IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946

About

"IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946" is a historical shooter game that offers various gameplay modes, including single-player, co-op, and multiplayer for up to 2 players. The game boasts an interesting plot with phenomenal gameplay, showcasing 229 flyable aircraft and over 300 aircraft in total across four new gigantic maps. It also includes all previous IL-2 series content, providing an extensive anthology of flight simulation action.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,363 reviews

story47 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

Incredible amount of content with hundreds of aircraft and missions.
Highly realistic flight dynamics and damage models.
Strong modding community that enhances the game significantly.

Graphics are dated and may not appeal to modern gamers.
Steep learning curve, especially for new players without a joystick.
Multiplayer functionality can be complicated and less populated.

story
234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
78%
2%
The game's story aspect is primarily driven by its extensive array of dynamic missions set during World War II, covering various theaters such as the Eastern Front and the Pacific. Players can engage in historically accurate campaigns or create their own scenarios using a robust mission editor, although some reviewers noted a lack of a cohesive narrative and tedious mission lengths. Overall, the game offers a rich variety of missions and customization options, appealing to those who enjoy flight simulation and historical combat scenarios.
- “This game is a classical masterpiece, from the single missions to the wacky fights you can create in the quick mission builder, or the full-scale invasions/war zones you can create in the full mission builder, or the hero of war you can become in the historical or dynamic campaigns.”
- “There is plenty of missions to play through and if you're done with them, you can also begin your own campaign within a specific time period of the war, or just play through the entirety of WWII if you feel like it.”
- “Dynamic campaigns mean you'll never quite have the same mission twice while still getting in historic battles such as Stalingrad, Berlin, or Midway.”
- “There's no storyline, no interesting campaign, just no character to any of it, nothing to welcome you into the world of historical air combat.”
- “The 'training' is laughable and the included missions are plain boring and uninspired.”
- “In summary, it's a great simulator that lets you do all kinds of military flying and the huge number of (mostly randomized) campaigns gives tremendous replay value, but after you get the hang of it most of your time will be spent feeling bored unless you actually enjoy flying in a straight line in formation for 30-60 minutes per mission.”
graphics
202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
57%
15%
The graphics of this flight simulator, while considered dated by modern standards, still hold up reasonably well for a game released in 2006, with many users appreciating the detail in aircraft models and cockpits. The game benefits from a robust modding community that enhances visuals and adds content, allowing players to improve the graphical experience significantly. Overall, while the visuals may not impress those seeking cutting-edge graphics, the gameplay and depth of content more than compensate for any aesthetic shortcomings.
- “The graphics are still stunning, and the realism really is unparalleled.”
- “Graphics are amazing considering it was released in 2003; graphics are even better with reshade, graphics extender, and mods.”
- “Despite being launched in 2006, the game still holds up today graphically if you're not one of those 4K nutjobs.”
- “The graphics aren't good... let's just all agree on that, but it's a 20-year-old engine, so what do you expect?”
- “Graphics are outdated but there are mods that enhance a lot.”
- “The only real downside is the AI and graphics really show their age.”
gameplay
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The gameplay of this combat flight simulator is highly praised for its depth, realism, and engaging mechanics, despite its dated graphics. Players appreciate the variety of missions, customizable options, and the extensive modding community that enhances the experience. While some find the controls a bit clunky and the multiplayer experience lacking, the overall gameplay remains enjoyable and immersive, making it a recommended choice for aviation enthusiasts.
- “This game is just really amazing overall, very fun, decent graphics for how old it is, and timeless gameplay.”
- “The missions offer a wide variety of gameplay from escorting bombers high over Japan to intercepting bombers in rocket planes to dive bombing aircraft carriers.”
- “This game sucks, it cannot run on my high-end PC, the gameplay is cancerous, it gives me AIDS, Ebola, and mortal diseases just by looking at the disgusting graphics.”
- “There are millions of mods to help that problem and to improve the gameplay in general, but they are near impossible to understand and get working, in many cases incompatible with the latest version of the game.”
- “Even though it was released in 2006 and sometimes feels like it, the gameplay is still tight, flight models are still amazing, damage models realistic, and the editor is still the greatest ever made.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many users report smooth performance on various systems, including older models and Windows 10, some experience issues such as screen fitting problems, mission freezes, and multiplayer connectivity challenges. A few players noted glitches and bugs, but these are often seen as minor compared to the game's overall functionality and enjoyment. Despite some troubleshooting required for optimal performance, the game is generally considered stable and well-supported by a modding community.
- “Final word is that this package is a great bargain, runs great on old and new systems, still looks great given its age and models most of the iconic aircraft of WWII (including carrier operations).”
- “Runs great on a Surface 3 on high settings.”
- “It also runs great on Windows 10, no issues here.”
- “I had a little trouble with the screen fitting on my Surface Pro at one point. I had to go into beta in its Steam settings, but after troubleshooting with the Windows compatibility test, it now works as it should.”
- “Compatibility may be a huge issue, as scaling on certain graphic cards may not work correctly without some troubleshooting in the game's files.”
- “A terribly unpolished, buggy game.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the nostalgic vibes reminiscent of earlier titles, while others find the menu and in-game tracks annoying and repetitive, often leading them to mute the sound altogether. The presence of quirky elements like circus music adds a unique touch, but many users express a strong desire for the option to play their own music due to dissatisfaction with the existing soundtrack. Overall, the music is seen as a significant detractor for some, overshadowing the game's other aspects.
- “Intro music is an absolute headbanger.”
- “And the 1946 theme and music is so awesomely presented.”
- “I just love the fact that there's circus music in the menu and you can be set on fire by your own throttle.”
- “That's if I can even get to the menu without being driven up the wall by some annoying circus music.”
- “I love the original 2003 vibes of the original and Pacific Fighters combined, but after playing both for 11 years, that has gotten under my skin to the point of muting the music.”
- “Cons: the lighting engine is nothing special, awful polka music in menus, forests are composed of 2D lie trees, your pilot might just get shot in the face immediately after takeoff, really poor and repetitive radio voice clips, unforgiving flight dynamics: do not buy this if you are not familiar with realistic flight simulation.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, offering a vast selection of planes, extensive modding options, and a variety of creative scenarios that keep players engaged for thousands of hours. With features like multiplayer, quick mission builders, and customizable campaigns, it provides endless opportunities for new experiences, making it a standout in the flight simulation genre. However, some players note that the excitement may wane after mastering the mechanics, leading to potential boredom during longer missions.
- “Thanks to this game, I have thousands of hours of replayability, adding hundreds of planes from the First World War to today.”
- “Supreme amounts of replay value, obscene amounts of content, and the best installment (in my opinion) in the series that set the foundation for modern WWII flight combat simulation games.”
- “Best flight simulator I've ever played, very addicting with endless replay value!”
- “In summary, it's a great simulator that lets you do all kinds of military flying and the huge number of (mostly randomized) campaigns gives tremendous replay value, but after you get the hang of it, most of your time will be spent feeling bored unless you actually enjoy flying in a straight line in formation for 30-60 minutes per mission.”
- “This game has so many different planes in it, and creative scenarios to play, you can get endless replayability.”
- “In terms of replayability, the game includes multiplayer (which I haven't dabbled in), a quick mission builder where all you have to do is pick a map, planes, and hit fly, a full mission builder if you want to make scenarios, single missions, and dynamic and linear campaign modes.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on low-performance PCs and offers realistic aircraft modeling, many users report issues like buffering and stuttering, particularly on newer hardware. Players have found that adjusting graphics settings can alleviate some performance problems, but overall, the game's visual quality is considered subpar compared to modern standards. Despite these challenges, the game's accuracy and gameplay experience are highly praised.
- “Really good game for PCs with low performance.”
- “How is this not more famous? I have a bad PC for games and it runs smoothly with brilliant gameplay.”
- “Game is constant buffering, stuttering.”
- “If you have an NVIDIA card and experience stutters during gameplay, go to your graphics card settings and set power options to 'prefer maximum performance' and v-sync to either fast or on.”
- “People have been having newer hardware problems, but I've just optimized some options and it started running fine for me.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from a mix of amusing glitches, unexpected AI behavior, and the absurdity of certain in-game scenarios, such as the interactions with enemy planes and the quirky design of concept aircraft. Players find themselves laughing at both the game's technical mishaps and the comical outcomes of AI decisions, contributing to a lighthearted experience despite some frustrations.
- “I only encountered an enemy plane a couple of times, and then the results were hilarious.”
- “Some of the concept planes are hilarious too, especially with the realistic physics turned on.”
- “- AI is most of the time good, but there are those funny yet facepalm moments when the AI screws everything up.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring significant effort to progress through campaigns without much engaging content or story. While some appreciate the variety of roles and historical contexts, many feel that the gameplay lacks depth and can become monotonous.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “However, there's really not much of a game here; there's essentially no story, and there's a lot of time spent doing rather tedious things.”
- “About the gameplay, there's not a lot to say. It is an adequate and stable WWII combat flight simulator, but you have to grind through the merciless campaigns.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments of joy and triumph, such as successfully taking off and landing on a carrier, which can evoke tears of happiness.
- “I cried tears of joy when I finally took off and landed on a carrier without breaking anything.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Users appreciate the removal of exploitative grind and monetization practices found in games like War Thunder and World at War, indicating a positive shift towards a more player-friendly approach.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't force you to spend money to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate how the game offers plenty of free content without pushing players to make purchases.”
- “The in-game purchases are optional and don't impact the overall experience, making it enjoyable for everyone.”
- “The monetization in this game feels exploitative and overly aggressive.”
- “It's frustrating to see how much you have to spend just to enjoy the game fully.”
- “The pay-to-win mechanics ruin the experience for players who don't want to spend extra money.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its character and warmth, standing in contrast to the often sterile environments found in many flight simulators. This unique ambiance enhances the overall experience, making it more engaging for players.
- “It doesn't feel sterile like many flight simulators; it has character and atmosphere.”
- “The immersive environment truly draws you in, making every flight feel unique and engaging.”
- “The attention to detail in the scenery and sound design creates a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking any real immersion.”
- “Despite the potential, the game fails to create a compelling atmosphere that draws you in.”
- “The environment feels empty and devoid of any meaningful interaction, making it hard to stay engaged.”