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War Thunder vs World of Warplanes

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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War Thunder
War ThunderA free-to-play vehicular combat MMO featuring aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval craft.
World of Warplanes
World of WarplanesMassively multiplayer aerial combat in the Golden Age of aviation
Overview
Description

War Thunder is a comprehensive vehicular combat massively multiplayer online game that lets players pilot aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval craft spanning from the early 20th century to the modern era. Progressing through technology trees across multiple nations, players unlock increasingly advanced military hardware while engaging in combined-arms warfare. The game offers three distinct realism tiers for each vehicle type—arcade, realistic, and simulator modes—catering to both casual gamers and hardcore military simulation enthusiasts. Originally launched as a flight simulator, it has expanded significantly to encompass land and sea battles across multiple platforms.

World of Warplanes is a free-to-play MMO action game that lets players pilot iconic WWII-era aircraft in fast‑paced dogfights. Developed by Wargaming.net and Persha Studia, it offers a blend of arcade fun and historical detail. Since its 2013 launch, the game has grown a global community, featuring a variety of planes, battle modes, and progression systems that reward skill and strategy. Players can team up or compete in massive online battles across diverse maps.

Pricing
Freemium
Freemium
Category
Multiplayer & Online
Action & Shooter
Best for
Military history buffs and vehicular combat enthusiasts
Aviation fans and competitive gamers
Specifications
General
msrp
$0.00
—
release date
2013-01-28
2013-11-12
Specifications
developer
Gaijin Entertainment
Wargaming.net, Persha Studia
publisher
Gaijin Entertainment
Wargaming.net
age rating
PEGI 12, ESRB T
PEGI 12
multiplayer
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
critic score
65/100+3%
63/100
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Extensive selection of historical and modern military vehicles
  • Three distinct gameplay realism modes to suit different skill levels
  • Free-to-play model with deep progression trees
  • Combined-arms gameplay featuring air, land, and sea forces
  • Large selection of historically inspired planes
  • Free-to-play with optional cosmetics
  • Robust multiplayer and squad features
  • Regular content updates and events
Cons
  • Steep learning curve for realistic and simulator modes
  • Grind can become significant in later tiers of progression
  • In-game economy and monetization can feel demanding
  • Microtransactions can affect progression speed
  • Arcade physics may not satisfy hardcore simulators
  • PC‑only limits platform accessibility
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

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European Air War
European Air War

Relive the skies of WWII with realistic combat simulation

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World of Tanks
World of Tanks

Command massive armored battles in a free-to-play MMO tank shooter

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WarBirds
WarBirds

Take to the skies in the classic WWII MMO flight simulator

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World of Warplanes
World of Warplanes

Massively multiplayer aerial combat in the Golden Age of aviation

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Alternatives to World of Warplanes

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War Thunder
War Thunder

A free-to-play vehicular combat MMO featuring aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval craft.

Compare
WarBirds
WarBirds

Take to the skies in the classic WWII MMO flight simulator

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World of Tanks
World of Tanks

Command massive armored battles in a free-to-play MMO tank shooter

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World of Warships
World of Warships

Command historic warships in massive naval battles for free

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Both are free‑to‑play aerial combat games, but World of Warplanes focuses solely on planes with simpler arcade physics, while War Thunder adds land and sea vehicles and offers multiple realism modes.

Key differences

  • •World of Warplanes is PC‑only; War Thunder runs on PC, consoles and mobile.
  • •War Thunder includes aircraft, ground vehicles and naval craft; World of Warplanes only aircraft.
  • •War Thunder provides three realism tiers (arcade, realistic, simulator); World of Warplanes has only arcade‑style physics.
  • •World of Warplanes caps matches at 30 players; War Thunder supports larger, combined‑arms battles.
  • •Both are freemium, but War Thunder’s progression is deeper and can feel more grind‑heavy.
DimensionWinner

Gameplay & fun factor

War Thunder offers combined‑arms battles and three realism modes, giving more varied gameplay than World of Warplanes' pure arcade air combat.

War Thunder

Platform availability

War Thunder runs on multiple platforms (PC, consoles, mobile); World of Warplanes is PC‑only.

War Thunder

Price & value

Both are freemium with optional cosmetics; no purchase price for either.

Tie

Multiplayer / co‑op

War Thunder supports larger, combined‑arms MMO battles and multiple player modes; World of Warplanes limits to 30‑player air matches.

War Thunder

Content & replayability

War Thunder’s extensive tech trees across air, land, sea and multiple realism tiers provide more long‑term content than World of Warplanes' aircraft‑only roster.

War Thunder

Difficulty & accessibility

World of Warplanes uses arcade physics, making it easier for casual players; War Thunder’s realistic modes have a steep learning curve.

World of Warplanes

Graphics & performance

No specific graphics or performance data provided for either title.

Tie

Choose War Thunder if…

Players seeking deep, multi‑vehicle combat with optional realism levels and cross‑platform play.

Choose World of Warplanes if…

Casual aviation fans who want a simple, PC‑only air combat experience.

Common questions

Do either of these games require real money to play?

Both are freemium; they are free to download and play, with optional cosmetic purchases.

Can I play on a console?

War Thunder is available on consoles; World of Warplanes is PC‑only.

Which game is easier for beginners?

World of Warplanes uses arcade physics and simpler matchmaking, making it more beginner‑friendly than War Thunder's realistic modes.