For me, the best sim that I like to tinker with in the WW2 genre is Fighter Squadron: The Screamin' Demons Over Europe (SDOE). For for on-line and off-line play I really love the IL-2 series before ClOD...

Regarding this sims that are in that list the best WWII sim (my favourite) for me is BoBII.

But my favourite WWII sim (which isn't on the list) is (and probably "by far") B-17II The Mighty Eight! For me it's the best and "only" WWII heavy bomber sim (with "only" I mean dedicated WWII bomber sim and fully realistic WWII bomber sim) with some of the most realistic features ever seen in any WWII sim such as Navigation and Bombsight, awesome campaign that could be played either as bomber crew or bomber commander, crew and squadron management and of course the posibility to manage the crew while airborne in a mission like for example ordering a crewman to heal a fellow injured crewman or ordering a crewman to open the bomb bays or even ordering to manually lower the landing gear in case it had its hydraulics damaged.

My second favourite WWII sim was 1942 Pacific Air War (but I think this is probably "too old" to mention: this is old MS-DOS technology, afterall) and if I exclude 1942 Pacific Air War than I must say that my next favourite sim is European Air War (EAW).

After EAW (in third of fourth, depending) my favourite sim is BoBII which is where I voted.

B 17 was ok. I could never find my parking place when I returned from a mission. I used to kill off the fighters and just fly the bombardment missions with the flack on. ( still didnt make it all the way thru) I do wish they would remake it with better graphics and larger Bomber formations

And with Co-Op multiplayer, specially with players taking diferent roles in the same aircraft/bomber.
That would be my dream come true regarding WWII combat flight sims!

I have to agree on B-17II and Pacific Air War. It would be great to see those with 21st century technology.
B17II had one major turn-off for me, however: the B17 cockpit. Zero visibility with no means to adjust your viewpoint, and the main instruments were only visible in "heads-down" view. This was especially awkward because the fighter cockpits were exceptionally well done in this sim.

PAW was my first combat flight sim for the PC. I remember I had been playing it for weeks before I accidentally stumbled into its Carrier Battle mode, where you had strategic command of the whole fleet, and could jump into any aircraft at any time. It was two games in one!

Among post-2000 games, I find Rowan's/Shockwave's BoB2 to be the sim I keep coming back to. I used to fly IL-2, but that seems but a distant memory now.

Easily BoB 2. It has the best FM, AI, campaign and general immersion of any WW2 sim I've flown.

It's limited in scope, only a few flyables, one theater and it's somewhat dated but, on a qualitative scale, it outstrips it's competitors from the last decade in its present form. I mean you can't beat the sheer detail in BoB, the aircraft, campaign, and the AI are all absolutely superb and the game world is full of wonderful little touches that take you back in time.

Post V.4.11m Il-2 1946 comes a very close second, it's rather more sterile than BoB overall but the new AI and engine tolerances have pushed it out of the twilight between game and sim where was languishing before TD took the reins. It still lacks the complexity of a true sim in many respects, generic and simple engine management and flight models, but this is constantly changing under the auspices of Team Daidelos (further augmented very dedicated and talented modders) who are steering it in a promising direction.

It's only by the tiniest of margins that BoB has it's nose out in front but I think Il-2 will outlive it.

+1 Jimmy.

Best AI, FM and the beauty of seeing masses of aircraft in the air. When you get a 109 on your tail then realize it's an ace level you start to sweat. No AI ww2 sim has done that to me before.

IL2 is the only way to fly!
BadBud
FaceBook: San Diego SimFlite club

Nah...the title may say best...but in the thred it says best OF these...im surprised that CFS3 and COD made the list since they both were/are such a disappointment after all the hoohaa prior to release...just my 2c

CFS 3 have the best looking engine, when tweaked and with custom objects... just look at Over Flanders Fields, NOTHING comes near that. The clouds then... M$ FS was ever the leading one with clouds. It's a pity that only (as i know) OFF used the true potential of the engine, but it's WWI, not WWII.