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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

F18 Carrier Landing Lite vs Extreme Landings

F18 Carrier Landing Lite 4.6★ · Free + IAP · ⚠ stale 65
Winner F18 Carrier Landing Lite
Extreme Landings 4.5★ · Free + IAP 55

F18 Carrier Landing Lite is the better choice for players seeking a free flight simulator experience, despite its control issues and frequent ads, while Extreme Landings is hampered by an aggressive paywall and intrusive ads.

Full reviews: F18 Carrier Landing Lite · Extreme Landings

Both F18 Carrier Landing Lite and Extreme Landings offer flight simulation with free-to-play models, but both are criticized for aggressive monetization of planes and missions, as well as intrusive ads. F18 Carrier Landing Lite has an edge due to its slightly more forgiving free experience and better-regarded physics, despite its challenging tilt controls.

Head to head

Features and Content edge: F18 Carrier Landing LiteR2R3R4R8
F18 Carrier Landing Lite Users appreciate the F-18 jet and the core landing missions, finding the game fun and realistic R2R8R14R32. However, many express frustration that most planes and additional content, like dogfighting or weapons, are locked behind paywalls or in-app purchases R3R4R12R15. Players also request more updates, new aircraft, and interactive targets R13.
Extreme Landings Extreme Landings offers a variety of planes and missions, with users enjoying the physics and the option for a first-person view . However, a significant number of reviews highlight that 'literally everything is locked' behind a paywall, including most planes, missions, and even the flight simulator mode, often requiring a 'Pro Version' for $35 R67R70.
Ease of Use and Controls tieR1R6R8R9
F18 Carrier Landing Lite Many users find the tilt controls difficult and frustrating, especially on tablets, wishing for a virtual joystick R1R6R18. Some complain about the plane stalling or spinning out of control easily, making landings impossible R9. However, others find the controls realistic and challenging R8R32.
Extreme Landings Users acknowledge the game's controls are hard, with some experiencing difficulty turning or landing . While some appreciate the cockpit controls, the tilt control method is not universally liked R67.
Reliability and Performance edge: F18 Carrier Landing LiteR9R13R25R35
F18 Carrier Landing Lite Some users report issues with the game stalling or crashing, particularly during specific training levels R9R25. There are also mentions of bugs, such as planes exploding on landing in certain missions R35. A few users note a lack of updates over several years R13.
Extreme Landings Several users report the game crashing or not opening at all . A significant problem highlighted is that ads play while the game is running in the background, leading to crashes and mission failures R61R69.
Price and Value edge: F18 Carrier Landing LiteR4R10R12R15
F18 Carrier Landing Lite F18 Carrier Landing Lite is a free game with in-app purchases, but many users feel it's 'pay to win' or that too much content, including planes and maps, is overpriced and requires real money R4R12R15. Ads are also a significant complaint, described as 'ad after ad' and 'too much spam' R10R43.
Extreme Landings Extreme Landings is also free with in-app purchases, but the monetization is heavily criticized as 'pay to win' . Users frequently state that 'everything is locked' and you have to pay for most planes, missions, and even basic flight modes, with the 'Pro Version' costing $35 R67R70. The game is also plagued by an excessive number of ads, which often interrupt gameplay and cause crashes R61R69.
Graphics and Sound tieR8R12R20R27
F18 Carrier Landing Lite Users generally find the graphics decent, though some feel they 'need work' and lack detail in environments R12R27. The physics are often praised as 'good' or 'very real' R8R12R20R32. However, one user specifically requests improvements to sound quality, stating they mute it R20.
Extreme Landings Extreme Landings is noted for its 'pretty good graphics' and 'extremely high crash physics' . While some users appreciate the physics, others mention that the wheels don't hang like in real life or that the plane breaks apart too easily . One review mentions a lack of sound after 15 seconds .
Pick F18 Carrier Landing Lite if

You are looking for a free flight simulator focused on carrier landings and are willing to tolerate tilt controls and frequent ads, or potentially make a few in-app purchases for more planes R8R14.

Pick Extreme Landings if

You are interested in a flight simulator with good crash physics and a first-person cockpit view, and are prepared to either pay for the full experience or deal with extremely aggressive ads and limited free content .

Evidence note: Both apps are free-to-play with in-app purchases, and both receive significant criticism for their monetization strategies and ad frequency. The negative reviews for both apps are heavily skewed by these free-tier frictions.

Frequently asked

Do these games offer a free flight mode?
F18 Carrier Landing Lite offers free flight with the initial F-18 plane R8R14, while Extreme Landings only offers a limited free flight with one plane, requiring payment for more options or a full flight simulator experience R67R70.
Are there many ads in these games?
Both games are heavily criticized for intrusive and frequent ads, with F18 Carrier Landing Lite users reporting 'ad after ad' and 'too much spam' R10R43, and Extreme Landings users complaining about ads playing during gameplay, causing crashes and mission failures R61R69.
Can I use a joystick or controller with these games?
F18 Carrier Landing Lite users specifically request controller support and a virtual joystick, as the current tilt controls are difficult for many R1R18R24R48. Extreme Landings primarily uses tilt controls, which some users dislike, but it is not clear if it supports external controllers .
Do these games offer a realistic flying experience?
F18 Carrier Landing Lite is praised by some for its 'very real' simulation and good physics, though others find the controls make it unrealistically hard R6R8R12R32. Extreme Landings is noted for its good physics and 'extremely high crash physics,' with some finding it 'very real' .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 5/5 · US I love this game: This game is the best
  2. [R3] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 3/5 · US Hello?: Can you guys atleast add a way to get planes in this game? I don’t really care how hard it will be to get planes and maps.
  3. [R4] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 1/5 · US Worst game ever: You have to pay to just play the game
  4. [R8] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 5/5 · US Best game ever: The game is really fun because you get to actually play the game and is a very fun game and it get to feel the actual simulation like it is in real life.
  5. [R1] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 1/5 · US Junk game: This game is so crud. You have to steer with the whole screen if you have a tablet it’s like steering where the screen.
  6. [R6] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 3/5 · US Harder to control than Real: It’s fun but Carrier Landings are designed to be harder than what it would be in real life with realistic wind and carrier motion but with the aircraft control response “dumbed down” and slow which makes adjusting the landing approach unrealistically harder than real life.
  7. [R9] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 3/5 · US Why does it keep stalling: IT KEEPS STALLING
  8. [R13] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 1/5 · US Updates?: Needs updates, new aircraft, weapons use and I t reactive targets
  9. [R25] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 1/5 · US Can’t even play: The screen just stays black can’t even play
  10. [R35] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 5/5 · US Great game but: The emergency landing mission has a bug, when my engines shut down and I'm about to land at the dock the plane explodes.
  11. [R10] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 1/5 · US Ad after ad: Waste of time
  12. [R12] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 3/5 · US Good but needs work: The game has overall good physics and decent graphics but the other planes are overpriced and you should be allowed for 360 control of your plane and not forced to make a role and be able to fly upside down
  13. [R15] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 3/5 · US READ THIS: Fire of all the game is fun I like the missions but I got a BIG pet peeve you have us buy planes for a different experience but you spend money or has to buy another game it ridiculous.
  14. [R20] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 5/5 · US great game but my recommendations to the makers: fantastic game i’ve had it for years and i’ve made many purchases but id like to ask for a couple improvements. the physics are pretty good as far as im concerned but id like the ability to land lightly instead of my front gear slamming down every time. idk it just would make it satisfying. id also like improvements to the sound quality. honestl
  15. [R27] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 3/5 · US Lack of detail and graphics. Please add more missions for enjoyment: details are missing (buildings and streets). · translated
  16. [R14] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 5/5 · US Great game: This game is very fun and I really enjoyed it but it is just landing on a airbase or aircraft carrier there is no dogfighting
  17. [R67] Extreme Landings 2/5 · US EVERYTHING IS LOCKED.: When I first got this game, I had high expectations. But after playing for a while, I realized one thing, LITERALLY EVERYTHING IS LOCKED!!! You literally only have one plane, six missions, and if you want to do more missions or get more planes or play the flight simulator, you have to BUY THE PRO VERSION OF THE GAME FOR 35$. WHO’S GUNNA PAY 35$ FOR A GAME.😠 but I like the am
  18. [R70] Extreme Landings 1/5 · US 1: You have to by every thing The only part I like is that they heard the Airbus a 340 but they should and stick control control and also A340 in real life it’s a really bad one. I don’t know simulate that because it in barely flies in real life so I am going to do not download this game unless you have money
  19. [R43] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 1/5 · US F18 Carrier Landing: Way too much spam between flights, annoyingly too much, and the skip video tab doesn’t work.
  20. [R61] Extreme Landings 1/5 · US Ads so long you crash: This game was amazing but with the addition of full sized ads while you can’t control your plane has made the game unplayable
  21. [R69] Extreme Landings 3/5 · US Ads: I have to start with giving props to the developer. Great graphics, control and gameplay. I don’t mind the ads BUT the timing is terrible…. As soon as the flight starts…so does the ads, I can’t control the plane due to it flying in the background during the ads. By the time the ad is over, my plane has already crashed. So I have to restart the mission and there goes another ad. But it also se
  22. [R18] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 3/5 · US I can’t fly: So it’s true that I can’t fly in this game, this game doesn’t have a joystick or anything so I have to painfully turn my entire iPad which is something I’m bad at. I just don’t like the fact there’s no joystick in this game. But this is a pretty good game after all (except for the fact you have to buy every plane except the f18 with real money.)
  23. [R24] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 3/5 · US Backbone: Please add controller support
  24. [R48] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 3/5 · GB It is ok: Please add a virtual joystick
  25. [R32] F18 Carrier Landing Lite 5/5 · US Perfect: It’s. Very real and it shows that flying jets is hard so all those people flying them for America thank you for your service

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store