Everything You Need to Know About 'World of Tanks'

"World of Tanks" is a freemium multiplayer online game from Wargaming.net that focuses on team-based combat. Since its release in 2010, "World of Tanks" has inspired a mobile spinoff called "World of Tanks Blitz," and a massive update called "World of Tanks: Mercenaries" was released in June 2018. In all versions of the game franchise, players control real-life historical tanks and other armored vehicles from France, Germany, the Soviet Union, the United States, China, Great Britain, Japan, and an ever-growing list of other countries in virtual warfare. 

Review the gameplay features, system requirements, and download size of "World of Tanks" to help you decide if you want to play.

How to Download 'World of Tanks'

If playing on Windows, it's best to download the "World of Tanks" game files from the official "World of Tanks" website, but it is also available on other game and file-hosting sites such as File Planet and Joystiq. If you're playing on PS4 or Xbox One, you can easily download the game from their respective online stores. The download size of the "World of Tanks" compressed file is about 2.7 GB; however, the uncompressed file can grow to over 40 GB after all the various updates are installed.

Features and Gameplay

The game works on the freemium distribution model, which means that "World of Tanks" is free to download and play. Other freemium titles include "Battlefield Heroes" and "Age of Empires Online." Players will earn credits, or "gold," which can be used to upgrade tanks, crews, and more. Like many freemium multiplayer games, players have the option of making micropayments, which can be transferred into in-game gold to be used on experience points, faster tank upgrades, and premium tanks that aren't part of the normal tank trees. These premium tanks do not have special abilities nor advantages in combat over "free" tanks, but they do earn an increased amount of gold and experience allowing for quicker upgrades.

"World of Tanks" allows for tank battles of up to two 15-tank teams for a total of 30 tanks on a single battlefield. Maps range in size from less than 1 square kilometer for urban maps up to 25 square kilometers for battles that occur in more open places, such as the desert of North Africa. All tanks are rendered with historical accuracy, including every detail of armament, maneuvering, vehicle characteristics, and much more. Tanks and vehicles are classified into five categories: Light Tanks, Medium Tanks, Heavy Tanks, Tank Destroyers, and SPGs. Wargaming.net has continued introducing new gameplay elements such as new infantry units, additional anti-tank weapons, and much more.

Four different types of battles are primarily used to determine teams: random battles, clan battles, team-training battles, and tank company battles. Team deathmatch and capture the flag are the default game modes used to determine the winning team. The most popular mode is clan wars, which is an ongoing, persistent campaign on a world map that has been split into distinct sections or districts. Clans fight for these regions or countries in hopes of global conquest. With the latest "World of Tanks: Mercenaries" upgrade, the clan wars persistent campaign now allows you to enact diplomacy such as nonaggression pacts and treaties between clans.

'World of Tanks' Version Release Dates

The "World of Tanks" franchise began in 2010:

• "World of Tanks": August 2010
• "World of Tanks Blitz": December 2014
• "World of Tanks: Mercenaries": June 2018

Genre and Theme

"World of Tanks" is a multiplayer tank combat action game. The majority of tanks are from the World War II era, but new tanks are being added on a regular basis that are not exclusive to World War II.

Developer

European development company Wargaming.net has developed "World of Tanks." Previous games from the company include "Order of War" and the "Massive Assault" series. In addition to ongoing development for the successful "World of Tanks" series, Wargaming.net has released similar multiplayer combat games, including "World of Warplanes" and "World of Battleships."

'World of Tanks' System Requirements