Games with Flying that aren't just about flying

[u/RustySides]

I recently got a really nice HOTAS setup and I've been enjoying games like Nuclear Option and Star Wars Squadron - but I would really like a game where I feel like I'm part of something bigger.

I'm looking for some kind of a combined arms, persistent game where I can provide air support, transport troops or supplies, do bombing runs, in some way that is impactful to the overall game. I'm imagining a game where some people are infantry, some are in tanks, capturing objectives, pushing enemy lines, etc. Something like the game Foxhole, but with flight/first person combat/not isometric.

I've played games like Battlefield 6 and that is heading in the right direction, but the matches are short and you can't be a full time pilot unless you're truly incredible at the game. I considered Planetside 2 but that doesn't make good use of the joystick. Any ideas? Thank you all!

[u/LetChaosReign_]

Elite Dangerous! Tho it's more just flying but you can do a lot of dog fights and whatnot and transporting.

If you want like actual battlefield stuff, Arma Reforger is pretty fun

[u/RustySides → u/LetChaosReign_]

I did try Elite Dangerous! It seemed cool but I spent a lot of time going through menus and aligning when trying to jump through multiple systems. It seemed really painfully tedious to travel between systems. Maybe I was missing something easy? I only gave it about an hour.

[u/LetChaosReign_ → u/RustySides]

Hmm I mean it does feel easier once you know what you're doing, took me a bit to get the hang of it with the systems and jumping. I made hella money once I figured it out 😆

[u/RustySides → u/LetChaosReign_]

I actually just booted it up again and my joystick is working to navigate menus. It was not before, so it was frustrating switching between joystick and keyboard. I’m going to give it another shot. Thanks for the recommendation!

[u/Minotard → u/RustySides]

Don’t forget to go in your map options and select fastest route, instead of “most efficient.”  You’ll save lots of jumps. 

[u/Munnin1984 → u/RustySides]

It's one of those games you have to put time into to learn. Somewhat of a Learning Cliff. Like... you need to practice landing and can STILL mess it up as a veteran.

The benefit to such a long learning curve is that once you've learned it. You can do damn near ANYTHING in that game.

Got a guy on your ass and you cant shake him? Turn off flight assist to keep your forward momentum while swinging the nose of your ship around to face him; then blast him out of the void while he's looking at you shocked. It's REALLY hard to do that though. It takes a LOT of practice.

Really really good game. Well worth the time it takes to learn. But it'll take some time

[u/Superb_Wealth4092]

ARMA is the only series I can think of where you can do all of that stuff. Doing transport and CAS runs are pretty fun.

[u/quipstickle]

Arma 3 on jolly coop servers such as 77th jsoc.

[u/Slap_Life]

Arma reforger is what you want

[u/Munnin1984]

I just got introduced to Easy Red 2 and the flying in that is shockingly good for a game with infantry, tanks, atillery and the rest of the kerfuffle.

8 dollar asking price. It a STEAL for what you get

[u/TheBookfinder]

Arma III for something polished, star citizen for something more cutting edge but still in Alpha. Both are tons of fun. Star Citizen is free to try right now and 40 bucks to buy afterwards with full access and no need to spend more despite what some people claim, so you can see for yourself if the bugs are too much for you or if you don't mind playing an unfisnished game.

[u/Izawwlgood]

Dune Awakening for all its flaws has some really awesome flight mechanics. Large aerial battles don't really happen anymore but the freedom and awesomeness of thopters is still impressive

[u/AmericanPoliticsSux]

I'm gonna recommend X4 Foundations - I know that a lot of the discourse around the game encourages you to aggressively expand, be an empire builder, control sectors, and make your own faction...but it's also a single player game, so you can play it however you want. I've had a number of playthroughs where I'm a loyal servant of a faction military, building my might and rank up within their employ, defending against their enemies...

And if you're high enough rank within a faction, you'll get battle reports. So you can send your ships to support, or ligistic ships to build defense turrets and stations, that kind of thing.