World of Warships
- November 15, 2017
- World of Warships
- 337h median play time
World of Warships is a free-to-play naval action MMO where players can command a variety of battleships and team up with others in large scale sea battles. The game features an extensive progression system, where players can level up, unlock content and upgrades, and even assign commanders to their vessels. With various game modes and the use of in-game currency Doubloons, players can purchase premium ships, consumables, and train commanders for combat.
Reviews
- The game offers a wide variety of warships from different nations, providing a rich historical experience.
- Gameplay is engaging and strategic, requiring players to think tactically about their ship's strengths and weaknesses.
- The graphics and sound design are impressive, enhancing the overall immersive experience of naval combat.
- The game has a heavy emphasis on microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics, making progression feel grindy and frustrating.
- Matchmaking can be unbalanced, often pairing inexperienced players with veterans, leading to one-sided battles.
- The introduction of submarines and aircraft carriers has disrupted gameplay balance, causing frustration among players.
- gameplay69 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it enjoyable yet marred by confusing mechanics and a steep learning curve for newcomers. While the core gameplay is praised for its diversity and strategic depth, issues such as excessive grinding, pay-to-win elements, and the introduction of controversial mechanics like submarines and aircraft carriers have led to frustration among the community. Overall, the game offers fun and engaging experiences, but players should be prepared for a significant investment of time and money to fully enjoy it.
“Gameplay is excellent and I would at least try it because if you can afford it, it can be a lot of fun.”
“The ship types are diverse in gameplay styles that provide options for all players.”
“Game-play and mechanics are top-notch.”
“The gameplay is now crammed full of gambling mechanics and loot boxes, even though the game is rated PEGI 7.”
“This game had promise; I was a hardcore player for a long time, but Wargaming has become so greedy. If you don't spend real money on the premium system and other pay mechanics, forget it. Unless you're ready to grind 200+ battles just to unlock a tier 6, and for tier 10... hope you have 6 months to grind for 1 ship that is so power creeped.”
“It started off as a great game, but I feel like every time they add a new 'feature,' the gameplay seems to get worse and worse.”
- graphics44 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their high quality, realism, and aesthetic appeal, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. Many users highlight the attention to detail and the immersive visuals, which enhance the experience, especially for those with capable hardware. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal despite some criticisms regarding gameplay and content.
“Aesthetically, I find the graphics to be really good and it helps to make playing the game so enjoyable.”
“The graphics are pristine and so lifelike.”
“One of the very best naval games I've played, very well developed, graphics first class.”
“Disappointing, because the graphics and history details are great...”
“Nothing but the visuals is and will be changed for the better.”
“The only good thing in this game that is always improving is the visuals.”
- grinding22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with players noting that unlocking valuable ships and content requires extensive time investment, often exceeding 200 battles or more, unless they opt to spend real money on premium options. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, many express frustration over the game's economy, which they perceive as designed to encourage spending rather than rewarding dedicated play. Overall, the game is described as grindy, with a mix of fun gameplay and a monetization model that can feel exploitative.
“Quite a substantial loot system with a ton of ships and cosmetic content - it would cost a lot to get anything of value, either that or a lifetime of grinding.”
“This game had promise; I was a hardcore player for a long time, but Wargaming has become so greedy. I remember grinding for ships and being able to unlock one after maybe 40-60 battles. Now, if you don't spend real money on the premium system and other pay mechanics, forget it. Unless you're ready to grind 200+ battles just to unlock a tier 6, and for tier 10... hope you have 6 months to grind for 1 ship that is so power creeped, just pushing you more and more to buy the premium ships that aren't even that good.”
“This game is so bad; gameplay is good, but to get better ships you need to pay. Grinding will take years. This is for the player that works and can't sit here all day and night playing, so to get better ships is to pay, and everything is way overpriced, which is wrong. It's a free game.”
- monetization17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling that it has shifted towards aggressive microtransactions and paywalls that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the game's free offerings and minimal ad interruptions, the overwhelming sentiment is that the monetization practices resemble those of mobile games, leading to frustration over perceived cash grabs and a lack of responsiveness to community feedback. Overall, players express concern that the relentless focus on monetization has compromised the game's integrity and enjoyment.
“Yes, there are numerous microtransactions but they are not required to play.”
“The included ships are great and come at a good price compared to the in-game purchase options.”
“It used to be great but they have rapidly gone down a path of massive monetization and gambling.”
“The monetization just feels like a mobile game.”
“Unfortunately the developer's relentless and misleading monetization efforts, and mistreatment of community contributors, have made playing untenable at this point.”
“The company behind this game has destroyed everything that used to be great about it, turned it into a cash grab, blatantly lied and broken many consumer laws around the world and has just now run off its best content creators.”
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is primarily driven by mission-based objectives, with players expressing a desire for more diverse mission types, particularly in co-op and competitive formats. While the ongoing missions provide a sense of progression, some players have reported frustrations with mission interruptions and the quality of teammates, which can impact the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game offers rewarding scenarios and a free-to-play model that encourages continued engagement through mission completion.
“I would love to see a greater emphasis on operations (essentially PvE co-op missions), but other than that, I am quite happy with this game.”
“The combat missions and campaigns are nice just to give you a goal to work toward.”
“And know they are messing around with the game, so once all the stuff gets sorted, it will be the premier game for a time to come. Yes, they are adding in some carriers and making them free to all players that complete the missions. Yes, they reward you for playing with all sorts of stuff (actually everything in the game as far as I know) if you play and complete their scenarios.”
“Sadly, the hopes that the missions of the week would continue until finished turned out to be just a dream - today the mission was ended mid-stream.”
“They will monitor your progress in-game and deliberately give you poor teammates with subpar ships to ensure you lose.”
“The submarine missions were too hard to complete.”
- humor5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as both absurd and captivating, with some players finding it hilarious despite criticisms of elitism and censorship from the developers. While some jokes may not resonate with everyone, many appreciate the comedic elements as a refreshing contrast to other games in the genre.
“Very funny and very captivating.”
“And it's freaking hilarious.”
“Surprisingly solid compared to the unfunny jokes that are in World of Tanks and World of Tanks Blitz.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with many users highlighting its quality and integration with the overall experience. Some even suggest collaborating with renowned band Sabaton for future compositions, indicating a strong appreciation for the soundtrack's impact on gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, complementing the game's impressive graphics.
“The music is also amazing.”
“A great game with wonderful graphics and great music!”
“WG should negotiate with Sabaton to compose the game's music.”
“The artwork in the game and soundtrack work is very well done.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it offers customization options through a module system and skill training for commanders, players find the grind for higher-level ships frustratingly slow, often taking months to earn enough resources. Additionally, the balance of gameplay is questioned, as certain vessels, like submarines, outperform others in a way that detracts from the historical immersion.
“You can gain access to higher-level premium or special ships through in-game resources, which are becoming harder to obtain quickly and can take months of play to earn enough for one ship. The game does offer ways to customize the performance of your ship via a module system, which is good, along with commanders who can train skills to enhance things even further.”
“I came to this game looking for exciting ship-on-ship action. You can now fly planes while the game looks after your carrier, or you can lurk beneath the waves in submarines whose performance far exceeds vessels in that time period.”
“You can gain access to higher level premium or special ships through in-game resources, which are becoming harder to obtain quickly and can take months of play to earn enough for one ship. It's disappointing if you choose one you don't get along with. The game does offer ways to customize the performance of your ship via a module system, which is good, along with commanders who can train skills to enhance things even further.”
“I came to this game looking for exciting ship-on-ship action. You can now fly planes while the game looks after your carrier, or you can lurk beneath the waves in submarines whose performance far exceeds vessels in that time period. I know it's an arcade game, but the suspension of disbelief I could manage now cannot cope.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is significantly enhanced with additional spending of $10-20 per month, suggesting that players may need to invest more to fully enjoy its content and features.
“The game feels repetitive after just a few playthroughs, lacking the depth to keep me coming back.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to replay it.”
“The limited choices and outcomes make it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express strong emotional reactions to the game, indicating a sense of frustration or disappointment that leads them to abandon other titles from the same developer. This suggests that the game's impact is significant enough to alter players' future gaming choices.