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Aces of Thunder

Aces of Thunder

PCPlayStation
Released

Release Date: February 3, 2026

Simulation, World War I, World War II, Planes, PlayStation VR, SteamVR, VR, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Internet

An aerial shooter from the developers of War Thunder, offering optional VR support. In Aces of Thunder we can participate in air battles from World War 1 and World War 2. The game features a story campaign, as well as an online multiplayer mode.

7.0

OpenCritic

5.8

Steam

Rate It!
Ratings
[1:23] - Single Player Campaign Trailer Videos: 1
Screenshot Images: 9
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In 2013, the development studio Gaijin Entertainment (which was founded in Russia, but over time moved to Germany, and then to Budapest) released a multiplayer aerial shooter titled War Thunder. Years later, another game of this type followed in its footsteps, namely the Aces of Thunder described here. Although this new game was prepared with virtual reality sets in mind, it is also playable without them (thanks to a patch released after the premiere).

Gameplay

In Aces of Thunder we watch the action from a first-person perspective (FPP).

Aerial battles from the times of World War I and II

During the game, we can take control of one of the World War II aircrafts and participate in aerial battles on the Western, Eastern, and Pacific fronts. The game also provides us with machines from World War I and allows us to fight battles in the skies over the most characteristic battlefields of that period.

Airplanes

In Aces of Thunder we will find a wide range of airplanes. Machines from World War II include the American P-51 Mustang and P-63 Kingcobra, the German Bf 109 and Fw 190, the Soviet Il2 and Jak-9T, as well as the British Spitfire and the Japanese A6M3 Zero. There are also machines from World War I, such as the Fokker DR.I fighters or the SPAD S.XIII.

Controls

The game borrows the flight model and damage system from War Thunder. It supports HOTAS controllers, and also allows for handling interactive airplane cockpits using motion controllers (which can be used by owners of VR sets).

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows

PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5

Developer: Gaijin Entertainment

Publisher: Gaijin Entertainment

Similar Games:

Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe

Wings of Prey 2

IL-2 Sturmovik

Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for Aces of Thunder Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-7500 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce RTX 2060 / 8 GB Radeon RX 5700 XT, 20 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 7, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 20 GB HDD, Windows 10/11 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Aces of Thunder Video Game.

7.0

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 40% of Critics. There are 8 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Metro GameCentral: 7 / 10

An historically authentic military flight sim that rewards the hard work put into mastering its combat, although there was no need for it to be quite this inaccessible to non-propellerheads.

Full Review

GameOnly: 4.25 / 5 by Rafał Gubała

In summary, Aces of Thunder delivers an incredibly realistic experience of piloting World War II combat aircraft while also allowing players to take part in numerous aerial battles from that era. When it comes to the flying mechanics themselves this is the one and only title that can truly compete with it is Microsoft Flight Simulator. Wonderful game.

Full Review

COGconnected: 83 / 100 by Lou Sytsma

Quote not yet available

Full Review
58%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mixed (1,049)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Fun Gameplay: Many users find the gameplay enjoyable, particularly the dogfighting mechanics and the immersive experience of flying in VR.
  • Graphics: The game features high fidelity graphics that are appreciated by players, especially in VR mode.
  • Performance: Several players report smooth performance, with stable frame rates on decent hardware.
  • HOTAS Compatibility: While setting up can be cumbersome, players generally find that HOTAS setups can be configured successfully.
  • VR Experience: The game is designed with VR in mind, providing an immersive flying experience.

The main cons of the game

  • Clunky UI: The user interface, particularly in VR, is frequently criticized for being confusing and unresponsive. Navigating menus is a common pain point.
  • Limited Cockpit Interactivity: Many players feel that the cockpit controls are too limited, with few interactable elements compared to expectations set by other VR flight sims like VTOL VR.
  • Bugs and Technical Issues: Day-one bugs, including issues with controls and performance, have been reported. Players have also experienced problems with the game crashing or freezing.
  • Lack of Content: The game has been described as having limited missions and content, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness.
  • Matchmaking Problems: Many players have noted difficulties in finding multiplayer matches, often resulting in bot-filled games.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Better Tutorials: Players are calling for comprehensive tutorials to help new users understand the game mechanics and controls.
  • Improved Customization Options: A desire for more robust options for customizing controls and settings, particularly for HOTAS and VR controllers.
  • Campaign Depth: Users want a more engaging campaign mode with a narrative and varied missions, rather than the current simplistic structure.
  • Voice Communication: The absence of built-in voice chat for multiplayer has been highlighted as a significant oversight.
  • Cross-Platform Play: Many players are disappointed by the lack of crossplay between platforms, which limits the player base.

Summary

  • In summary, while "Aces of Thunder" has potential and offers an enjoyable experience for some, it currently suffers from significant issues related to its UI, content depth, and technical performance that detract from the overall experience. Players are hopeful for future updates to address these shortcomings.

Summary generated on:

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