
Players take on the role of an air traffic controller, guiding aircraft safely and efficiently through real-world airports. With simple controls, it’s easy for anyone to enjoy, featuring a wide range of stages tailored for both beginners and advanced players.
Modeled estimate, not a reported figure. How we estimate →
Media

About
Since its release in 1998, this air traffic control game has established itself as a long seller, strongly supported by numerous users both inside and outside of aviation fandom.
For the safe flight of aircraft, air traffic controllers play a vital role. We focus on the duties of these controllers in our game scenarios.

To clear the stages, a player should issue directions as a tower controller for safe and effective flight of aircraft. The operation is quite simple, just select an aircraft and click Instruction buttons. Yet as the situation keeps changing according to the directions issued and the timing, clearing the stage always requires precise and correct judgment. Even after game over, you can resume from the middle of the game replay.

Adding to the Game Stage of various play levels, the Extra Stage gives you some special conditions to further liven up the play. You can also select time, wind direction, and section you like for your own Original Stage.

The game is set in Haneda Airport (HND/RJTT) in Tokyo, which represents Japan!
It is Japan's largest airport both in its reputation and in its performance, as it sports no less than four runways, handling over 80 million passengers annually (domestic/international), with over 400,000 flight slots.

Genres
Stats
All-time low is the lowest price we've recorded for this game since we started tracking it.
Languages: English
Engagement
Hours played at review time, across 40 reviews with recorded playtime.
Reviews
Themes across 40 recent reviews and how positive each mention is. A keyword signal, not full sentiment analysis.
positive critical· bar length = how often the theme comes up
Reviews
The game looks great but levels are timed and not contimous play. The tutorials are not even close to teaching or explaining the game play mechanics. There are so many different sounds tring to make out what is being said is difficult for an older person. I did everything I could to like the game but I just cant. I did the tutorials 5 or six times and game is simply not enjoyable and not easy to learn.
Super bad performance, runs okay for the first 10 minutes, then it experiences a lot of stuttering and drops the FPS slowly until reaching 0/1 fps, making it impossible to play... I surpass the minimum and recommend pc components, but it is impossible to play I can play RDR2 or Expedition 33 at 2K 60 FPS without any problems, but this game, although I understand it is an indie, and the optimization is not comparable, I cannot really believe I cant play it after 20/30 minutes of gameplay! Without this problem, I found this game super fun, and I would post a good review... But, sadly, the game is not possible to play!
An enjoyable game that i have sank a significant amount of hours in, but I have to not recommend purely based on the outrageous and unjustifiable pricing policy of both the base game and the DLC.
Very difficult game, but very enjoyable. The only thing that isn't real world, is the amount of radio channels that you have to manage. Real World ATC doesn't manage so many channels.
Please give me the ability to correct my own mistakes. For example, if I choose the wrong route, the wrong speed, or even the wrong runway, I should be able to undo or adjust my decision instead of being locked into the mistake.
I am a big fan of the "Boku wa Koku Kanseikan" (aka Bokukan) games. Known worldwide as "Air Traffic Controller" or "I want to be an Air Traffic Controller", the game has been a staple for air traffic controller sim (puzzle) gaming. [Note: I will be using the name "Bokukan 4" instead of typing "I am an Air Traffic Controller 4" throughout this review] With Bokukan 5 to be released in 2026, it's a long-waited game as "Bokukan 4" is an older game that was released in 2015, but added to STEAM in 2020, giving fans internationally a chance to play and enjoy the game. With that being said, with this being an older game, the graphics looks somewhat dated when compared to its newer counterpart, "Bokukan Airport Hero" which is available on consoles like the Nintendo Switch and looks much more vibrant and newer. Now, you may ask yourself? Which one should I get "Bokukan4" or "Bokukan Airport Hero". Personally, there is nothing wrong with getting both, but one benefit of getting the PC version is the option to play airports that are not available on Airport Hero. Currently, Airport Hero is limited to Centrair, Haneda and Narita and it's All Star releases featuring official liveries and more. Now let's talk about Bokukan 4, as mentioned this is a 2015 game released on STEAM in 2020 by TechnoBrain. There are 11 releases out for the PC. But Technobrain focused on releasing 5. So, no... you are not going to get Sendai, Centrair, Fukuoka, Kanku, Haneda 2 or the extra challenges but the Steam base game does come with Haneda. Fortunately, at least they released five DLC. As for the DLC, they do go on sale but similar to most Japanese simulators, where sales never happen. at least Bokukan 4 has received a sale on Steam, granted maybe $25 but that's still better that $39.99. Before you complain of how expensive it is, consider yourself lucky because in Japan, they retail for Y9020 (which is a lot in Japan, of course the US dollar is better and that translates to $58). And possibly a bummer for some is that the STEAM English release of these games are not the same as the Japanese versions. Instead of licensed airplanes, you get generic colored ones. But to be truthful, it's not a big letdown. At least they make an effort to show a plane that may look like JAL or ANA. So, what I love about "Bokukan4" is that it keeps its Japanese pilot and air traffic controller vocals, the jingles, the plane announcements and more. It's been a part of this series and more so now, where both Bokukan and Airport Hero games utilize it a lot. While there are easy stages, as you progressively beat those stages then you start moving up and things get hectic, challenging and you literally have to be a master thinker and planning routes on the fly. Trying to prevent collisions because you can have two plans landing and each want to use the same runway. Meanwhile, two departing will want to use the same runways. So you will need to come up plans of changing routes, when to taxi, when to hold and more. I absolutely love this game and more so because it's in Japan and features airports that I have been to. I personally don't have any problems playing this game. Not one game stutter but I don't play on a potato and while I'm playing, I'm streaming on YouTube at the same time. The next thing I want to bring up is there are people who want to compare to "Tower! Sim 3". While both have similar elements for gameplay, TS3 is more in-depth with the choices (ie. using voice control or typing), you are having to vocally or type commands to the pilots but you can correct your mistakes. "Bokukan 4" is more of a click of a button, you screw up, you can cause a collision. But it tests your attentiveness and also familiarity with the airport layout and coming up with quick on the fly solutions. Also, there is much more dialogue on "Bokukan 4" and no doubt puzzle/simulator, whereas TS3 is play at your own pace, if you want it easy or hard, choose the time of the day and weather conditions. Not the case for "Bokukan 4". But both games have similar elements but are very different, but for me, both games are essential in my video game collection and enjoy both immensely. Now if you want to choose between "Bokukan 4" (Steam) or "Bokukan Airport Hero" (Switch), which would I choose? I would choose "Bokukan Airport Hero" for the newer visuals, the vast number of sales and DLC content. Granted, you may need to purchase from the JP store for some of the releases but they are awesome games. I would choose "Bokukan 4" if you don't mind playing this older PC game that is still enjoyable in 2026. And also If you don't mind the slightly expensive cost to the DLC content. It's still worth playing and very fun and enjoyable. But do know that "Bokukan 5" is coming out this year. I recommend this game! I really do enjoy it and it's console versions. Definitely worth owning!
In terms of what the game is, it's an air traffic controller simulator. You will know if you like it just from that sentence alone. I played the series on 3DS and am glad it is continuing here. The base game itself includes nine missions from Haneda Airport, nine extra stages, and some smaller extras. But I cannot allow people to play this game in its current state for two reasons: 1. The game is way too expensive for the content. Only 9 levels, plus the special levels, for the price, plus expensive DLC, is not worth it, mainly because the 3DS versions had the same content for much cheaper. 2. The game has infrequent hard crashes. If the game crashes, you lose all progress on the stage, so you must start over. If the game goes on sale and comes with a good DLC bundle AND fixes the hard crashes, then it's a buy for sure. Until then, play the 3DS or Switch versions (if you can, of course). I know a sequel is planned, and as of writing this review, it's not out yet, so it's probably too late for this game. Buyer beware, but overall, despite the thumbs down, it's a mixed review for me.
Honestly, this game is a nicer and more user friendly game than Tower! Simulator 3, but it has it's own problems. For one, real airlines, everyone want's them, two, lack of airports. In the Japanese version, it has WAY more airports. But, in all, it's a good game to relax to :)
Very good niche game, but I wish its optimised for steam gameplay, espeically considering its graphics. An aviation nut would love this and it would scratch a good itch. The only thing i wish is a fast forward button for the long boring time where we wait, but other than that I dont have anything to complain much. But I would advise you to buy it in a sale instead.
Very good game if you air traffic control to learn. Would like to see amercian airport
Related
Related
Trends
Concurrent players on Steam, sampled daily since tracking started.
Audience
Estimated from the language of this game's reviews — a proxy for where players are, not official Steam demographics.
Related
| Combat Mission Black Sea | $996.3K | 572 | 83% | $59.99 |
| Executive Assault 2 | $996.2K | 1.8K | 83% | $24.99 |
| Deconstruction Simulator | $995.8K | 1.5K | 78% | $19.99 |
| 11-11 Memories Retold | $996.9K | 2.1K | 86% | $29.99 |
| Redout: Enhanced Edition | $995.5K | 4.7K | 85% | $5.99 |
| Vanquish | $997.1K | 7.9K | 90% | $19.99 |