World of Warplanes

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World of Warplanes is a multiplayer arcade shooter game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Wargaming Group Limited and was released on February 10, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

World of Warplanes is a free-to-play flight combat massively multiplayer online (MMO) action game by Wargaming, set in the Golden Age of military aviation. The game was released on November 12, 2013, in CIS countries and on November 13, 2013, in North America and in Europe.

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72%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,332 reviews

graphics79 positive mentions

grinding53 negative mentions

Fun and engaging gameplay with a variety of aircraft to choose from.
Easy to learn controls, making it accessible for new players.
Impressive graphics and sound design that enhance the overall experience.

Severe matchmaking issues, often resulting in unbalanced teams and a lack of real players.
Frequent crashes and technical issues that hinder gameplay.
Pay-to-win mechanics that can frustrate free-to-play players, making progression difficult.

graphics
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
37%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and detailed aircraft designs, while others criticize the outdated graphics engine and frequent performance issues, including crashes and low frame rates. Many users note that despite the appealing aesthetics, the game struggles with technical stability, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while some find the graphics enjoyable and immersive, others feel they fall short compared to modern competitors.
- “The visual design of World of Warplanes is impressive, with detailed graphics that capture the grandeur and dynamism of aerial battles.”
- “Amazing graphics, enjoyable; there are in-game purchases, but you can play around 85-90% of the game without paying anything.”
- “The graphics and GUI feel archaic—unchanged for over a decade—while modern competitors have long since surpassed it in both visual appeal and usability.”
- “The graphics at maximum look like they're from the last century.”
- “It's unrealistic, has horrible graphics, and honestly, if you want a game like this just play War Thunder.”
gameplay
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
53%
10%
The gameplay of the game is generally described as fun and engaging, particularly for those who enjoy aerial dogfighting, with simple mechanics that are easy to learn. However, many players criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay, the influence of pay-to-win mechanics, and a lack of depth compared to similar titles like War Thunder. Additionally, issues such as a small player base, unbalanced matches, and technical problems detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay combines elements of fast-paced action with strategy, allowing players to engage in intense aerial battles while working together to achieve strategic objectives.”
- “With dynamic gameplay, a rewarding progression system, and an active community, the game offers an immersive and satisfying experience for aviation and aerial combat enthusiasts.”
- “The simple mechanics in this game make it easy to learn and fun to play.”
- “Repetitive gameplay.”
- “What was once a fun experience now feels like a cash grab, with little regard for improving gameplay, fixing long-standing issues, or listening to community feedback.”
- “The gameplay is boring.”
story
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
82%
6%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players noting that there is no coherent narrative or engaging plot to follow. While the missions offer various combat challenges and mechanics, they often feel repetitive and lack depth, leading to player boredom. Overall, the game is recommended primarily for those who enjoy gameplay mechanics over story-driven experiences.
- “The game is quite good, nice graphics and sounds, although the plot has not been finalized. The overall picture and my impressions are good. I can safely recommend it if you are not a fan of story games, but prefer all sorts of shooting games.”
- “There are a ton of achievements as you earn points, XP, coins, tokens, and items. I like the mission mechanics; the use of NPCs and capture points feels like fresh air.”
- “I really enjoy playing this game; it's very addictive, and I wish one day they can have a campaign to do real historic dogfights and bombing missions.”
- “The UK, China, and 'Europe' are wholly incomplete; and I've only played 3 missions and I'm bored out of my mind.”
- “If you are looking for an intense PvP game, or something with depth and/or a story, then you will not like this game.”
- “The normal quests are nearly impossible to complete.”
grinding
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
1%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, especially at higher tiers where progress can feel frustratingly slow. While some appreciate the ease of initial grinding and the absence of significant pay-to-win mechanics, others criticize the excessive grind required to unlock better planes, often leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, players suggest that those who enjoy grinding may find it rewarding, but it can be a major turn-off for others.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Not too grindy game.”
- “There are some busted pay-to-win planes, and the XP and money grinding can be a bit of a pain, but you'll find that in about 7-10 hours of gameplay you'll go from tier 1 planes to tier 5 planes, where you will start to hit the first real XP grinding wall.”
- “It's an extremely grindy game and is going to require a large time commitment to get even halfway up the tech tree.”
- “Not enjoyable grinding for your first 'decent' plane at tier IV or V, and getting instakilled by a far superior paid plane.”
optimization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
50%
39%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates (often below 40 fps) even on capable hardware. Many users describe the game as poorly optimized and buggy, with frequent crashes and server problems, leading to a frustrating experience. While some improvements have been noted, the overall sentiment is that the game remains unpolished and in need of significant optimization efforts.
- “The progression system rewards players for their performance with new aircraft, upgrades, and customization options, encouraging constant evolution and adaptation.”
- “Updated comment: World of Warplanes now has an Asia server which is getting a lot easier for Asia players. The optimization has been improved, which prevented crashes, mini spike lag, and high latency. The game runs smoother but still has bots; I don't know if it is the gameplay to balance the speed of matches, battle rates, or just a lack of players.”
- “I'd love to come back someday and enjoy the game, and hell, even pay for it at that point; I think it could be that good, but until they get their servers and optimization up to par, you really can't get a taste of the game most of the time, and that's kind of sad because it really is a cool concept and could be a great game.”
- “Horribly optimized, near dead playerbase, with players who actively fight in low tiers to pub stomp.”
- “Another one of its downsides is the performance; I have a 1070 Ti with an i3-10105F and this game runs with no more than 40-50 fps on any graphics. Even lowering them doesn't change the performance.”
- “However, the servers are so poorly optimized that crashes are near constant. Play a couple of matches, crash, 'servers are not ready,' rinse and repeat.”
stability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of freezing, crashing, and glitches that disrupt gameplay, particularly during critical moments like logging in or transitioning to battles. Users also note issues with server reliability and customer support, leading to a frustrating experience overall. While some players find the game enjoyable, the technical problems significantly detract from its potential.
- “I just downloaded the game and it runs great, with no lagging. It's very fun to play! I would really recommend the game to anybody who's into flying planes and shooting down the enemy.”
- “Game freezes when opening the settings menu and a black screen after hitting the battle button.”
- “The gameplay itself is very entertaining, but the client is very buggy with constant crashes, disconnects, and freezes.”
- “There are constant crashes, disconnections (even though my Wi-Fi works completely), and glitches.”
monetization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
37%
47%
The monetization aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players labeling it a cash grab that detracts from the overall experience. Critics highlight aggressive microtransactions, a lack of meaningful updates, and a focus on profit over player enjoyment, while some acknowledge that a significant portion of the game can still be accessed without payment. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as predatory and frustrating, leading to a diminished gameplay experience.
- “Amazing graphics, enjoyable; there are in-game purchases, but you can play around 85-90% of the game without paying anything.”
- “Fun and easy to play - yes, in-game purchases help you get the best stuff, but they are not the only route to the top - plenty of playing, dog fights, and dropping bombs gets you there too.”
- “Planes are cool, combat is addictive, and progression is extensive... lots of confusing monetization though.”
- “So gimmicky it ruins the overall experience, what a cash grab.”
- “The game aggressively pushes microtransactions and paid content, often at the expense of player enjoyment.”
- “What was once a fun experience now feels like a cash grab, with little regard for improving gameplay, fixing long-standing issues, or listening to community feedback.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The music in the game has received high praise for its emotional depth and quality, enhancing the overall experience, particularly in the horror genre where it evokes strong feelings. Players appreciate the well-composed soundtracks that create immersive atmospheres, whether in intense aerial battles or poignant moments with characters. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's impact.
- “Also, the music has no business being this good.”
- “The music is well-composed and fits the pace of combat action, adding an extra layer of excitement to the game.”
- “The soundtrack of World of Warplanes is epic and energetic, helping to create an exciting and immersive atmosphere during aerial battles.”
- “The music and voice acting is spot-on.”
- “The soundtrack and sound effects are lacking, failing to enhance the overall experience.”
- “The music feels repetitive and doesn't match the intensity of the gameplay.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd physics and mechanics, often leading to unintentionally funny situations, such as crashing into mountains. Players also find amusement in the game's unbalanced matchmaking system, which creates hilariously chaotic scenarios. Additionally, the presence of paid forum trolls adds a layer of dark humor to the community interactions.
- “Just remember, crashing into mountains isn't nearly as funny in-game as it sounds.”
- “Funny physics and game mechanics, fictional aircraft.”
- “A funny thing seems to run through all wargaming games I play here on Steam - it's like the matching system is a farce.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in World of Warplanes is characterized by an epic and energetic soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience of aerial battles, complemented by vibrant plane models and realistic effects. However, gameplay issues and an unbalanced community detract from the overall experience, making it a mixed recommendation for players seeking a polished game. Despite these flaws, the game successfully captures the adrenaline of historical aviation.
- “The soundtrack of World of Warplanes is epic and energetic, helping to create an exciting and immersive atmosphere during aerial battles.”
- “Vibrant plane models, explosive effects, and realistic clouds create an incredible atmosphere that immerses players in the world of aerial warfare.”
- “I highly recommend World of Warplanes to anyone looking to experience the adrenaline of aerial combat and enjoy the atmosphere of historical aviation!”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
World of Warplanes offers high replayability due to its diverse aircraft, various game modes, and multiplayer battles, which keep players engaged. However, the game's upgrade system can lead to a tedious experience for those who dislike grinding or prefer not to spend money on upgrades.
- “World of Warplanes has a high replay value, thanks to the diversity of aircraft, game modes, and multiplayer battles.”
- “The long-term value and replayability of this game keep me coming back for more.”
- “The game's upgrade system keeps you invested in replayability, but if you don't like grinding and aren't willing to spend money, upgrading your plane can become quite tedious.”
- “Long-term value and replayability are lacking in this game.”
- “Fix this mess of a game or make it more playable, because this is such a bad experience.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the characters, or "mita," in the game, highlighting how the haunting yet wholesome narrative evokes strong feelings, including tears and empathy for their suffering. The game's soundtrack enhances this emotional experience, leading players to hope for future content that allows for more positive interactions and resolutions for the characters. Overall, the game transcends typical horror tropes, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.
- “I really love each and every character in this game, from Cappie to Mila. The soundtrack really made me feel at peace, knowing this is a horror game. At first, I thought this was just another typical horror game, but it was surprisingly wholesome. I never thought a horror game could make me cry this badly; it brought tears to my eyes, knowing that each character was suffering, and we, the players, couldn't do anything about it. I really hope in the future that the developers will give each character their own happy ending, and we can interact with them more in a peaceful mode. It goes to show that you don't need to be a AAA gaming company to create a truly good game, and I can't wait to see what they have planned for this game.”
- “This game took me on an emotional rollercoaster. The way the story unfolds and the depth of the characters made me feel so connected to them. I found myself genuinely caring about their struggles and wishing I could help them. It's rare for a game to evoke such strong feelings, and this one did it beautifully.”
- “I was not prepared for the emotional impact this game had on me. The narrative is so well-crafted that I felt every moment deeply. The characters' pain and joy resonated with me, and I found myself reflecting on my own experiences. It's a testament to the developers' storytelling that a horror game could touch my heart in such a profound way.”

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63%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

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15h Median play time

90h Average play time

4-208h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

World of Warplanes is a arcade shooter game with warfare and historical themes.

World of Warplanes is available on PC, Windows, Cloud and NVIDIA GeForce NOW.

On average players spend around 90 hours playing World of Warplanes.

World of Warplanes was released on February 10, 2022.

World of Warplanes was developed by Wargaming Group Limited.

World of Warplanes has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its grinding.

World of Warplanes is a multiplayer game with local co-op support.

Similar games include Armored Warfare, World of Warships, World of Tanks, Enlisted, Wings of Heroes: plane games and others.

World of Warplanes

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