Simple Planes

SimplePlanes is a simulation game where the player builds aircraft and tests them in flight. The game does not have a traditional story campaign with characters or a fixed plot. Its main focus is construction, physics, flying, and experimenting with different designs. Players can build planes by connecting parts, adding engines, shaping wings, and then launching the aircraft to see how it works in the air. The game is available on platforms such as PC and mobile, and it was released on Steam by Jundroo in 2015.

Building Before Takeoff

The main part of the game is the aircraft editor. Players snap parts together to create the body, attach engines for thrust, and design wing sections for lift. The game also lets the player test the aircraft at any time, so building and flying are connected. If a plane cannot take off, turns badly, or crashes, the player can return to the editor and change the design. The App Store description also notes that players can download many user-made airplanes instead of building every design from the beginning.

What the Player Controls

Gameplay is based on two connected systems: designing and piloting. In the editor, the player decides the shape, size, weight, engine placement, wing layout, and other parts of the aircraft. During flight, the player controls throttle, pitch, roll, yaw, landing gear, weapons, and other functions depending on the craft. The physics system reacts to design choices, so balance, lift, thrust, and drag affect how the plane flies.

The main things players do in SimplePlanes include:

·         building aircraft from separate parts;

·         shaping wings and fuselage sections;

·         adding engines, wheels, weapons, or extra systems;

·         testing planes in flight;

·         completing tutorial and challenge activities;

·         downloading and using community-made aircraft;

·         improving designs after crashes or failed tests.

Challenges Instead of Story Levels

SimplePlanes does not use standard story levels. Progress comes from learning how aircraft work, completing challenges, and improving designs. The game includes tutorial-style activities such as takeoff and landing practice, as well as more advanced challenges like SAM evasion and trench runs. It also has open areas where players can fly around, test aircraft, land, crash, or interact with objects.

To play, the user first builds or selects an aircraft, then starts a flight session. A stable plane usually needs enough lift, correct engine power, and balanced weight. If the aircraft pulls to one side, cannot climb, or breaks during landing, the player should adjust the parts and test it again. The main goal is not to finish a written storyline, but to create working aircraft, understand how each design behaves, and complete flight tasks through repeated testing.