War Thunder review

War Thunder is the strongest dogfighting pick for most players because it costs nothing to start and covers more aircraft eras than anything else here. Gaijin's Steam page lists over 3,000 aircraft, helicopters, tanks, warships and other vehicles built from historical documents, spread across 100 maps of major battle theaters. Air battles run at several difficulty settings, so a new player can start in arcade-style fights and later move to realistic and simulator battles. PC, Linux, Mac, PlayStation and Xbox players share the same servers, and there are PvE campaigns and solo missions for quieter sessions. The minimum spec is modest at 4 GB of RAM, and the game supports VR and full controller support. The catches: the game makes money from in-game purchases, overall English Steam reviews are Mostly Positive at 72%, and the last 30 days are Mixed at 68%. Players who only want planes will also share the game with tank and naval modes.

Who it is for

Players who want free WWII and jet dogfights with a large player base and cross-play on PC and consoles.

Price

Free to play on Steam; optional in-game purchases.

Play War Thunder Free To Play
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Over 3,000 aircraft, helicopters, tanks, warships and other combat vehicles
• 100 maps based on the main historical battle theaters
• Cross-platform play between PC, Linux, Mac, PlayStation and Xbox on the same servers
• PvP missions at several difficulty settings, plus PvE campaigns and solo missions
• VR support and full controller support on Steam

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free to play with a very large community: 331,119 English Steam reviews
• Strength: Covers early 20th century aircraft through modern jets in one game
• Strength: Low minimum spec of 4 GB of RAM
• Weakness: Steam reviews are Mostly Positive at 72%, and recent reviews are Mixed
• Weakness: In-game purchases are part of the progression model
• Weakness: Air battles share the game with tanks and ships, so focus can be split

Key facts

• Developer: Gaijin Entertainment
• Price: Free to play
• Vehicles: Over 3,000
• Steam reviews: Mostly Positive, 72% of 331,119 (English)
• Minimum RAM: 4 GB

Where it ranks

War Thunder is No. 2 in our Best Flight and Dogfighting Games verdict and No. 9 in Best Free Games for Adults and No. 7 in Best War Games.