World of Tanks is one of those online behemoths whose success has become such a constant that the chugging of its engines and oomph of its shells is now the background noise in the games world. We all know World of Tanks exists, we know it’s been around for a long time (11 years and counting), and we know it’s something to do with tanks—obviously—but what many of us don’t know is that there’s a lot more to it than that.
Just ask any of the 160 million players making their mark on its battlefields, and they’ll be able to tell you what’s special about World of Tanks.
Despite being meticulous in detailing every plate, hatch and track on some of history’s most iconic tanks, this isn’t some hardcore milsim made only for people who like to wear authentic WWII German tank commander visor caps while they play (though you’re very welcome to do that too). The game’s mechanics are easy to get a handle on, which make it easy to just jump in and start blasting.
Game modes range from fast-paced classics like Assault (base defence and attack) to Encounter, where both teams fight over a single base on the map. You can even jump into historical battles, which take place on infamous battlefields like Stalingrad and limit you to using the tanks that would’ve actually taken part in those battles.
The challenge will increase as you start earning accolades and ranking up to face more experienced players. You’ll be pushed harder as you ascend through the tiers, but you’ll also be rewarded with new tanks, ammo types and tactical equipment. At the higher tiers you’ll get to take part in exclusive events alongside fellow elite players, such as the epic Frontline mode - a sweeping multi-phase battle pitting two 30-strong teams against each other.
World of Tanks has a satisfying progression system, which rewards not only individual acts of valour and your K/D ratio, but the performance of your entire squad. So stick together, support each other, and surge to victory as a formidable unit. To top it all off, the game is free for anyone to jump in and start playing, which means you can gather a bunch of buddies, get matched up to fellow newcomers, and begin your journey to tank mastery.
World of Tanks has come a long way from its humble beginnings back in 2009, when you had a choice of just six tanks to duke it out on a single map. Today, the game boasts over 600 landships, armoured vehicles and legendary tanks like the Tiger 1, Sherman and T-34. You will trundle these machines around 33 highly detailed maps modelled on real-world biomes like deserts, tundras, as well as more temperate climates you may find in Europe.
It’s hard to fully appreciate the impact of World of Tanks without looking at how its popularity has spread from its origins on PC in eastern Europe. Today, you’ll find special tanks themed around the hit anime series Valkyria Chronicles in Japan, you can read World of Tanks comics written by the great Marvel writer Garth Ennis (best known for The Punisher) - it has grown into a global phenomenon.
World of Tanks is playable on PC as well as all major consoles (even Nintendo Switch), and it will finally be coming to Steam later this year, joining its sister game World of Warships on the world’s biggest games platform. That means you’ll get to easily jump in and squad up right away with your Steam friends, stream the game to your big TV with Steam Link, among the many other great perks the platform offers.
So form your regiment, and mount up for one of the best ongoing wars in online gaming.
You can jump right into World of Tanks through the official site, or follow its endless march to progress on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or tune straight into the action on its YouTube and Twitch channels.
