Parents' Guide to World of Warships

Game Windows 2015
World of Warships Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Franklin Rinaldi By Franklin Rinaldi , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 12+

Strategic naval war game promotes teamwork, competition.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 12+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 13+

Based on 32 parent reviews

age 12+

Based on 10 kid reviews

Kids say that the game has a mix of opinions, with some enjoying its realism and engaging naval battles, while others criticize it for manipulative pay-to-win mechanics and poor game practices. Many users find it easy to play but express concerns over the company's monetization strategies that seem to ruin the experience for non-paying players.

  • fun gameplay
  • pay-to-win concerns
  • realistic graphics
  • easy to play
  • poor company practices
Summarized with AI

What's It About?

WORLD OF WARSHIPS is a multiplayer and team-based online real-time strategy naval warfare battle arena game where players control warships. Players command four types of mid-20th-century naval vessels -- destroyers, cruisers, battleships, and carriers -- to navigate the oceans, firing guns and torpedoes at enemy vessels. Competition occurs in 12-vs.-12 battles aimed at either destroying all the other team's ships or capturing and holding control points on the map. Battles are accompanied by large explosions, smoke, and fire, as well as ships breaking and sinking. Each battle earns you achievements, experience, and gold that can be used to upgrade your ship's equipment, unlock higher-tiered ships, and train your captains.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 32 ):
Kids say ( 10 ):

This impressive war game takes the tactics and strategy of combat and tosses them into an action-packed multiplayer arena. The ships are built to historically accurate specifications, and, as a battle-arena game, it excels at being strategic game and doesn't draw things out in excessively long battles; matches are usually kept to within 30 minutes. The basic controls are simple and intuitive, but mastering the advanced controls takes a lot of practice. Players are encouraged to work as a team executing a variety of strategies -- sudden ambushes, cunning flank attacks, head-on confrontations -- all to deliver a decisive blow at the competition.

Beyond the game's value as entertainment, it provides an immersion into the history of the ships and the countries they represent. Currently, World of Warships has vessels from four countries: the U.S.A., Japan, Russia, and the U.K., with more countries in the works. As with all the Wargaming titles, these are great games for military buffs and are family-friendly. Younger kids can easily master the game so long as parents keep in mind the unmoderated language they may be exposed to during matches. The greatest value of World of Warships is its stunning beauty, the reasonable gameplay sessions, and the critical thinking and strategic planning wrapped in a fun and engaging game that can provide hours of fun.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about teamwork and communication in games such as World of Warships. How does proper communication foster teamwork? Do you like playing with someone who's polite or rude?

  • Talk about the importance of online safety. What should -- and shouldn't -- kids be sharing with strangers? How can you protect personal and account information from strangers?

Game Details

  • Platform : Windows
  • Subjects : Social Studies : history
  • Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , asking questions , decision-making , logic , making conclusions , prediction , problem solving , strategy , thinking critically , Creativity : combining knowledge , developing novel solutions , Self-Direction : achieving goals , effort , goal-setting , identifying strengths and weaknesses , set objectives , time management , work to achieve goals , working efficiently , Emotional Development : handling stress , moving beyond obstacles , persevering , perspective taking , Communication : friendship building , listening , presenting , speaking , Collaboration : cooperation , group projects , meeting challenges together , respecting other viewpoints , teamwork , Responsibility & Ethics : learning from consequences , making wise decisions , respect for others , Tech Skills : using and applying technology
  • Pricing structure : Free (The game is free to download and play, but premium accounts give 50% more experience and gold for a fee between $8 and $46/month.)
  • Available online? : Available online
  • Publisher : Wargaming.net
  • Release date : July 2, 2015
  • Genre : Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG)
  • Topics : History
  • ESRB rating : NR for No Descriptions
  • Last updated : October 9, 2025

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