War Thunder review: Your tank is fine, apart from all the important bits

The big picture

War Thunder is very good at making “I like military vehicles” sound like a manageable interest. Aircraft, tanks, helicopters and naval vessels offer plenty to admire. Then you start wondering why one machine survives a hit while another suddenly becomes a collection of parts with different plans. Gaijin's free-to-play combat game has an answer, and quite often the answer involves learning substantially more about the machine than you intended.

Developed by Gaijin Entertainment and published by Gaijin Network Ltd, it opened its public beta on 1 November 2012, reached Steam on 15 August 2013 and left open beta for full release on 21 December 2016. Those are separate milestones in a long-running game that continues to change. The first decision for a newcomer is simpler: which vehicles and which style of battle actually sound enjoyable? You can answer that before deciding you need a comprehensive military collection. Gaijin's earliest public-release history, Full-release announcement

Learn why the tank stopped being a tank

Positioning and target knowledge matter because damage happens inside a machine with particular vulnerabilities. A defeat can therefore teach you something specific. Understanding what failed is more useful than deciding the other vehicle was personally unpleasant, however emotionally satisfying that explanation may feel at the time.

The same detail creates a steep invitation for newcomers. Vehicle knowledge, maps and unfamiliar systems arrive together. If studying those relationships sounds enjoyable, failure can become part of the attraction. If you want immediately readable, forgiving combat, there is a real risk that the learning begins to feel like a course you accidentally enrolled in by clicking a picture of a plane.

Arcade is a reasonable place to begin, and an equally reasonable place to stay. Realistic and Simulator demand more without automatically providing more enjoyment for every player. Choose the mode that supports the evening you want. Nobody is obliged to make relaxing with virtual machinery progressively less relaxing as a demonstration of seriousness. Difficulty FAQ

Matchmaking also rewards understanding your lineup. Battle Rating measures in-game effectiveness rather than historical service dates, and common formats use the highest-rated vehicle you bring, with exceptions explained in the official guide. One exciting new machine can therefore sit awkwardly beside the rest of the collection. Owning a vehicle and having a sensible team for it are different achievements. Matchmaking rules

Enjoy the battle before accelerating the unlocks

Research Points unlock vehicles and modifications, while Silver Lions cover purchases and running costs. Earnings depend on performance, activity, mode and other factors. Paid premium time changes that progression substantially: listed benefits include double Research Points, increased Silver Lion earnings and conveniences. The shop belongs in the decision because it changes the rate at which the next tempting machine comes closer. Economy guide, Premium benefits

The safest starting point is enjoying what you can already use. If the only source of satisfaction is one distant unlock, everything before it can feel like a long queue with occasional explosions. Premium time can shorten progression; it cannot make a battle interesting on your behalf. Try the actual loop before paying to travel through it faster.

Your friends can join; your account has conditions

Sky Odyssey arrived on 16 September 2026 with more vehicles and the Darwin Hill ground map, followed by further October patches. Windows ARM CPU support was added on 15 October. Ongoing updates expand the catalogue and can alter balance, so a favourite machine belongs to a changing game rather than a permanently settled rulebook. Official update log

Native clients cover Windows, macOS, Linux, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. PS5 has its own native version and Series is optimised, rather than both simply running older editions. Steam Deck is Verified. Console play does not require paid online multiplayer subscriptions. GeForce NOW separately streams the PC game to supported devices, including phones, Chromebooks and selected Fire TV models, with account, membership, region, internet and control requirements. War Thunder Mobile is a separate game, not that PC client shrunk into an app. Mobile distinction, Cloud requirements

Crossplay does not mean unrestricted account portability. Existing PC or Xbox progress cannot freely move to PlayStation; some console-origin accounts can be linked for PC use. Check your main platform before building a long-term collection. Account FAQ

War Thunder has plenty for curious vehicle enthusiasts willing to learn through failure. Start with a branch you enjoy and keep the progression economy in perspective. A better machine may create new possibilities, but it cannot replace enjoying the battles, and it will eventually introduce you to fresh reasons an engine can stop cooperating.