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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.

6.8

OpenCritic

4.9

Steam

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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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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.

6.8

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 37% of Critics. There are 6 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

COGconnected: 83 / 100 by Lou Sytsma

Quote not yet available

Full Review

Push Square: 7 / 10 by Graham Banas

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Full Review

TheSixthAxis: 5 / 10 by Gareth Chadwick

Aces of Thunder feels like it's missing some basics, like tutorials, feedback on hits, and an informative HUD. I know it's a sim, but what's the point of simulating me being in a plane and not knowing where to go? What kind of commander says there's enemies incoming, but with no further details, like direction? That, along with some frustrating issues with the controls and fiddly use of a DualSense while in VR just leaves me coming away from the game more frustrated than elated. If you've got the patience to get through the trial and error, you might enjoy this very realistic flight combat sim, but the multiplayer still won't be well populated without crossplay.

Full Review
49%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mixed (276)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • VR Experience: Many users appreciate the immersive VR experience, stating it feels good and is a lot of fun, especially for casual players.
  • Graphics and Performance: The game runs smoothly on various systems, with some players noting that it looks good in VR and has decent visuals overall.
  • Flight Mechanics: The flight model is considered enjoyable by some, with elements like wind resistance and damage modeling being praised.
  • Multiplayer Potential: While currently limited, some players see the potential for engaging multiplayer dogfights.
  • Quick Access to Gameplay: Players can jump into action quickly, which contrasts with more complex sims like DCS.

The main cons of the game

  • User Interface (UI): The UI, especially in VR, is widely criticized for being clunky, unresponsive, and difficult to navigate. Many users struggle with the menu system.
  • Control Setup Issues: Setting up HOTAS controls is often described as cumbersome and unintuitive. Users report difficulties in binding controls and achieving smooth operation.
  • Limited Content: Many reviews mention a lack of depth in the campaign missions, which are seen as too simplistic and lacking in variety. The multiplayer experience is often filled with bots rather than real players.
  • Graphics and Optimization: While some praise the graphics, others find them underwhelming compared to expectations. There are complaints about visual fidelity, particularly concerning anti-aliasing and LOD issues.
  • Lack of Tutorials: New players find the absence of proper tutorials frustrating, making it hard to learn the game mechanics.

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

  • Campaign Depth: Players express a desire for more substantial and engaging campaign missions, with a narrative and varied objectives.
  • Better Cockpit Interactivity: Users want more interactive cockpit elements beyond just the throttle and stick, such as more clickable controls and better feedback.
  • Improved VR Controls: Many players wish for better implementation of VR controls, including haptic feedback and a more intuitive interaction system.
  • Crossplay and Player Base: There are requests for crossplay capabilities and concerns about the sparse player base, which limits multiplayer engagement.
  • Customizable Control Profiles: Users want the ability to create and save different control profiles for various setups, enhancing usability for different players.

Summary

  • Overall, while *Aces of Thunder* has potential and is enjoyable for some, especially casual gamers, it faces significant criticism regarding its UI, control setup, and depth of content. Many users recommend waiting for updates before fully committing to the game.

Summary generated on: