Best Open World Games with Flying Cars

The top pick is Cyberpunk 2077 — no other game blends a dense, believable city with fully controllable flying vehicles (the Aerondight and other AVs) as seamlessly. Its verticality, first-person driving, and story integration make it the benchmark, even if flying is unlocked late and only in certain areas.

What to Look For

Not all open worlds with futuristic vehicles are equal. Before buying, weigh these criteria:

• Flight freedom – Can you fly anywhere, or only on fixed routes? Full free-flight beats scripted taxi rides.
• Vehicle variety – Hovercars, jets, anti-grav bikes, or just one flying car? More options mean more replay value.
• World density – A big map is worthless if it’s empty. Look for cities with rooftops, traffic, and interiors that make flying interesting.
• Combat integration – Can you shoot from vehicles, or are they just transport? Dogfights add a lot.
• Upgrade/customization – Some games let you tune speed, weapons, and armor; others are static.
• Performance & polish – Flying fast can expose pop-in and bugs. Check recent patches and reviews.

Cyberpunk 2077

Strengths: Night City is the most detailed futuristic open world ever made, with towering megabuildings, neon-soaked streets, and a dense vertical layout. The Aerondight (a flying car) and other AVs are fully controllable, letting you weave between skyscrapers. The 2.0 update added better vehicle handling and combat, and the Phantom Liberty expansion improves the experience further.

Trade-offs: Flying vehicles are only available after a certain point in the story, and you can’t fly everywhere — some areas are blocked. First-person driving can be disorienting, and the world is more about atmosphere than pure sandbox chaos.

Best for: Players who want a narrative-rich RPG with jaw-dropping cityscapes and a reason to fly beyond just sightseeing.

Grand Theft Auto V (with mods)

Strengths: The base game has jets, helicopters, and a few futuristic vehicles (like the Deluxo from the Doomsday Heist), but the real magic is the modding community. PC mods add flying cars, hoverbikes, and even anti-gravity races. The map of Los Santos is still one of the best-designed open worlds, with varied terrain from city to desert.

Trade-offs: Vanilla GTA V has limited true flying cars — the Deluxo is slow and hovers more than flies. Mods require a decent PC and some technical setup, and online play has separate rules.

Best for: PC players who enjoy modding and want maximum freedom to create their own futuristic vehicle sandbox.

Saints Row IV

Strengths: This game throws realism out the window. You get superpowers (including flight) and a hoverbike called the ShockHammer, plus a flying saucer and other absurd vehicles. The alien invasion setting means you can zip around a simulated city with no traffic laws. It’s pure, chaotic fun.

Trade-offs: The graphics are dated (it’s a 2013 game), and the open world is a simulation, so it feels less lived-in than Night City. Vehicle handling is arcadey, and the story is intentionally silly.

Best for: Players who want fast, over-the-top action without any pretense of realism.

Just Cause 4

Strengths: The grappling hook and wingsuit make you feel like a superhero, and the game includes a range of futuristic vehicles, including the Bavarium-powered jets and hoverbikes. The map is huge and varied, with storms, deserts, and mountains. The destruction physics are spectacular.

Trade-offs: The vehicles are mostly military and not customizable. The story is forgettable, and the world can feel empty between action set-pieces. Flight is more about the wingsuit than cars.

Best for: Players who love explosive action and traversal mechanics more than realistic driving.

Watch Dogs: Legion

Strengths: Set in a near-future London, this game features cargo drones that you can ride, plus a few flying vehicles like the Albion VTOL. The ability to recruit any NPC adds a unique twist — you can have a spy with a flying car or a construction worker with a drone. The city is detailed and walkable.

Trade-offs: The flying vehicles are mostly for transport, not combat. The game’s performance on last-gen consoles was rough at launch, and the world can feel sterile. The recruitment mechanic is novel but can be grindy.

Best for: Players who enjoy stealth and tech-themed gameplay, and who want a British setting with a few flying options.

Hover (or Hover: Revolt of Gamers)

Strengths: This is a niche indie game focused entirely on parkour and hoverboarding. You can ride a futuristic hoverboard through a vibrant, colorful city, with wall-riding and flips. It’s like Jet Set Radio meets Tony Hawk in a sci-fi world.

Trade-offs: It’s not a AAA title — the graphics are simple, the story is minimal, and there are no flying cars, just hoverboards. The player base is small, and the controls have a learning curve.

Best for: Players who want a pure, skill-based hoverboarding experience and don’t need a massive open world.

How to Choose

Budget: Cyberpunk 2077 and GTA V are often on sale for under $20. Saints Row IV is usually very cheap (under $10). Just Cause 4 and Watch Dogs: Legion also drop in price frequently. Hover is an indie game that’s always affordable. If you’re on a tight budget, Saints Row IV or GTA V with mods give the most bang for the buck.

Use case: If you want a serious, immersive world with a story, pick Cyberpunk 2077. If you want pure sandbox fun with mods, pick GTA V. If you want fast action and don’t care about realism, pick Saints Row IV or Just Cause 4. If you want a unique gimmick (recruiting anyone), pick Watch Dogs: Legion.

Common trade-offs: The most common trade-off is between flight freedom and world density. Cyberpunk has the best world but limited flight. GTA V with mods has unlimited flight but a world designed for ground vehicles. Just Cause 4 has great traversal but weak vehicle combat. Decide what matters more: the journey or the destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you fly anywhere in Cyberpunk 2077?

No, flying vehicles are restricted to certain areas, mostly around the city center. You can’t fly into the Badlands or over the ocean indefinitely. The game blocks you with invisible walls or forces you to auto-land.

Do I need a powerful PC to run these games?

Cyberpunk 2077 and Watch Dogs: Legion are demanding — you’ll want a mid-range GPU (like an RTX 2060 or better) for 60fps at 1080p. GTA V and Saints Row IV run on almost anything. Just Cause 4 is in between.

Are there any open-world games with flying cars on PS5 or Xbox Series X?

Yes, Cyberpunk 2077 runs well on current-gen consoles. GTA V has a PS5/Xbox Series version with improved graphics. Watch Dogs: Legion also has a current-gen patch. Just Cause 4 is backward compatible but not enhanced.

Which game has the best flying car combat?

Honestly, none of them are great. Cyberpunk 2077 lets you shoot from vehicles, but it’s not a core mechanic. GTA V with mods can add weapons to flying cars. Just Cause 4 has vehicle weapons, but they’re limited. If you want serious vehicle combat, look at games like War Thunder (not open world) or Battlefield 2042.

Can I fly a car in GTA V without mods?

Yes, the Deluxo (from the Doomsday Heist) hovers and flies, but it’s slow and can only fly for a limited time. The Oppressor Mk II is a flying motorcycle, but it’s also limited. For full freedom, mods are required.

Are there any free-to-play options?

Not with flying cars specifically. Some free games like Warframe have open-world areas with hoverboards, but they’re not full open worlds. GTA Online is free with a subscription (PlayStation Plus, etc.) but the base game isn’t free.

Bottom Line

For the best overall experience, buy Cyberpunk 2077 — it’s the only game that feels like a true futuristic city with flying vehicles that matter. If you’re on a PC and love modding, GTA V is a close second. For pure budget fun, Saints Row IV delivers. Just remember: no game yet has perfected both open-world depth and unrestricted flying cars, so pick the one that matches your priority — story, sandbox, or speed.

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