I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Since its release in 1998, I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 has established itself as a long seller, strongly supported by numerous users both inside and outside of aviation fandom.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 is a simulation, flight and management game
developed and published by TechnoBrain.
Released on October 15th 2020 is available in English only on Windows.
It has received 516 reviews of which 416 were positive and 100 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 49.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 64bit
- Processor: Intel 4th Gen Core i3 2.4GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400 series
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 3 GB available space
- Sound Card: DX9-compatible sound card
- Additional Notes: 1366x768 display
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Fun and Addictive! I like the requirement of time management and plan ahead on every moves.
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Having discovered this game within the confines of the internet, and remembering myself coming across this game a few years back, back when I would mindlessly watch whatever came across my recommended on YouTube, I was excited to begin my journey with this game. Although I may only have a few hours on this game as of yet, I find that the quality, craftsmanship, and overall detail within the game is outstanding. From the reverse thrusters, to the flaps, to the gear, to the spoilers, every inch of every model of plane found within the game is marked and considered with much detail. The scenery, however, could be remodeled. Especially within the surrounding areas of Haneda Airport, which is the only airport I have decided to purchase so far, the scenery tends to be sparse, and one can tell that this game is lacking when it comes to the modern age of games. In the end, however, the scenery does not take away from the experience, and does add some charm. Even the boats in the background have been animated to slowly meddle within the bay, which, when I discovered this fact, was a wonderful revelation. The game, when it comes to the variety of aircraft, is not lacking, and is abundant. One can experience handling aircraft from 747's, 777's, A321's, A320's, 737's, etc. However, more models could be introduced in the future, with future updates. When it comes to the liveries, yes, it is disheartening and disappointing to have airlines named after colors, from Black to White, Green to Blue, and one can sometimes tell which airline they are mimicking. I do realize and understand why actual corporations have been removed from the game, for it may be within the Steam TOS that one must be endorsed or approved by a company to show their likeness within the game, and getting approval from all Airlines mentioned or presented within the original game will be a hassle, and untimely. These airlines can become repetitive, and mundane, for I do not believe that the creators have attempted to recreate or introduce a copying airline for all of the original liveries shown in the game, which is unfortunate. Now about the game itself, and first off, the game play is absolutely wonderful, and challenging. This is a puzzle game, and is unlike any other ATC game out there to date, (Tower 3D, etc.) and it truly provides a captivating, and enjoyable experience for those wanting to have a taste of the experiences Air Traffic Controllers have. Starting off, with Haneda at least, the game is quite easy, slow, and relaxed, but, with the introduction of new levels, they progressively become much harder, even with certain automatic controllers aiding with the control of aircraft. Starting around level 3 or 4, one can become overwhelmed and confused from what to do, and how to prevent collisions. Sometimes however, certain warnings and repercussions occur without any context as to what you have done, further adding to the confusion, and maybe frustration one may feel. The movement in the game, I must say, is unique. When in the tower, viewing planes, etc, one must move their viewpoint by dragging on their screen first, and then the game will follow. Once you experience the game you will understand, I find it difficult to explain, one can become used to it in the end. I do feel that this game is somewhat needy when it comes to performance, for even with an i7, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA 4070 computer (I recognize that the specs provided are the recommended specs for the game, mostly) the game at times can have reduced frame rates, and slightly putter. I have even witnessed some videos where it seems as if the computer is struggling to process the information being thrown at it. The price is another story, I do believe that this game provides more than other ATC games, and is more enjoyable in the end, but it has fallen to the same level as others due to its pricing. Much like Tower 3D, and others, the game, for one airport, costs a whopping $60, and that's the base game. If you would like to experience a separate, differing airport, like Osaka, or Nagoya, you need to cash out another $50. I understand, and realize that this game is independently created, but for the price you pay, one may expect for more than what you ultimately receive. This game as stated, is also by now ten years old. I expect that a quintuple, version of this game is in the makes, but I do not know. It seems that more previously, a more stylized and arcady game was released earlier this year, so maybe I am wrong. Overall, I do recommend this game to others if they are interested in Aviation or other similar industries, for it introduces and provides challenging game play and an enjoyable experience. However, I would recommend purchasing this game during a sale, most likely one succeeding a new airport release, for at $30, this game is most definitely worth the price. I do hope that the Steam Workshop, or modifications will be more streamlined in the future, to prevent the deturance that is the mock liveries, for it would help to increase the appeal and worth of the game. Overall enjoyable, fun, intuitive, exciting, challenging, and detailed.
Expand the review
I really enjoy this game, but this is a very cautious thumbs-up. There's a lot going against ATC4 and it's only going to please a relatively small group of people. The first and most obvious hang-up is the cost. Even on sale, it doesn't dip that low, and it's a pretty monstrous tag for a game that is nearing its 10-year anniversary. You do get quite a lot for it, of course, but it may not seem like enough to many people. Without the cost-prohibitive DLC, the base game gives you one airport at Haneda, aka Tokyo International Airport. However, you are provided a set of escalating scenarios that get really challenging, plus the ability to make your own scenarios and relive traffic from 2017, all of which can amount to hours and hours of play. The second hang-up is that the game really gives no consideration of your time. Each scenario plays out in real-time and takes 20-45 minutes to complete (possibly longer; I haven't even hit the final stretch of scenarios). People chasing S-ranks are in for even more frustration as the only way to get that coveted "S" is to play a perfect game; any single mistake that you cannot correct means starting over. However, that leads into the third and most important hang-up. Thing is, ATC4 isn't really a sim by any measure. It has a very specific ruleset that doesn't always make a whole lot of sense and while your decisions can obviously affect how a scenario plays out and the real-time ticking means that there are always going to be variations on timing, it is essentially a puzzle game. To really enjoy it, you must agree to its arbitrary systems and learn to work within it. If you do, then the game can feel absolutely rewarding, but if you can't put your assumptions aside, then you will more likely feel frustration at every turn. It's why I've owned this forever and have only recently started putting the time into it. Probably the most glaring issue with ATC4's (and its console spin-off Airport Hero series, too) ruleset is one of absolute commitment. In other words, once you send certain orders, they can never be rescinded, never changed, never adjusted. For example, when an incoming flight first shows up on the radar, you have a few minutes to decide whether or not to change its runway, but only if you don't give it certain other orders (route changes are okay). Once that's locked in, however, it is really locked in - that plane is going to that strip of asphalt and nothing can deter it from doing so, even if that means it's going to go around indefinitely due to environment changes (thereby affecting your score). There's tons of stuff like this that gives your decisions unpredictable results. There's a risk and efficiency system in the works, too, and there is mystery surrounding both. Generally, efficiency is ensuring your planes are on time and risk is obviously not putting planes at risk of crashing. You might cut a route to give a plane more time, but then when you tell it to intercept, you suddenly lose time or magically increase your risk. A single wrong order can add minutes to a plane and lose you the scenario because, again, remember that many orders are locked in the moment you give them. Accidentally gave someone takeoff clearance when they were still taxiing, but you've now noticed that incoming Boeing? Too bad. It's going and you can't give it a new order. Clicked the wrong entry point on a runway that cost you 30 seconds even though there's still 4 minutes of taxiing? Unfortunately the TechnoBrain gods have deemed that there is no regresties. Ever. That level of inflexibility can be extremely frustrating, especially with ATC. On the other hand, if you can learn to delay yourself - even at the cost of points - you can find more wiggle room, but only just a little. So with all of these arbitrary rules to learn and not all of them being obvious, the only real way to get through the game is by having some kind of clairvoyance. You won't know that two planes spawn at specific times to collide in mid-air just outside the airport because there's a good gap between them - unless you saw it happen already and can make the right adjustments way ahead of time. You won't know that this very obvious time-saver won't work and will cost you risk unless you completely understand the ruleset or you've tried it before. What I'm getting at is that the only way to really get through each scenario with perfect play is to play it and fail it, possibly several times, to learn the timing and the twists to get the right results. Only in this way can you learn what happens, what works and what doesn't work, but obviously this is going to cost you a lot of your personal time because the game just doesn't care. So with all that to consider, ATC4 is very much a game of either simply surviving the scenario or pursuing perfect play. In the latter case, the game can shine, but it requires a commitment to repetition as well as your free time. Approaching it as a puzzle game made it much more enjoyable for me, trying to find the solution that gives me the highest rank possible, but it also meant learning to accept that the game is not dynamic or flexible. You learn to be on top of things in its own weird little bubble, but it does stay true to itself and never falters so in that sense, it remains fair if somewhat unpredictable at first. You get more out of ATC4 if you don't spend all of your time asking why you can't do something and focus more on what you can accomplish and how to do it and yes, sometimes it will take hours just to get past one scenario because you've been running it all week. On the plus side, even though you may be dumping hours into it, you are almost always engaged. It's a massive juggling act as you get into the later scenarios and it definitely keeps you on your toes, even if you already know what's supposed to happen. You maybe get a minute or so here and there where absolutely nothing happens, but it's rare; things ramp up quickly and you're playing all roles - delivery, approach, ground, tower, departure. It is a lot to handle. But if you can get your mindset correct, you'll find why this game has survived and is receiving expansions even to this day, ten years after its debut. Is it for everyone? Certainly not. Is it for ATC enthusiasts? Not really, although there is obvious love there. But if you're looking for a tough puzzle game themed around one of the busiest airports in Japan, then you may enjoy yourself. ATC4 will speak to a very specific type of personality while it will completely irritate another. If none of what I've said has detracted you from putting the game in your cart, I'm sure you'll be fine.
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It is a good mind tester, gets you thinking and a good break from gaming if you are stuck in a rut.
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One of the best ATC simulation games. The game offers good visuals and music, with a variety of interesting scenarios, such as runway changes, bird strikes, and aircraft getting stuck on a taxiway. It's hard to find another game as complete and realistic as this one. You can participate in everything from clearance to tracon handoff. The airports, city names, and departure and arrival procedures are real, and if you're familiar with Japanese aviation, you'll easily recognize the airlines represented. There are some realistic limitations that I appreciate, like the go-around procedure where you climb back to 10,000 feet and rejoin the queue, adding a 20-minute delay, just like in the real world. The slow, detailed readbacks from pilots, cautious turns, and tow trucks crawling on the taxiway add to the authenticity. Being a Japanese simulation, it embraces the meticulous nature of Japanese operations. The most frustrating aspects are the game mechanics: - You encounter some of the rudest pilots, constantly jamming the frequency, with points deducted and more delays if you don't respond quickly. It's annoying when aircraft report they're ready for the next step and start a countdown because you didn't explicitly tell them to wait, or when they roll slowly to the end of the runway because you didn't have the chance to tell them to vacate before slowing down. - The tools are limited compared to what you'd expect in other simulations. You can't do early frequency handoffs, which means you can't balance the frequency jamming. You can't give heading vectors, altitude, or speed. You can’t change the landing runway, or give direct shortcuts unless the aircraft is in a specific location. You can't ask aircraft to hold short of a taxiway, revoke takeoff clearances, or pre-select a taxi route while another aircraft is communicating, leading to wasted frequency time and points. Some have noted that this game feels more like a puzzle than a simulator, and I agree. Handling 60 aircraft per hour (30 departures and 30 arrivals) would be a miracle, regardless of the number of runways, due to the game mechanics. Despite these limitations, it's a wonderful ATC game. If you're interested in aviation, I encourage you to give it a try.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 is currently priced at 49.99€ on Steam.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 49.99€ on Steam.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 received 416 positive votes out of a total of 516 achieving a rating of 7.60.
😊
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 was developed and published by TechnoBrain.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 is playable and fully supported on Windows.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 is not playable on MacOS.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 is not playable on Linux.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 is a single-player game.
There are 6 DLCs available for I am an Air Traffic Controller 4. Explore additional content available for I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 on Steam.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 does not support Steam Remote Play.
I am an Air Traffic Controller 4 is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for I am an Air Traffic Controller 4.
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 14 June 2025 00:19 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 12 June 2025 11:54 |
| Steam price | 15 June 2025 12:48 |
| Steam reviews | 14 June 2025 00:06 |
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Game modes
Features
Online players
20
Developer
TechnoBrain
Publisher
TechnoBrain
Release
15 Oct 2020
Platforms