F-15 Strike Eagle

F-15 Strike Eagle is one of those games that practically defined what a combat flight simulator should be in the 1980s. It drops you into the cockpit of the legendary F-15 and tells you, politely but firmly, that the world is dangerous and you are the solution. The graphics are simple by modern standards, but at the time they felt cutting-edge, especially when enemy aircraft appeared on your radar like tiny digital heart attacks.
What really sells the experience is the mix of action and planning. You’re not just blasting away; you’re choosing weapons, plotting routes, and trying not to get shot down by every surface-to-air missile on the map. It’s tense, demanding, and incredibly satisfying when a mission goes right. This is the game that made many players realize that flight sims could be more than just flying in circles and making airplane noises with your mouth.