Whenever you are looking for a free-to-play game to try out or a new game in general, you might have come across the name War Thunder. War Thunder might not be the most played game these days, but it still has a decent player base, making it a good competitor in the free-to-play market.
Key Takeaways
War Thunder is an online multiplayer game centered around military vehicles. Players use their vehicles to fight for objectives or eliminate opponents. While this sounds straightforward, many believe the game has been ruined for various reasons, causing growing dissatisfaction within the community.
How can a game with such a simple concept be ruined? To understand this, we first need to explore why players are drawn to it in the first place.
The Appeal
War Thunder’s primary appeal lies in its extensive array of historical combat vehicles, including battleships, fighter planes, jets, tanks, and ground combat vehicles. It is a dream come true for enthusiasts of World War-themed games. Each vehicle has distinct stats and a unique feel, making them enjoyable to play.
Vehicles can be customized with various paints and decals to express your personality on the battlefield. While cosmetic items might not be the game’s main focus, it still has a vast array of customization options. Collaboration events also introduce new cosmetic items.
War Thunder is divided into three major modes: tank battles, air battles, and naval battles. In tank battles, players engage in tactical, sniper-like standoffs, strategically positioning themselves to find the right angle and opportunity to take down opponents. This mode is the most popular, featuring an addictive gameplay loop and a satisfying scoring system.
Air and naval battles, although not as popular as tank battles, still significantly contribute to War Thunder’s content. Air battles involve making evasive maneuvers and destroying enemy planes, a feature fans of similar games will enjoy. Naval battles, while less frequently played, continue to receive updates and content to keep fans interested.
War Thunder offers numerous vehicles to unlock, and the number continues to grow with each new update introducing new maps and modes, further expanding the game’s content. The large number of daily players motivates developers to add even more content.
The Endless Grind Hell
You might wonder how a game that sounds this good and has such rich content could be ruined. The answer lies in its monetization model.
Initially, new players might feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of content available, thinking they can explore it at their own pace. However, after a few hours, they realize that much of the content is hidden behind paywalls or requires extensive grinding.
War Thunder is notorious for its grindy systems and pay-for-convenience model. The game features microtransactions in the form of premium memberships and currency, to speed up progression or purchase items without grinding. This creates a barrier between players unwilling to pay for microtransactions and those who do.
For those who are completely into free-to-play, War Thunder can be extremely challenging. The game demands players to log in daily and complete missions to maintain a decent progression rate. While the early stages feel refreshing and fun, progressing to higher ranks turns the game into a daily chore.
Vehicles are divided into tiers and ranks, determining their effectiveness on the battlefield. The amount of grinding required to reach higher ranks is absurd, with players spending hours and days to achieve a slightly better rank. This design does not value the player’s time, and many consider it a waste of life.
Despite these issues, some players continue to grind daily due to their addictive personalities and the urge to acquire the best vehicles.
Increasing Toxicity
The player base in higher ranks often becomes frustrated due to the grind, leading to some extreme actions. War Thunder has a history of its players leaking and hacking classified documents of actual military vehicles on which the game is based. This is often done to protest changes implemented by the developers or to force them to make certain changes.
The player base’s toxic behavior can be attributed to the game’s design. Every online community has its toxic side, but leaking official documents of real military vehicles is on another level.
A Missed Opportunity To Be The Greatest
War Thunder had the opportunity to be one of the greatest and most beloved online games. However, due to the developers’ greed and harsh game systems, most players lose interest in continuing. Those trapped in the spiral of endless grinding realize it’s just a waste of time without any real enjoyment.
War Thunder might not have a chance to redeem itself, as the developers have gone too far with their decisions, and players seem determined to continue playing despite the immense effort required.
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Meet Ayesha, a business student and a Game Guides writer whose passion for gaming knows no bounds. With a keen interest in simulation and RPG genres like Disney Dreamlight Valley, Starfield, and Final Fantasy Series, she’s been sharing her expertise at VeryAli Gaming for a year now, enhancing the gaming experience for players worldwide. Check out what Ayesha likes to play on her Steam.
