What the game is
Helicopter Simulator VR 2021 - Rescue Missions is a flight simulator built around the TG66, an instruction and rescue helicopter used in the mountains. You learn the aircraft from the ground up: the startup and shutdown sequence has to be followed in order, and skipping steps can leave the helicopter stuck. The tutorials cover the basic procedures, using ropes and using flares, and the missions then put those skills to work in situations drawn from real rescue work.
The cockpit is detailed and the instruments work the way they do in real life, so you need to watch your RPM and altitude constantly. Flying near the operational ceiling or close to mountain walls changes how the aircraft behaves, and the physics react to weather, wind, altitude, speed and the attitude of the helicopter. You can pick your weather, including storms and poor visibility, and there are two scenarios, Lake and Desert, plus miles of snow mountains, lakes and desert terrain with cable cars, power lines, power plants, hospitals and airports in the scenery.
Missions include transporting passengers, cargo and even trees on the external rope attached to the skids, and there is a machine gun for the military missions. There are 26 advanced missions, 20 free and 6 with the Machine Gun DLC, along with free flight for practice. You get 7 helicopter liveries and 6 fuselage configurations, and there are Easy and Expert control settings, with HOTAS, gamepad and more than 1000 joysticks supported.
Playing together
The Steam feature list for this game includes Online Co-op, so you and your friends can fly together rather than only taking turns on your own sessions. Use it the way a group would use a flight simulator: one person handles the checklist and startup while another watches the instruments, or split the tasks of the mission itself, with someone flying the approach while another manages the rope and the pickup.
Co-op makes more sense once at least one of you knows the aircraft. Since the start sequence must be followed strictly, a mixed group will spend the first while teaching each other the procedures rather than completing missions, which is fine but worth knowing before you set expectations for the evening. Free flight is a good place for the group to test the weather settings and get a feel for how the mountain air and visibility affect the handling before committing to a full mission.
Before you start
Be aware that this is a demanding simulation, not a casual pickup game. The controls are deep, the instruments are live, and the helicopter responds to conditions in ways that punish sloppy flying. Set aside time for the tutorials and expect to fail a few runs while you learn the startup order, the rope work and the approach speeds.
If you plan to play in VR, the game is built around a first-person cockpit with working instruments, and the immersion depends on being able to read and reach them. Check that your controller is in the supported list, and decide up front whether your group wants Easy or Expert controls, since that choice shapes how much everyone has to learn before the missions become enjoyable.