War Thunder artwork

Gaijin Entertainment

War Thunder

A free military combat MMO with aircraft, tanks and naval vessels across historical and modern battles.

ActionMMOStrategyEditor's pick
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The game in practice

War Thunder puts a very large vehicle roster into team battles that range from arcade skirmishes to full simulator matches. You pick a nation, work through its research tree and slowly unlock better aircraft, armour and ships. The appeal is the detail: damage models, ballistics and crew skills all matter, and the same map plays differently depending on the mode you choose.

What you actually do

  • Nation-based research trees for air, ground and naval forces
  • Three difficulty modes: Arcade, Realistic and Simulator
  • Crew training and vehicle modification progression
  • Combined-arms team battles with objective capture

Editorial strengths

  • Large research trees span aircraft, ground vehicles and naval vessels
  • Three difficulty modes let you choose how technical the match feels
  • Seasonal events add limited objectives alongside the standard match rotation

Primary limitation

Progression slows noticeably at higher ranks, and repair costs push some players toward a premium account.

Optional purchases

Free to start. Optional purchases include premium vehicles, premium account time and cosmetic decals.

The game is free to start. Nothing on this page is required to play.

Who it suits

Suited to players who enjoy military simulation, team tactics and long-term progression rather than quick wins.

Best for: Players who want technical vehicle combat with a long climb

Devices

Desktop client for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus console versions. Not a browser game and not built for phones.

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