War Thunder
Metacritic
OpenCritic
Strong
IGDB
OpenCritic Score
Score Distribution
"War Thunder surprised me. I am not very good at it, but I still have a lot of fun playing it. Because it is a free-to-play game, some players will download it on a whim and quit 20 minutes in due to the poor controls. Those that brave the steep learning curve will be rewarded with a realistic combat simulator that could be truly great one day."
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About War Thunder
War Thunder launched in January 2013 as a free-to-play MMO from Gaijin Entertainment. This title covers aviation, armored vehicles, and naval craft across World War II and modern eras. You can play on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox with cross-platform support. The game mixes arcade action with realistic physics depending on your settings. It started on Windows before expanding to consoles and Linux. Players jump into massive battles where their choices dictate the outcome of land, sea, or air engagements. Gaiin built this as a comprehensive military simulator that runs on various platforms without a purchase price barrier.
Gameplay
You select a vehicle from detailed historical lists ranging from early biplanes to modern tanks. The core loop involves spawning in a match and engaging enemies with specific mechanics for each unit type. Pilots manage fuel, armor damage, and ammo while tankers calculate shell trajectories and cross rough terrain. Naval players control ship turrets and lookouts. Matches last anywhere from ten to thirty minutes depending on the mode selected. You earn research points after every battle to unlock new tech tree branches. The controls shift based on whether you choose arcade or realistic simulation modes. Team coordination matters since a lone wolf rarely wins a large scale engagement against a coordinated squad.
What Players Think
Critics gave this title mixed but generally positive scores, with Metacritic at 81 and OpenCritic sitting at 75. Only 46.15% of critics recommend the game despite some praise for its graphics. The IGDB rating stands at 69.4 out of 100 based on 227 ratings. PlayPile community data shows an average playtime that varies widely by player preference, but many spend hundreds of hours grinding research points. Only 7% of the total 90 achievements have been unlocked by the average player. The rarest item is the Collector achievement with just a 0.10% unlock rate. Players often express frustration over balance issues while praising the visual fidelity and sound design during intense combat sequences.
PlayPile's Take
This game works best for players who want deep vehicle customization without paying an upfront fee. The price is zero, but the grind can feel endless if you chase every achievement. You will likely spend significant time mastering specific mechanics before feeling comfortable in matches. The low achievement unlock rates suggest a steep learning curve that deters casuals. If you enjoy managing complex systems and dealing with frequent balance changes, this title offers hundreds of hours of content. It is not for everyone since the simulation elements can be punishingly difficult for new users trying to survive their first match.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
IGDB Rating
69.4
RAWG Rating
3.2
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Videos
3Teaser
Launch Trailer
Screenshots
10Achievements
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