War Thunder — everything about the game: overview, reviews, vehicles and squadrons (2026)
This information is current as of August 2026.
War Thunder is the largest free-to-play military MMO from Gaijin Entertainment, featuring over 2,500 vehicles, ranging from 1930s biplanes to modern fighter jets, tanks, and naval vessels. The game was released in 2013 and remains one of the world’s most popular online military games—with millions of active players and regular major updates.
Game Description
War Thunder combines air, land, and sea battles on a single map. Players fight using vehicles from ten nations: the U.S., the USSR/Russia, Germany, the U.K., Japan, China, Italy, France, Sweden, and Israel.
- Vehicles: Over 2,500 aircraft, tanks, helicopters, and ships—from early biplanes to 5th-generation fighters.
- Modes: arcade battles, realistic battles, simulator battles, co-op missions, and events.
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox—with full cross-play between all platforms.
- Model: free-to-play; you can play without spending money; a premium account and premium vehicles simply speed up progression.
Reviews and Ratings
Players praise War Thunder for its realistic vehicle models, detailed damage system (penetration is calculated based on armor and modules, not a simple HP bar), and the scale of the battles. Criticisms include the “grind” at higher ranks and aggressive monetization of progression.
- Steam: “Very Positive” reviews overall (85%+).
- Metacritic: 76–81 depending on the platform.
- Online: Consistently 50,000–100,000 concurrent players on Steam alone, with peaks exceeding 150,000 during major updates.
Cost
The game is completely free. You can pay for added convenience: a premium account (faster progression), premium vehicles, camouflages, and battle passes. All vehicles in the game are available without spending money—microtransactions simply save you time.
Popularity by Country
War Thunder is popular worldwide. The largest communities are in Russia and the CIS, the U.S., Germany, France, China, Poland, and Japan. The Russian-speaking community is one of the largest and most active, with its own wikis, thousands of guides, and regiments with a long history.
Best Nations for Beginners
| Nation | Strengths | Who it’s best for |
|---|---|---|
| USSR | Tanky tanks, powerful guns, simple controls | Tank newbies |
| USA | Versatile aircraft, excellent machine gun armament | For fans of aerial combat |
| Germany | Accurate guns, powerful medium tanks | For those who love to shoot from a distance |
| Japan | Agile fighters | For dogfight enthusiasts |
Game Statistics
- Over 70 million registered players throughout the game’s history.
- 2,500+ vehicles and 100+ maps.
- Major updates are released every 2–3 months; in 2026, the game continues to receive new, modern vehicles and game modes.
- Esports: Thunder League tournaments with prize pools and live broadcasts.
Squadrons
The equivalent of clans in War Thunder are regiments (squadrons). Squadrons of up to 128 players engage in squadron battles (SRE), earn squadron activity points, and unlock special squadron vehicles for free—ranging from fighters to modern tanks like the squadron-exclusive Leopard. You can find a regiment using the in-game search feature or by checking out themed Discord servers; for Russian-speaking newcomers, there are dozens of friendly regiments that offer training.
See also
- War Thunder: Promo Codes—All Working Codes
- Articles on World of Tanks
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl—Everything About the Game
Sources: War Thunder official website, Steam, Metacritic