World of Warships

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 46,465 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • grinding
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World of Warships is a free-to-play naval warfare-themed massively multiplayer online game produced and published by Wargaming. The World of Warships fleet features over 200 ships, dating back to World War I and World War II. Put on your commander's cap, find out which warship type suits you, and amass a navy of your own. At sea, there are always plenty of opportunities for heroic deeds and achi…

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Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 46,465 reviews
gameplay1,155 positive mentions
grinding1,227 negative mentions
  • gameplay3,126 mentions

    The gameplay of "World of Warships" is characterized by a mix of strategic naval combat and arcade-style mechanics, offering players a variety of ship classes and gameplay styles. While many players appreciate the depth and tactical elements, concerns about balance issues, particularly with the introduction of aircraft carriers and submarines, have led to frustrations regarding gameplay fairness and competitiveness. Additionally, the game's monetization model, which includes pay-to-win mechanics and loot boxes, has drawn criticism, overshadowing the otherwise engaging gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay in World of Warships is both deep and satisfying, offering a mix of strategic planning and real-time action.”
    • “With its stunning graphics, realistic ship models, and strategic gameplay, every match feels like an authentic naval showdown.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and engaging, no two matches are the same, but its let down again by the devs and their out dated view and their greed.”
    • “The gameplay has been gradually degraded over the years as to extract as much money from players as possible.”
    • “The gameplay is stale and while not necessarily pay to win, it's pretty close.”
    • “The core gameplay of this game is solid, but had and still is being deteriorated by the developer's, wargaming's, decisions in controversial game mechanics they forcibly shoehorn into their game.”
  • graphics2,174 mentions

    The graphics in *World of Warships* are widely praised for their stunning detail and realism, particularly in the ship models and ocean effects, making the naval battles visually immersive. Players appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly even on lower-end systems, while still delivering high-quality visuals. However, some users have noted occasional graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly during intense gameplay. Overall, the graphics are considered one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are stunning!”
    • “With its stunning graphics, realistic ship models, and strategic gameplay, every match feels like an authentic naval showdown.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the ships are on the whole brilliant, even with all their idiosyncrasies.”
    • “The graphics and visuals are lackluster at best, with outdated and uninspiring design.”
    • “The graphics are not very good and when you need to buy and upgrade ships it is very complicated.”
    • “The graphics quality of this game is about 10 years old so I don't see why this game should suffer any freeze ups like this.”
  • grinding1,277 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "World of Warships" is widely criticized, with many players noting that it becomes excessively tedious, especially at higher tiers (6 and above). While some enjoy the gameplay and find the grind rewarding, others feel it requires an unreasonable time investment or monetary spending to progress effectively, leading to a perception of a pay-to-win model. Overall, the game is described as fun but heavily reliant on grinding, often requiring players to dedicate significant time or money to unlock desired ships.

    • “Not too grindy at the lower levels, and lots of fun.”
    • “This game is fun with lots of things to spend money on, and also they offer a lot of free stuff; it's not grindy like War Thunder.”
    • “Fun and surprisingly not grindy for a free-to-play game.”
    • “The grind to unlock new ships is quite tedious, but the tend to provide quite the XP boost to quickly jump to tier 4/5 ships.”
    • “If you're not a streamer who plays this game for a living and can dedicate hours on end every day to playing, don't expect to get any of the ships you want in a decent amount of time unless you plan on grinding for months and months on end.”
    • “The game is designed to just keep on grinding and repeating the same things over and over and over and over again.”
  • story775 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of a cohesive narrative, with many players noting that it primarily focuses on gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling. While some appreciate the engaging missions and historical ship elements, others express a desire for more structured campaigns or story-driven content, feeling that the current missions are repetitive and grind-heavy. Overall, the absence of a compelling story detracts from the experience for many players, who seek deeper engagement beyond the combat-focused gameplay.

    • “The game's world-building is unparalleled; every location has a story to tell.”
    • “I've never been so emotionally invested in a game's story before.”
    • “This game strikes a perfect balance between story-driven and action-packed gameplay.”
    • “☑ no story”
    • “The game is very engaging, as the player receives lots of daily missions to perform, accomplishment sense it's also high!”
    • “The only way to complete missions is by playing pvp not everyone wants to do that because of the player base in this game.”
  • monetization745 mentions

    The monetization in *World of Warships* has been widely criticized for being excessively aggressive and predatory, with many players describing it as a cash grab that heavily favors those willing to spend money. The game features numerous microtransactions, including overpriced premium ships and loot boxes, which create a pay-to-win environment and detract from the overall enjoyment. While some players find the game playable without spending, the overwhelming focus on monetization and the grind required to progress have led to significant dissatisfaction within the community.

    • “The monetization strikes a balance that respects both the player base and the need for financial sustainability.”
    • “The game's monetization largely boils down to 'you can pay cash to get ship x two months early, or you can pay cash to get ship y, which is a sidegrade to ship x that you can get for free.' Because the prices of these two options are so high, the community views the monetization as predatory, when in reality monetization is optional.”
    • “Overall, while World of Warships has plenty of potential and can be fun for short periods, it’s bogged down by aggressive monetization, pricing issues, and a grind-heavy system that make it difficult to fully enjoy without spending a substantial amount.”
    • “The only word that adequately describes the monetization of the game is predatory.”
    • “The game has aggressive monetization, pay-to-win mechanics, terrible company.”
  • music178 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its immersive quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience. While some find the soundtrack engaging and dynamic, others note that it can be repetitive or overshadowed by sound effects. Overall, the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, with a variety of themes available to suit different preferences.

    • “I honestly just play for the engaging adaptable music, the big guns, and the awesome arcade-like playstyles.”
    • “The soundtrack in this game is so immersive; I find myself humming the tunes all day.”
    • “The quality of the game is great too, like the soundtrack is engaging and the battle sounds are really unique.”
    • “The music is... fine, I guess?”
    • “Music is kinda 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...”
  • humor163 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a major draw, with players enjoying the absurdity of gameplay mechanics, funny interactions, and witty dialogue. Many find the chaotic nature of naval battles, such as using torpedoes or ramming ships, to be particularly amusing, while the community's reactions and the game's monetization strategies often provide unintentional humor. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted moments that arise amidst the strategic gameplay, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends.

    • “The game's humor and witty dialogue add a whole new level of enjoyment.”
    • “It's a fun game but somehow every time I play this game I lose, and the times I win are rare. You can call me trash or whatever you want, but I'm not spending a part of my life losing in a funny little boat game.”
    • “Very funny and very captivating.”
    • “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 cruisers 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.”
  • optimization142 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally praised, with many players noting that it runs smoothly on a variety of systems, including lower-end PCs. However, some users report significant performance issues, particularly on older hardware, and express frustration over crashes and lag spikes that can impact gameplay. While the graphics are often highlighted as impressive, there are calls for further improvements in optimization, especially regarding the user interface and overall performance consistency.

    • “The game runs smoothly on a wide range of systems, and the optimization is commendable.”
    • “It's very well optimized and looks fantastic despite being free to play.”
    • “The optimization is also great; you can play on high graphics without problems with a medium PC.”
    • “Game doesn't work even on my PC that isn't low-end, and the game crashed due to the game's poor performance, and I would receive a penalty.”
    • “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, penetration calculations that seem so weird that it is either a bug or the shell animations do not remotely indicate the shell hitboxes.”
    • “I cannot recommend it in such an un-optimized state.”
  • stability112 mentions

    The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent game-breaking glitches, freezes, and crashes that severely impact gameplay. Many users express frustration over being penalized for disconnecting due to these issues, and there are ongoing concerns about the developers' inability to address long-standing bugs. While some players note that the game runs well on lower-end hardware, the overall consensus is that the game is currently plagued by instability and requires significant improvements.

    • “In addition, the game runs great on almost any computer, almost never any lag or bugs.”
    • “Very good and virtually bug free game.”
    • “The game is well optimized; it runs great even on only an AMD Radeon HD 6670 1GB.”
    • “My game keeps freezing and I get punished for leaving a battle that I can't play because my screen freezes, but I see everyone else playing. I get hit and can't do anything about it. The game is failing on me, so don't play this game because it happens so frequently that I cannot play without it freezing.”
    • “From random crashes to ships getting stuck in the scenery, these glitches are like barnacles on the hull of an otherwise decent game.”
    • “In addition, there's an endless amount of game-breaking bugs and glitches that just ruin gameplay because things simply don't work.”
  • replayability57 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with players praising its varied gameplay modes, regular content updates, and engaging mechanics that encourage repeated play. Many reviews highlight the game's balance between historical accuracy and arcade-style fun, contributing to its enduring appeal. However, some users express concerns about the impact of premium content on the overall experience, suggesting that while the game is enjoyable, it may be less accessible for those unwilling to spend extra money.

    • “There's just more replayability, and the devs do a great job at adding more content regularly!”
    • “The game's replayability is off the charts; I keep coming back for more.”
    • “The change in how each game plays out basically makes this have endless replay value.”
    • “Nearly 500 ships and honestly only a few are playable, as the rest are trash not worth playing.”
    • “So overall, due to the severe imbalance of premium ships vs regular ships, the credit earning & XP earning with a premium account vs 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.”
    • “It's fun at least for a while; it also has some replay value.”
  • atmosphere48 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by detailed ship designs, dynamic weather effects, and realistic sound design that includes cannon fire and crew chatter. Players appreciate the laid-back yet engaging environment, which fosters a sense of cooperation and heroism, although some note issues with community toxicity and monetization practices. Overall, the combination of stunning graphics, atmospheric realism, and a vibrant community contributes to a compelling gaming experience.

    • “The game’s detailed ship designs and dynamic weather effects create an immersive atmosphere, while multiple game modes keep the action fresh.”
    • “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.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredible and something that I'll leave as special for you to see for yourself.”
    • “This disregard for player input has fostered an atmosphere of distrust and disillusionment.”
    • “And the social atmosphere in the game's community is toxic.”
    • “The naval battle atmosphere is a bit poor, but the experience is not too bad.”
  • emotional43 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from deep investment in its story and community to feelings of frustration and heartbreak due to gameplay mechanics and monetization practices. Players express nostalgia and joy for past experiences, while others report emotional exhaustion and disappointment, particularly with recent updates. Overall, the game fosters strong emotional connections, both positive and negative, reflecting the highs and lows of player engagement.

    • “We still miss it, but the damage was just heartbreaking.”
    • “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!”
  • character development11 mentions

    The character development in this game is exceptionally well-crafted, allowing players to form a strong emotional connection with the characters.

    • “The character development in this game is so well-crafted; you really connect with them.”
    • “The character development in this game is so well-crafted; you really connect with them.”
    • “The character development in this game is so well-crafted; you really connect with them.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

124hMedian play time
387hAverage play time
24-600hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 158 analyzed playthroughs

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