War Thunder review: the best combined-arms combat game in 2026

War Thunder is the most realistic F2P vehicular combat game in 2026 and the most comprehensive military sim ever made. 1000+ vehicles across 5 nations, combined-arms mode (tanks + planes + ships in the same match), and the best plane modeling in any game. If World of Tanks had planes, it would be War Thunder.

What works

The 1000+ vehicles across 5 nations is the deepest in any vehicular combat game. USA, Germany, USSR, Britain, and Japan each have 200+ vehicles. Every vehicle is fully modeled (every panel, every rivet, every internal system). The tech tree is 100+ hours deep, and the end-game is unlocking every nation.

The combined-arms mode is unique. War Thunder is the only vehicular combat game where you can fight in a match that includes tanks, planes, ships, and helicopters. The combined-arms mode (Realistic Battles) is the most immersive vehicular combat experience ever made — you're flying a P-51 Mustang and you have to coordinate with your team's Sherman tanks to take objectives.

The plane modeling is the best in any game. Every plane in War Thunder is fully flyable, with realistic flight models, realistic damage models, and realistic sound design. The cockpit view is the most detailed in any game (every gauge, every switch, every lever). The 2026 update added the new Top Gun: Maverick event with the F-14 Tomcat, and the flight model is gorgeous.

The realistic graphics and sound design are the most immersive in the genre. The explosions are realistic, the bullet tracers are realistic, the engine sounds are recorded from real vehicles. The volumetric clouds (added in 2025) are the best in any game. The destructible environments are the most detailed (you can shoot individual windows off buildings).

Cross-platform with PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. War Thunder has full crossplay between PC and console. The console versions are the best vehicular combat experience on console (no other vehicular combat game is on console with this depth).

What doesn't

The grind is Russian-style. 100+ hours to reach tier V, 500+ hours to max out a single nation's tech tree, 2000+ hours to unlock every nation. The grind is more brutal than World of Tanks (which is also Russian-developed, also Russian-style grind). The premium vehicles and premium time both speed up the grind significantly.

The naval mode is in maintenance mode. The bluewater naval mode (with destroyers, cruisers, and battleships) has been in maintenance mode since

1. The coastal naval mode (with PT

boats and small craft) is still active. The aircraft carrier mode is in beta. The neglect of naval is a common complaint in the community.

The new player experience is overwhelming. 4 game modes (Arcade, Realistic, Simulator, Enduring Confrontation), 5 nations (USA, Germany, USSR, Britain, Japan), 1000+ vehicles, 4 vehicle types (tanks, planes, ships, helicopters). The game doesn't explain any of this. New players are thrown into Arcade battles with a tier I vehicle and have no idea what to do.

Premium vehicles give 10-15% advantage over the F2P meta. The premium vehicles (the $30-$100 vehicles in the store) give a small but noticeable advantage. The advantage is small enough that F2P players can still win at high ranks, but the competitive scene is dominated by paying players.

Cheater problem is the worst in the genre. War Thunder uses the same anti-cheat as Crossout and War Robots, which is less aggressive than Apex's or Warzone's. The cheater rate at high tiers is 15-20%, which is the highest in any vehicular combat game. Gaijin (the developer) has been slow to address the issue.

The competition

vs World of Tanks: WoT is the Wargaming tank-only combat game. The matches are faster (5 minutes vs 15-20 in War Thunder), the population is larger, and the grind is more forgiving. War Thunder is more realistic, has more vehicle types, and has the combined-arms mode. Pick WoT for the speed, pick War Thunder for the depth.

vs World of Warships: WoWs is the Wargaming naval-only combat game. The ship modeling is the best in any game, the port UI overhaul in 2026 made it the most accessible, and the 5v5 ranked is the best naval competitive mode. War Thunder has the combined-arms mode (including naval), but the naval is in maintenance mode. Pick WoWs for the naval focus, pick War Thunder for the combined-arms.

vs Crossout: Crossout is the arcade vehicular combat game with the best customization. War Thunder is the realistic vehicular combat game with the most vehicles. Pick Crossout for the fun, pick War Thunder for the realism.

Should you download it?

Yes, if you like realistic military sims and have 100+ hours to invest in the learning curve. War Thunder is the most realistic vehicular combat game ever made, the combined-arms mode is unique, and the plane modeling is the best in any game. The grind is Russian-style, the new player experience is overwhelming, and the cheater problem is the worst in the genre, but those are the only real downsides.

The 8/10 reflects "excellent depth, rough onboarding." A year from now, with the new player experience rework and the naval mode revival, this is a 9.

FAQ

Is War Thunder really free?

Yes. The base game is free, every game mode is free, and every nation has 200+ vehicles earnable for free. The only paid items are premium vehicles ($30-$100) and premium time ($5-$20/month) that speed up the grind.

What's the best nation for new players?

USA is the most beginner-friendly. The tech tree is the most linear (tier I to tier X in a clear progression), the vehicles are the most forgiving (high durability, easy handling), and the meta is the most stable. Germany is a close second for aggressive players.

How long does it take to unlock a tier X vehicle?

A new player can earn enough research points for their first tier X vehicle in 100+ hours of casual play. The fully maxed tech tree takes 500+ hours to unlock every vehicle.

Does War Thunder have crossplay?

Yes. War Thunder has full crossplay between PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The input-based matchmaking (PC players with PC players, console players with console players) is the standard.

Is War Thunder pay-to-win?

Mildly. The premium vehicles give a 10-15% advantage over the F2P meta. The advantage is small enough that F2P players can still win at high ranks, but the competitive scene is dominated by paying players. The F2P-friendly Arcade mode is the best place to play without paying.

What's the difference between War Thunder and World of Tanks?

World of Tanks is a tank-only combat game (5-minute matches, faster gameplay). War Thunder is a combined- arms combat game (15-20 minute matches in Realistic mode, tanks + planes + ships in the same match). World of Tanks is more accessible, War Thunder is more realistic. Pick WoT for the speed, pick War Thunder for the depth.