV2 will close.'
Then delete the IR41.dll file in the winntsystem directory.
Cyberstorm
Upon running the game you will receive this error message: 'GFXCDSSurface:: Failed to create a Surface'. Read the following to fix it.
Download the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility toolkit from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/compatibility/
Use QfixApp on the game and click the 'ForceDefaultSystemPaletteEntries' box.
Click the 'Advanced' tab. Then click 'Create attributes file'.
Then go to the AppPatch folder in the Windows folder and click on ANTARAR.reg
Now all you have to do is run the game and it will always run in 640X480!
Reinstall this .reg if you reinstall windows!
Flight Unlimited 2
Upon running the install you will receive a message about not being able to run under NT. Simply copy the APPCOMPAT.EXE tool off of your Windows 2000 CD and copy it to your desktop. Now choose 'WIN95' and choose the 'Setup.exe' on the Flight Unlimited 2 CD. Now hit run. You should now be able to install the game!
Grim Fandango
Go to the game directory and run Grimfandango.exe. Do not use the shortcut.
Half-Life
If you see a grey screen:
Download the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility toolkit from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/compatibility/
Use QfixApp on HL.exe and click 'CheckDirectDrawDCUsage.dll'
Click the 'Advanced' tab. Then click 'Create attributes file'.
Then go to the AppPatch folder in the Windows folder and click on HL.reg
The game should play fine now.
Reinstall this .reg if you reinstall windows!
Heavy Gear 2
Download the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility toolkit from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/compatibility/
Use QfixApp on Heavy Gear 2.exe and click 'Win95VersionLie.dll'
Click the 'Advanced' tab. Then click 'Create attributes file'.
Then go to the AppPatch folder in the Windows folder and click on Heavy Gear 2.reg
Now all you have to do is run the game like normal from the Shortcut!
Reinstall this .reg if you reinstall windows!
Hidden & Dangerous
v1.2 patch breaks game. Less than 1.2 is good but sound
does not work like it should.
HIND
INSTALL
Download the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility toolkit from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/compatibility/
Use QfixApp on the setup.exe on the CD and click '2gbGetDiskFreeSpace.dll'
Click the 'Advanced' tab. Then click 'Create attributes file'.
Then go to the AppPatch folder in the Windows folder and click on setup.reg
Now all you have to do is run the install like normal from the CD!
Reinstall this .reg if you reinstall windows!
(Rename setup.reg to HINDsetup.reg)
GAME
Download the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility toolkit from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/compatibility/
Use QfixApp on hind95.exe and click 'IgnoreException.dll'
Click the 'Advanced' tab. Then click 'Create attributes file'.
Then go to the AppPatch folder in the Windows folder and click on hind95.reg
Now all you have to do is run the game like normal from the Shortcut!
Reinstall this .reg if you reinstall windows!
Need for Speed 4: High Stakes
INSTALL
Use APCOMPAT.EXE from the Windows 2000 CD or QFIXAPP Choose AUTORUN.EXE and choose Windows 95. Then click OK. Need for Speed 4: HS setup will start. You may have to do this a couple of times.
After the files are done copying you will receive the error 'Can not run Unicode version of ATL.dll on Windows 95. Please install the correct version'. Click ok.
You will also receive the error message 'Error! Could not open HKEY_DYN_DATAConfig ManagerEnum.'. Click ok.
Instead of receiving the above message setup may hang. If so end the '3data' process and setup will continue.
The 3dsetup program will most likely not work. You will just see 'software renderer' if so then read the following:
GAME
Exhibits 55. Agua caliente casino promotions code. Largest Room 8208.
If you can only play the game in Software mode then copy the following lines into a text file:
_____________________________________________
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREElectronic ArtsNeed For Speed High Stakes]
'Version'='4.00'
'InstallPath'='F:GamesNeed For Speed High Stakes'
'3D Device Description'='
'3D Card'='
'Thrash Driver'='d3da'
'Group'='D3D'
'D3D Device'=dword:00000001
'Triple Buffer'=dword:00000001
'Hardware Acceleration'=dword:00000001
'Thrash Resolution'='1024X768'
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREElectronic ArtsNeed For Speed High Stakes1.0]
'Language'=dword:00000001
'Variant'=dword:00000000
'InstLev'=dword:00000002
'SrcDrive'='G:'
_____________________________________
Copy everything inside the ______! Now make the appropriate changes for your configuration. For instance, if your video card card can not handle Triple Buffering then modify the 'Triple Buffer'=dword:00000001 line to 'Triple Buffer'=dword:00000000. If you want to play in a different resolution then modify 1024X768 to whatever resolution you wish. If your NFSHS CD is in a different CDROM then change the 'G:' to the letter of your CDROM Drive. Once your changes have been made then save the file as NFSHS.REG. Now double-click on the file and merge it into your registry. You can now play NFSHS in D3D and in Hi-Res!
Pirates! Gold for Windows
Change desktop color depth to 256 colors to play this game.
Riven DVD
Doesn't work under Windows 2000. Fails to start. Must use the Riven.exe from Riven CD version. Download the executable from
www.freedrive.com Login:ntcompatible1 Password:ntcompatible1
Riven CD
Game may freeze on first execution. Quit the game and start it again.
Go to www.freedrive.com Login:ntcompatible1 Password:ntcompatible1 and download affinity.cab and install it. Then right-click on the riven executable and choose Use CPU1.
Silent Thunder A-10 Tank Killer 2
Download the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility toolkit from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/compatibility/
Use QfixApp on A10Shell.exe and click 'SanitizeCreateProcessStartupInfo.DLL'
Click the 'Advanced' tab. Then click 'Create attributes file'.
Then go to the AppPatch folder in the Windows folder and click on A10Shell.reg
Now all you have to do is run the game like normal from the Shortcut!
Reinstall this .reg if you reinstall windows!
System Shock 2
Use setup -lgntforce to install.
Set affinity to the first CPU to play.
Go to www.freedrive.com Login:ntcompatible1 Password:ntcompatible1 and download affinity.cab and install it. Then right-click on the executable and choose Use CPU1.
May experience lockups while saving and loading games sometimes.
The Curse of Monkey Island
On SMP systems set the affinity to a single processor. Multiple processors mess up the sound.
Go to www.freedrive.com Login:ntcompatible1 Password:ntcompatible1 and download affinity.cab and install it. Then right-click on the executable and choose Use CPU1.
Wing Commander : The Kilrathi Saga for Windows 95
Download the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility toolkit from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/compatibility/
Use QfixApp on WC1.exe and click 'IgnoreException.dll'
Click the 'Advanced' tab. Then click 'Create attributes file'.
Then go to the AppPatch folder in the Windows folder and click on WC1.reg
Now all you have to do is run the game like normal from the Shortcut!
Reinstall this .reg if you reinstall windows!
X-COM UFO Defense Gold Edition (Windows 95)
Download the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility toolkit from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/compatibility/
Use QfixApp on UFO.exe and click 'ForceDdrawEmulation.dll'
Click the 'Advanced' tab. Then click 'Create attributes file'.
Then go to the AppPatch folder in the Windows folder and click on UFO.reg
Now all you have to do is run the game like normal from the Shortcut!
Reinstall this .reg if you reinstall windows!
TOTAL=20
DOS GAMES THAT WORK UNDER WINDOWS 2000
Use VDMSound to get Sound working in these games under NT.(VDMSound may not work for some games.)
007: Licence to Kill
4D Boxing
A Mind Forever Voyaging
Abuse
Adventure
Adventures of Willy Beamish
Aladdin
Alien Breed
Alien Trilogy
Alter Ego Female
Alter Ego Male
Altered Destiny
Alone in the Dark
Apache Strike
Artura
Beneath a Steel Gray Sky
Big Red Racing
Black Cauldron
Blake Stone: Planet Strike
Bloodnet
Blue Force
Bugs Bunny HareBrained Adventure
Castles
Civilization
Colonization
Companions of Xanth
Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail
Countdown
Curse of Enchantia
Darklands
Destruction Derby
Ducktales
Duke Nukem 1
Duke Nukem 2
Dune
Dune 2
Dungeon Master
EcoQuest
Ecstatica
Enchanter
Escape from Delirium
Extreme Pinball
Falcon 3.0 & Hornet Naval Strike Fighter
Fantasy Empires
Frogger
Full Throttle
Gateway
Goblin's Quest 3
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Hugo's House of Horrors
Hugo 3: Jungle of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusader
Jagged Alliance
Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games
King's Quest 1: Original
King's Quest 1: Remake
King's Quest 2
King's Quest 3
King's Quest 4
King's Quest 5
King's Quest 6
Knights of Xentar
Lands of Lore
Legend of Kyrandia 1
Legend of Kyrandia 2
Lemmings
Lemmings 2: Oh No More Lemmings
Links Golf
Loom
Maniac Mansion
Martian Memorandum
Master of Magic
Master of Orion
Microsoft Flight Simulator 3
Microsoft Flight Simulator 4
Might and Magic 1
Might and Magic 2
Might and Magic 3
Might and Magic: Darkside of Xeen
Might and Magic: Swords of Xeen
Monkey Island 1
Monkey Island 2
Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 2
NASCAR Racing
Neuromancer
Out of this World
Pizza Tycoon
Police Quest 3
Populous 2
Prince of Persia
Princess Maker 2
Quest for Glory 1
Quest for Glory 1 Remake
Quest for Glory 2
Quest for Glory 3
Raptor Call of the Shadows
Realms of Chaos
Red Baron
Revolution X
Rise of the Triad
Sam & Max Hit the Road
Scorched Earth
Seawolf
Seven Cities of Gold
ShadowCaster
SimAnt
SimCity
Simon The Sorceror 2
Skate or Die
Space Quest 1 Remake
Space Quest 2
Space Quest 3
Space Quest 4
Space Quest 5
Star Trek 25th Anniversary
Street Fighter 2
Strife
Super Star Wars
System Shock
The Amazing Spiderman
The Catacomb Abyss
The Incredible Machine
The Lion King
The Lost Vikings
The Savage Empire
Ultima 0: Akalabeth
Ultima 1
Ultima 4
Ultima: Martian Dreams
Veil of Darkness
Wacky Wheels
Warlords 2
Wasteland
Wing Commander 2
Wing Commander Academy
World Class Leader Board Golf
X-Com UFO Enemy Unknown
X-Com Terror From The Deep
Zeliard
Zork 1
Zork 2
Zork 3
Zork Zero
Zork: The Undiscovered Underground
TOTAL=146
DOS GAMES YOU HAVE TO MODIFY TO GET TO WORK
Aces over Europe
Edit the AUTOEXEC.NT file in the SYSTEM32 directory and REM the DOSX line.
It should look like this:
REM Install DPMI support
REM lh %SystemRoot%system32dosx
Save the file.
Right-click on AOE.COM and go to the Memory tab. Max out the Memory.
Click on OK to save. Use the .pif or .EXE to play the game!
UnRem the line you REMed when you are done!
Alone in the Dark 2
Right-click on AITD2.EXE and go to the Memory tab. Max out the Expanded Memory.
Click on OK to save. Use the .pif or .EXE to play the game!
Betrayal at Krondor
Edit the AUTOEXEC.NT file in the SYSTEM32 directory and REM the DOSX line.
It should look like this:
REM Install DPMI support
REM lh %SystemRoot%system32dosx
Save the file.
Right-click on Krondor.exe and go to the Memory tab. Max out the Memory.
Click on OK to save. Use the .pif or .EXE to play the game!
UnRem the line you REMed when you are done!
Commanche Maximum Overkill
Install the M3H update and execute C1.EXE
Descent 2
Run the DOS INSTALL.EXE to install.
Download D2_W2ptch. Use Descent 2 for Windows 95 Patch to play Descent 2.
Doom Special Edition
Can play without sound. For sound and improved graphics use JDoom or equivalent.
Doom 2
Can play without sound. For sound and improved graphics use JDoom or equivalent.
Heretic
Can play without sound. For sound and improved graphics use JHeretic or equivalent.
Hexen
Can play without sound. For sound and improved graphics use JHexen or equivalent.
Quake
Requires GLQuake or equivalent to run.
Quarantine
Install Patch. May need to use slowdown program.
Rise of the Dragon
Set EXPANDED in Memory Properties to Maximum.
Space Hulk
To play the game without sound emulation then rename sound.drv to sound.drk in the DRV_DIR directory.
Spear of Destiny
Can play without sound. For sound and improved graphics use WolfGL.
Wolfenstein 3D
Can play without sound. For sound and improved graphics use WolfGL.
TOTAL=15
GAMES THAT WORK ONLY UNDER VIRTUAL PC
Command & Conquer (Windows 95)
Windows 2000:Does not work with APP Kit 1.5
Command & Conquer The Covert Operations
Windows 2000: Does not work with APP Kit 1.5
Command and Conquer Red Alert Counterstrike
Windows 2000: Does not work with APP Kit 1.5
Daytona USA
Windows 2000: Works but graphics glitches and control problems.
Blood
Works fine in 2000 except without VESA
Descent
Works in 2000 except screen shakes.
Duke Nukem 3D
Works fine in 2000 except without VESA
Magic Carpet 2: The Netherworlds
Mechwarrior 2 (DOS)
Sound messes up during videos. Sound works fine in-game. Plays fine at 1024X768 but a little slower than 800X600.
Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries (DOS)
Sound messes up during videos. Sound works fine in-game.
Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries (Windows)
Sound messes up during videos. Sound works fine in-game. When you install the 1.05 patch do NOT install the Direct3D update. The emulated video card in Virtual PC is NOT a 3D Accelerator and the Direct3D patch will severly slow down Mercenaries and mess up graphics.
Windows 2000: Does not work with APP Toolkit 1.5
Megarace 2
Graphics are slightly messed up.
Monopoly Deluxe
Need for Speed
Run TNFS.EXE in DOS under Virtual PC.
Redneck Rampage Rides Again
Works fine in 2000 except without VESA
Relentless Twinsen's Little Big Adventure
Works fine in DOS.
Simcity 2000 (DOS)
Star Trek: Klingon
Windows 2000:Does not work with APP Kit 1.5
Terminal Velocity
Works in 2000 except screen shakes and no VESA
The 4th Generation
Transport Tycoon
Tyrian
Ultima 7
Game runs fine in DOS but VERY fast. May have to use slowdown tool.
Ultima Underworld
Game works fine in 98 after adding HIMEM & EMM386 to config.sys.
Virtual Pool
Works fine in 2000 except without VESA
Wing Commander 3
Works in 2000 except without VESA.
Wizardry 5
TOTAL=27
GAMES THAT DO NOT WORK
Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Simulator
Crusader: No Remorse
Cutthroats
Command & Conquer Red Alert
Can not install
Command & Conquer Red Alert: The Aftermath
Destruction Derby 2
Corrupted Graphics
Àpp Kit 1.5 does not work.
Dungeon Master 2
F-15 Strike Eagle
Game runs too fast under Windows 2000/Virtual PC. Need slowdown program.
Flight Deck 2
Grand Theft Auto 2
Game doesn't run. Does not work with APP Toolkit 1.5
Jazz Jackrabbit
Runtime error under Windows 2000.
Works under VPC but needs slowdown program.
Ken's Labyrinth
Game Crashes under Windows 2000
Game crashed under VPC
Mean Streets
Game runs too slow in Windows 2000.
Sound messed up under VPC.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000
Game crashes back to desktop.
Nascar Racing 4
One Must Fall 2097
Runs waaaayy too fast under VPC. Need slowdown program.
Pirates Gold (DOS)
Game just hangs
Privateer
Doesn't work under VMWARE in DOS. Get weird error about OS/2 OS.
Doesn't work under Virtual PC. Hangs upon execution of game.
Quest for Glory 4 (DOS)
Crashes when I press a key on the keyboard.
Quest for Glory 4 (WINDOWS)
Doesn't work in Windows 2000 or under 9x in VPC in DOS.
Rollcage
Quits back to desktop
Swat 3 Elite Edition
Get strings.dat error
Transport Tycoon Deluxe
Can not run under Windows 2000.
Can not install under VPC.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Requires 3dfx card to work
Turrican 2
Doesn't work under VMWARE in Windows 98.
Doesn't work under Virtual PC. Graphics messed up.
U.S. Navy Fighters
Doesn't work under VPC.
Wing Commander 1
Doesn't work under VPC. Too fast. Cursor messed up.
Wizardry 6
Doesn't work under Windows 2000. Divide overflow error.
Doesn't work under VPC. Divide overflow error.
Worms
Hangs under Windows 2000
Game crashes under VPC
Worms Armageddon
Does not work with App Toolkit 1.5
TOTAL=31
WINDOWS GAMES WITH NO PROBLEMS IN WINDOWS 2000 =113
WINDOWS GAMES YOU HAVE TO MODIFY TO GET TO WORK= 20
DOS GAMES THAT WORK UNDER WINDOWS 2000 =146
DOS GAMES YOU HAVE TO MODIFY TO GET TO WORK = 15
GAMES THAT WORK ONLY UNDER VIRTUAL PC = 27
GAMES THAT DO NOT WORK = 31
321 games work in Windows 2000
31 games do not work in Windows 2000
Contact: d0sfreak@yahoo.com
[This message was edited by DosFreak on August 28, 2001 at 14:56.]
Flight simulation games are longtime favorites of PC gamers. Among these, WWII flying games are among the most popular. The slower speeds of the planes and older weapon technologies of this era make for more strategic flight combat then is often seen in games placed in more modern settings. While the list of WWII flying games is long, there are a few that soar above the rest in PC gaming.
Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater (2000)
An older WWII flight simulator, 'Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater' is a solid WWII flier, if not spectacular. The game engine made only a few improvements over its predecessor. What makes this game important is the new bar that it established for modern WWII flight games graphics. Detailed terrain and cockpit rendering made for a more enjoyable flight experience, and plane model changes that reflected combat damage improved flight combat realism.
IL-2 Sturmovik (2001)
UBI Soft's 'IL-2 Sturmovik' is the highest rated WWII flight game ever. Receiving a 90.65 percent from GameRankings.com and a 91 from Metacritic. This classic offers a choice of 31 different planes as well as a variety of combat types. 'IL-2 Sturmovik' multiplayer dog-fighting is an intense aerial ballet that has yet to be matched by its more modern counterparts.
Wings of Power: WWII Heavy Bombers and Jets (2004)
An expansion for 'Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004,' 'Wings of Power: WWII Heavy Bombers and Jets,' puts the player in the cockpit of some of the most popular planes of the era. The game has been lauded by reviewers for its fantastic 3D graphics and authentic flight simulation. 'Wings of Power: WWII Heavy Bombers and Jets' is one of the highest reviewed WWII flying games of all time receiving a Metacritic score of 83 and a GameRankings score of 87.83 percent.
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions
While only receiving moderate reviews, (72 Metacritic, 70.88 percent GameRankings) 'Blazing Angles 2: Secret Missions' is among the highest rated modern WWII flying games. The game is praised for its beautiful graphics and player progression, but receives criticism for its sometimes clunky controls, especially when compared to its console iterations.
- old warbird image by Micah Jared from Fotolia.com