War Thunder

About

War Thunder is a free-to-play, cross-platform MMO game that simulates epic battles from World War II and the Cold War. Choose from a wide range of armored vehicles, naval ships, and aircraft, and take part in intense PvP or PvE combat across historically-inspired maps. With various battle modes and a thriving online community, War Thunder offers immersive and engaging warfare experiences.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+37

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 248,954 reviews

gameplay4.4k positive mentions

grinding9.9k negative mentions

The graphics in War Thunder are stunning, with realistic details and immersive environments that enhance the gameplay experience.
The gameplay mechanics are engaging and dynamic, offering a variety of vehicles and combat scenarios that can be fun and rewarding.
The game has high replayability due to its extensive variety of vehicles, customizable playstyles, and frequent updates.

The grinding aspect is excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of hours to unlock desired vehicles.
The pay-to-win model creates a divide between paying and non-paying players, leading to frustrations regarding balance and accessibility.
The game suffers from persistent technical issues, including bugs, glitches, and performance drops, which detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
11,612 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The gameplay of War Thunder is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and frustrating elements, leading to a polarized player experience. While many appreciate the realistic vehicle physics, diverse combat scenarios, and the thrill of aerial and ground battles, the game is often criticized for its excessive grind, pay-to-win mechanics, and unbalanced matchmaking that can detract from enjoyment, especially for new players. Overall, the core gameplay can be fun and rewarding, but it is frequently overshadowed by issues related to monetization and gameplay balance.
- “The gameplay is neat and dynamic; it takes skill to master the variety of vehicles and their weaponry.”
- “While it has its challenges, the sheer depth and variety of gameplay make it a must-try for fans of action-packed war games.”
- “The attention to detail, realistic mechanics, and heart-pounding battles are unmatched.”
- “This isn't an unplayable game in the sense that the core mechanics don't work or that there isn't a large variety of vehicles to choose from, but from the perspective of enjoying your time, this is one of the worst possible options out there.”
- “The game is uselessly grindy and has a lot of pay-to-win characteristics; what's worse is that lower entry-level gameplay is plagued by seal clubbers with tanks that, while they may look your level, are crewed by aces making them unstoppable compared to new players.”
- “The gameplay is so repetitive that it's like watching paint dry.”
grinding
10,056 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of War Thunder is widely criticized by players, who describe it as excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring hundreds or even thousands of hours to unlock desired vehicles. Many reviews highlight a pay-to-win model, where purchasing premium accounts or vehicles significantly eases the grinding process, creating a divide between paying and non-paying players. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, the overwhelming consensus is that the game demands a substantial time investment, making it less accessible for casual gamers.
- “It isn't as grindy as Clash of Clans, and its largest purchases are nowhere near that of Star Citizen.”
- “The game is good and it can be fun if you focus on gameplay and the actual fun part and not the grinding part.”
- “Awesome WWII vehicles and the progression tree is not grindy, but enjoyable to level up.”
graphics
8,587 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
30%
2%
The graphics in War Thunder receive widespread acclaim for their realism and detail, with many players praising the stunning visuals of vehicles and environments. However, there are concerns about gameplay balance, as players using lower graphics settings can gain an unfair advantage by spotting enemies more easily. Overall, while the graphics are often rated highly, the game's mechanics and monetization practices draw mixed reviews.
- “Not only are the graphics AAA, the fighting mechanics, the soundtrack (also AAA), how to drive and use the vehicles, the realistic usage of everything, and the competitive teamwork fighting.”
- “Graphics are 10/10, replay mode and screenshots are out of this world.”
- “The graphics are stunning, immersing players in beautifully rendered battlefields and meticulously designed vehicles.”
- “For a game that's been around this long, I’m shocked by the persistent bugs, graphical glitches, and performance drops.”
- “Badly outdated graphics and lots of performance issues: when the game released, the graphics were remarkable; now, they just have not aged well compared with recent titles.”
- “Despite the graphics, the game just isn't fun to play anymore.”
story
1,952 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
77%
15%
The reviews for the "story" aspect of War Thunder overwhelmingly indicate that the game lacks a traditional narrative or engaging storyline. Most players describe the game as focused primarily on gameplay mechanics and multiplayer battles, with minimal single-player missions that often feel generic and unfulfilling. While there are historical missions and user-generated content, the overall sentiment is that the game does not provide a compelling story experience, leading many to feel that it is more about grinding and competition than narrative depth.
- “In War Thunder, I always feel like I'm actually in the cockpit, and every kill is a story to tell.”
- “The missions make very little sense and there isn't a ton of incentive to actually try to complete the objectives.”
- “The storyline was engaging and kept me invested in the game from start to finish.”
- “The only good parts of the game are singleplayer missions; other than that, it's pretty bad and a waste of time.”
- “Single player missions are just useless, boring, and bland.”
- “The single-player missions and dynamic campaigns are underwhelming, tend to be locked, and don't give you anything at all after the first time you play them.”
monetization
1,901 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
50%
44%
The monetization model of War Thunder has drawn significant criticism for being excessively aggressive and predatory, with many players describing it as a blatant cash grab. While the game is free-to-play, the reliance on microtransactions for premium vehicles, accounts, and other advantages creates a frustrating grind that often feels insurmountable without spending real money. Players report that the game's advertising is misleading, showcasing high-tier vehicles that are nearly impossible to access without substantial investment, leading to a negative perception of the game's overall value and fairness.
- “While the grind and monetization model may deter some players, those willing to invest time (or money) will find an unparalleled combat experience.”
- “Despite impressive visuals and a wide array of vehicles, the excessive grind and reliance on microtransactions sour an otherwise immersive combat simulation.”
- “The monetization feels excessive, prioritizing profit at the expense of the player experience.”
- “This game strips you of premium stuff such as tanks you have bought, and a premium account which you bought. I love the game otherwise, just never give them your money because more times than not they will strip you of the in-game purchases you have done.”
- “The game is usually pretty fun in a vacuum, but Gaijin is a terrible company and the monetization of this game is probably one of the worst I've ever seen outside of some EA yearly release sports games.”
optimization
1,315 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
61%
11%
The optimization of War Thunder has received mixed reviews from players. While many commend its ability to run smoothly on a variety of systems, including lower-end PCs, others criticize persistent performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and frame drops, particularly after updates. Additionally, the game's matchmaking and battle rating systems, which are based on player performance rather than vehicle capabilities, have led to frustrations regarding balance and gameplay experience. Overall, while the game is generally well-optimized, significant concerns about performance consistency and balance remain.
- “Generally speaking, I can recommend this game to anyone who loves tank battles and more; the game is well balanced and runs smoothly even on a laptop, which is a huge plus.”
- “The game looks excellent and is well optimized, much better than today's AAA games.”
- “Amazingly optimized and overall pretty balanced considering the amount of vehicles for each tier.”
- “For a game that's been around this long, I’m shocked by the persistent bugs, graphical glitches, and performance drops.”
- “War Thunder is notorious for its technical problems, including frequent crashes, server instability, and optimization issues.”
- “The game is very fun and has potential yet, but the developers have used performance sliders on some vehicles to ridiculous levels like fighters with cannons.”
humor
1,157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in "War Thunder" is a prominent aspect that players frequently highlight, often describing it as a mix of absurdity and chaos. Many reviews mention the hilarity of unexpected mishaps, such as tanks and planes behaving in unrealistic ways, and the amusing interactions with other players, including kamikaze tactics and team kills. While some find the humor to be a redeeming quality amidst the game's frustrations, others note that the humor can sometimes stem from the game's numerous bugs and balance issues, making for a uniquely entertaining yet frustrating experience.
- “This game is so funny, your granddaddy is in it and he's ripping the crap out of everyone with his WWII epic pilot skills.”
- “It's hilarious to own top-tier matches with your WWII PE-8 bomber.”
- “The game has a tight-knit community with eager historians and enthusiasts which want to improve the game by making skins for vehicles which you can both purchase or download for free depending on what skin this is, new models are created by the community to show what is possible for the future of the game and sometimes can end up in the game if they get enough interest.”
- “Absolute dogshit pay to win game; you get 1 good game and 20 bad ones. It's frustrating and not funny at all.”
- “Prepare yourself for tens of hours of unfunny grind, where you get bullied at every moment possible.”
- “To sum it up... stay away from this game... it's not funny; it's not a joy to play.”
stability
957 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
93%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous glitches, bugs, and performance issues that significantly detract from the overall experience. Common complaints include frequent crashes, unresponsive controls, and inconsistent hit detection, leading many to describe the game as "buggy" and "unplayable" at times. Despite some players noting occasional fun and engaging gameplay, the persistent technical problems overshadow these positives, resulting in a generally negative perception of the game's stability.
- “The game runs great even on maximum settings.”
- “Extremely smooth gameplay, not a single bug to report, no glitches, the players are super nice, the community is outstanding!”
- “The game is heavily supported by the devs, and is relatively bug free.”
- “For a game that's been around this long, I’m shocked by the persistent bugs, graphical glitches, and performance drops.”
- “The game is riddled with bugs, glitches, poorly designed mechanics, and hidden from the public eye nerfs.”
- “The game is a collection of bugs and glitches.”
music
417 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
59%
1%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its orchestral and atmospheric qualities that enhance the immersive experience of gameplay. While some find the soundtrack engaging and fitting for the game's themes, others feel it can become repetitive or prefer to mute it in favor of their own playlists. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the overall enjoyment, especially when paired with personal music choices.
- “Combined with an atmospheric soundtrack, the game’s audio pulls you directly into the chaos of the battlefield.”
- “The soundtrack in this game is so immersive; I find myself humming the tunes all day.”
- “The music compliments all of this incredibly.”
- “The music is a bit boring, but silence it and listen to my own.”
- “The new music is complete trash.”
- “Soundtrack gets old very fast.”
emotional
319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "War Thunder" is characterized by a tumultuous mix of frustration, despair, and fleeting joy, often leaving players feeling drained and disillusioned. Many reviews highlight the game's punishing grind, unbalanced matchmaking, and monetization strategies as sources of significant emotional turmoil, leading to feelings of anger and sadness. Despite these challenges, some players still find moments of camaraderie and excitement, creating a complex relationship with the game that oscillates between love and hate.
- “War Thunder is not just a game; it’s an emotional rollercoaster that starts with excitement, dives into despair, and ends with you rage-quitting… only to come back five minutes later.”
- “This game is an emotional roller coaster that leaves the player empty while simultaneously wanting more.”
- “I have spent a hell of a lot of hours and money on this game, money, mostly when it was less of a grindy hellscape, hours, much the same, and then some, because spending as much as I did made me feel tethered to War Thunder.”
- “I've played this game since 2017, and it's something special. Take that how you want, but holy crap, does this game make you want to cry and gamble.”
- “I can tell this boring story all day, but I won't.”
replayability
169 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
68%
2%
Overall, "War Thunder" is praised for its high replayability, attributed to its extensive variety of vehicles, customizable playstyles, and frequent updates that enhance gameplay. However, some players note that the grind can be intense and may hinder the experience, particularly for those not willing to invest in premium options. Despite these concerns, many find the game engaging enough to return to repeatedly, making it a solid choice for fans of military-themed games.
- “As someone who mains the USSR and uses Japan as a secondary for air battles, I can confidently say that the variety of playstyles between the two nations offers endless replayability.”
- “If you’re looking for a game that offers exciting battles, historical accuracy, and endless replayability, give War Thunder a try—you won’t be disappointed.”
- “The game's replayability is off the charts; I keep coming back for more.”
- “However, this replayability is stunted by the aforementioned grind.”
- “The grind, once exciting and challenging, has now become a tiresome chore that erodes the game's replay value.”
- “The lack of meaningful incentives and the meager boost system have rendered the game’s replayability virtually non-existent.”
atmosphere
123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
2%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, driven by realistic sound design, detailed graphics, and dynamic environmental effects that enhance the battlefield experience. Players appreciate the intense and chaotic ambiance created by the audio elements, which include engine roars and gunfire, contributing to a captivating and authentic war-like setting. However, some reviews highlight a toxic community atmosphere and frustrations with game mechanics that can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The roar of engines, the piercing sound of bullets tearing through the air, and the distant thuds of anti-aircraft artillery create an atmosphere of total immersion.”
- “Combined with the game's dynamic sound effects, including the roar of engines, the rattle of machine guns, and the powerful reverberations of artillery, the immersive atmosphere draws players into each battle.”
- “A fantastic game that captures the WWII atmosphere beautifully.”
- “This atmosphere discourages community engagement and hampers the game's potential for improvement.”
- “I uninstalled the game; it was frustration after frustration and the atmosphere is toxic.”
- “While the game can be fun, the difficulty of the grind for new vehicles at higher tiers breeds a toxic atmosphere and community.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate a stark contrast in character development, with some players criticizing the lack of depth and human interaction, labeling the game as a mere "killfest." Conversely, others appreciate the in-depth character design and find the campaign thrilling, suggesting that character development can vary significantly within the game.
- “In-depth character design and a thrilling campaign.”
- “Without plot, storyline, character development, or human interaction and growth, it is simply a killfest and probably the shallowest game I have ever been drawn into.”