World of Warships

About

World of Warships is a multiplayer tactical shooter game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by World of Warships and was released on November 15, 2017. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"World of Warships" is a free-to-play, massively multiplayer warfare shooter game featuring historic warships from various national origins. Players can control Destroyers, Cruisers, Battleships, and Aircraft Carriers in competitive or cooperative game modes, including historic operations. While offering intriguing storylines, great gameplay, and wonderful graphics, the game is also known for its grinding, advertisements, occasional bugs, and occasional humor.

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 46,984 reviews

gameplay1.2k positive mentions

grinding1.3k negative mentions

World of Warships offers engaging and strategic naval combat, blending historical authenticity with satisfying gameplay.
The graphics are stunning and well-optimized, providing an immersive experience even on lower-end hardware.
The game features high replayability with diverse ship classes and regular updates, keeping the gameplay fresh and enjoyable.

The game's balance is disrupted by the introduction of aircraft carriers and submarines, leading to frustrating experiences for players.
Monetization practices are heavily criticized for being predatory, creating a pay-to-win environment that detracts from overall enjoyment.
Technical issues such as frequent crashes and performance problems significantly hinder gameplay, causing frustration among players.

gameplay
3,305 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
56%
7%
The gameplay of World of Warships is characterized by its strategic naval combat, offering a mix of tactical decision-making and teamwork, which many players find engaging and rewarding. However, criticisms abound regarding the game's balance, particularly with the introduction of aircraft carriers and submarines, which some players feel disrupt the core mechanics and lead to frustrating experiences. Additionally, the game's monetization model, heavily reliant on pay-to-win mechanics and loot boxes, detracts from the overall enjoyment, making progression feel grindy and often discouraging for new players.
- “World of Warships delivers an engaging naval combat experience that blends historical authenticity with strategic gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is satisfying, the graphics are quite nice, and it is optimized well.”
- “Overall, World of Warships provides a deep and rewarding naval combat experience supported by strong visuals and strategic gameplay.”
- “World of Warships has a few really stupid mechanics that make no sense.”
- “The balance is disrupted, and instead of simply enjoying naval battles, players are forced to select specific ships and use special mechanics just to keep up.”
- “The gameplay is terrible, teammates sit and camp all huddled together at the back of the map to farm XP, while the enemy takes all the points.”
graphics
2,293 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
76%
23%
1%
The graphics in *World of Warships* are widely praised for their stunning detail and realism, with many players noting the impressive ship models and dynamic water effects that enhance the immersive naval combat experience. The game performs well even on lower-end hardware, making it accessible to a broader audience, while still delivering high-quality visuals for those with more powerful systems. However, some users have pointed out occasional graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly on older machines, but overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature of the game.
- “The graphics are stunning, realistic, and the best part of the game.”
- “The attention to detail in the ship designs, the stunning graphics, and the realistic naval combat really make it stand out from other games.”
- “With stunning visuals and immersive mechanics, every torpedo and cannon blast matters.”
- “The graphics and visuals are lackluster at best, with outdated and uninspiring design.”
- “Graphics are outdated.”
- “The major issue is how the game slows your PC performance and appears to cause graphics issues after you quit the game.”
grinding
1,370 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The grinding aspect of "World of Warships" is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious, especially at higher tiers. While some players find the grind rewarding and manageable, particularly with premium accounts, others feel it becomes a chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. The game's monetization strategies, including pay-to-win elements and aggressive microtransactions, further exacerbate frustrations related to grinding, leading to a mixed reception regarding its progression system.
- “A fun game to play with friends, and it's not too grindy to unlock new ships like a game like War Thunder.”
- “Not too grindy and the grind doesn't feel grindy.”
- “Fun and surprisingly not grindy for a free-to-play.”
- “It's a grindy game and that is one of its flaws if you are new to the game it takes a long time to reach the upper tiers where high-level players can grind through tiers in days.”
- “The grinding is horrible to level up.”
- “The game is a grinding/farming game if you play it free-to-play.”
story
814 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
80%
7%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of a cohesive narrative, with many players noting that it feels more like a series of missions and operations rather than a traditional campaign. While some appreciate the historical context and the variety of missions available, others find the gameplay repetitive and devoid of a meaningful storyline. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics and multiplayer interactions over a structured narrative experience.
- “It is a true gem, telling the story of naval fleets and warships, allowing players to dream and admire the art and engineering of these incredible vessels.”
- “While the game doesn't have a full-size campaign in a traditional sense, it has operations and missions that mimic historical events and lots of neat historical information sprinkled throughout the game.”
- “The game's world-building is unparalleled; every location has a story to tell.”
- “✅ This game has no story.”
- “☑ No story.”
- “The game is lovely, great graphics and audio, but to be thrown in a moshpit of pvp or player vs ai, and then to have all your kills stolen constantly, it's just not enjoyable, and it's not like you can do anything else either because there's no story based missions, singleplayer missions or campaign missions.”
monetization
805 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
59%
33%
The monetization model of *World of Warships* has drawn significant criticism for being excessively aggressive and predatory, with many players labeling it a cash grab. While the game is free-to-play, it heavily promotes microtransactions, including premium ships and loot boxes, which can create a pay-to-win environment and lead to frustration among players. Despite some enjoyment of the gameplay, the overwhelming focus on monetization and the high costs associated with in-game purchases have detracted from the overall experience, prompting many to recommend caution before investing time or money into the game.
- “An incredibly fun game that is a joy to play despite its monetization practices.”
- “While there are plenty of cosmetic and progression options, the monetization can feel aggressive.”
- “Ridiculously predatory monetization.”
- “The monetization mechanics of this game are the most predatory and FOMO-based of any free-to-play game I've played.”
- “The game has become a shallow cash grab and a shadow of what it used to be.”
humor
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is often described as a mix of absurdity and irony, with players finding amusement in the chaotic and sometimes frustrating gameplay, such as being sunk by unexpected foes or engaging in ridiculous ship maneuvers. While some players appreciate the comedic elements and witty dialogue, others point out that the community's toxicity and the game's imbalances can detract from the fun. Overall, the humor is a significant aspect that can enhance the experience, especially when playing with friends, despite the game's flaws.
- “A game where you play as a boat and get sunk by planes and bathtub toys with funny underwater sticks, esports ready gameplay.”
- “The game's humor and witty dialogue add a whole new level of enjoyment.”
- “Very funny when I use 14 torpedoes to kill a cruiser :)”
- “Surprisingly solid compared to the unfunny jokes that are WOT and WOTB.”
- “Summary: very good naval battle simulator with realistic ship models, but with boring gameplay after a few matches. It's really unfunny to be sunk by a destroyer that doesn't require much skill or by a sub that you can get as a reward for completing battle missions accessible from tier V.”
- “These include broken overmatch mechanics (more 16'' BBs, anyone?) angling in CAS against new American BBs, Thunderer, Stalingrad, Slava... I mean, the list of ships that have improved AP pen angles or overmatch that makes angling in cruisers useless goes on so far at this point it's not funny.”
music
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, with many players noting the orchestral soundtrack and dynamic audio that enhances the gameplay experience. While some find the music repetitive at times, the overall consensus is that it effectively complements the visuals and gameplay, creating an engaging atmosphere. Additionally, players appreciate the variety of music options available, allowing for a personalized experience while playing.
- “Sound design complements the visuals perfectly, with authentic naval effects and orchestral music heightening the tension.”
- “The soundtrack in this game is so immersive; I find myself humming the tunes all day.”
- “The intense soundtrack causes me to invest my all into the battle, and the wide array of possible ships and the difference between even the most similar ships is an amazing display of the care that was obviously put into this game.”
- “The music is... fine, I guess?”
- “Music is kind of boring and the announcer on by default is super loud and annoying.”
- “Think that if you face the monitor listening to boring music for every battle...”
optimization
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
59%
12%
The optimization of the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its ability to run smoothly on a variety of systems, including lower-end PCs, while others report significant performance issues, such as lag, crashes, and poor server performance. While some users appreciate the graphics and overall performance, others express frustration over optimization problems that hinder gameplay, particularly in high-tier matches. Overall, the game's optimization appears commendable for many, but persistent issues remain for others, impacting their experience.
- “The game runs smoothly on a wide range of systems, and the optimization is commendable.”
- “Very well optimized.”
- “The game is beautiful, optimized, the combat feels very real and immersive.”
- “The major issue is how the game slows your PC performance and appears to cause graphics issues after you quit the game.”
- “The game is frustrating because you depend on your performance to progress in a reasonable amount of time, but this performance can get crushed by things that are completely out of your hand, like sudden lag spikes, crashes, and penetration calculations that seem so weird that it is either a bug or the shell animations do not remotely indicate the shell hitboxes.”
- “The servers are god awful and there are performance issues too numerous to count.”
stability
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
85%
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and game-breaking glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over being penalized for disconnects caused by these issues, while others note that despite occasional fun moments, the overall experience is marred by persistent technical problems. While some users mention improvements in recent updates, the consensus remains that the game is currently plagued by instability and bugs.
- “In addition, the game runs great on almost any computer, with almost never any lag or bugs.”
- “The game is well optimized; it runs great even on an AMD Radeon HD 6670 1GB.”
- “They update often, and the game is relatively bug-free; if there is a bug, they are quick to roll out a fix.”
- “If you're going to play this game, you will need a lot of patience to get through their issues. It's frustrating when you participate in an event with a limited number of tries for achievements, like the naval battles, and the game freezes, wasting your attempts.”
- “My game keeps freezing, and I get punished for leaving a battle that I can't play because my screen freezes. I see everyone else playing while I can't do anything. This happens so frequently that I cannot play without it freezing.”
- “This game has a lot of glitches, and when I wrote a ticket about it, I was met with indifference. I've lost money and time on this so-called fun game, and I would never recommend it to anyone.”
atmosphere
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
35%
5%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning visuals, including realistic water physics, detailed ship models, and dynamic weather effects that enhance immersion. Players appreciate the sound design, which features authentic gunfire and environmental sounds, contributing to a captivating naval combat experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both beautiful and immersive, fostering a sense of cooperation and enjoyment among players, despite some criticisms regarding community toxicity and game balance.
- “The atmosphere on the open sea, combined with the slow but deliberate pace of combat, creates a uniquely immersive experience.”
- “The meticulous design of warship models, combined with realistic water physics and dynamic weather effects, creates an immersive atmosphere that brings historical naval combat to life.”
- “You can feel the weight of the ships as you maneuver them through treacherous waters, and the sound design really enhances the atmosphere—cannon fire echoes, the sound of waves crashing, and crew chatter make you feel like you're part of a living battlefield.”
- “This disregard for player input has fostered an atmosphere of distrust and disillusionment.”
- “The naval battle atmosphere is a bit poor, but the experience is not too bad.”
- “This game gobbles up around 40GB of disk space on my computer, almost the same as my favorite military simulation, yet it doesn't even come close to providing the same atmosphere.”
replayability
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
6%
The game boasts high replayability, with many users praising its diverse ship classes, regular updates, and varied gameplay modes that keep the experience fresh. Players appreciate the depth and challenge offered, alongside the balance between historical accuracy and arcade-style play. However, some concerns about the impact of premium content on gameplay balance have been noted, suggesting that while the game is enjoyable, it may be less accessible for those not willing to invest financially.
- “The graphics are great and it has good long-term replayability with the amount of ships you can research and play.”
- “The game's replayability is off the charts; I keep coming back for more.”
- “High replay value due to varied gameplay modes and frequent updates.”
- “So overall, due to the severe unbalancedness of premium ships versus regular ships, the credit earning and XP earning with a premium account versus without a premium account, the sheer greed from Wargaming on how everything needs to be purchased, and how certain people hold higher ranks more than the average player just because they stream the game makes me sick. For all the reasons listed above, I would stay clear of World of Warships at its current state until changes are made. The community has been screaming for change for months now with no answers. Please don't waste your time; the replayability of this game is not there at all. They have designed this game to only be playable at high tiers with the help of real money, and I'm not about that. Hope this review helps people make a decision.”
- “Nearly 500 ships and honestly only a few are playable, as the rest are trash not worth playing.”
- “It's fun at least for a while; it also has some replay value.”
emotional
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with players expressing deep investment in its story and community, often feeling joy and nostalgia from their experiences. However, many also report frustration and heartbreak due to monetization tactics and gameplay mechanics, leading to feelings of anxiety and disappointment. Overall, the game elicits a wide range of emotions, from wholesome joy to intense frustration, reflecting the complex relationship players have with it.
- “I cried.”
- “I've never been so emotionally invested in a game's story before.”
- “Hello, now this new update has me so emotional I want to give all the developers, creators, and artists who were part of this update a great big hug and a thank you. This made my day because it's been a while since I've been playing, and some of the updates were horrible, but I knew that you would allow that to be. I have tears of joy as I write this, omg yes yeah!!!!!!!!”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The character development in this game is highly praised for its depth and craftsmanship, allowing players to form strong emotional connections with the characters.
- “The character development in this game is so well-crafted; you really connect with them.”