Best Tank Games to Play in 2025

Patrick_Yu

Tank simulator games put you in control of heavy armor on the battlefield. Some games focus on real-world history, while others take a modern or even futuristic approach. Whether you enjoy slow, tactical combat or fast-paced action, there’s a tank sim for you. In 2025, many of the top titles are still popular and supported. This list looks at the best tank simulator games you can play this year.

1. Gunner, HEAT, PC!

Gunner, HEAT, PC! is a modern tank simulator that blends realism with fast, accessible gameplay. Developed by Radian Simulations and first released in Early Access in 2022, the game has steadily evolved into one of the most promising entries in the genre. It was created by a team of tank enthusiasts aiming to fill the gap between ultra-realistic simulators like Steel Beasts and more arcade-style titles such as War Thunder.

The focus here is on short, intense armored engagements. With over 50 missions ranging from recon to assault to defense, GHPC offers immediate action without excessive setup. Each tank behaves differently, and the game’s detailed damage system simulates internal destruction, spalling, and crew injuries with impressive depth. Sighting systems are modeled individually, adding variety to each vehicle’s playstyle. The audio design, from crew chatter to cannon fire, heightens immersion in every firefight.

While the core gameplay is solid, there are areas that need work. The campaign mode lacks depth, mission maps feel repetitive, and the AI can be unreliable in complex environments. However, a robust roadmap promises significant improvements, ranging from multiplayer and destructible environments to infantry integration and new factions.

For players looking to experience modern tank warfare with a focus on tactical combat and mechanical depth, Gunner, HEAT, PC! stands out as one of the best tank sims you can play in 2025.

2. Steel Armor: Blaze of War

Steel Armor: Blaze of War is a detailed tank simulator developed by Graviteam and released in 2011. Despite its age, it remains one of the most complex and rewarding tank sims available to play in 2025.

The game blends two layers of gameplay. On the strategic map, you move platoons, manage supplies, and plan operations. When units engage, the game transitions into real-time 3D battles where you take direct control of tanks like the T-62 or M60A1. You can play as the commander, driver, loader, or gunner while also issuing commands to infantry and support units through a basic RTS-style interface.

The damage model is highly realistic, with detailed ballistic effects that reflect where each shell hit and how it impacted the vehicle. The battles are challenging, and decisions made during combat affect your broader campaign. The setting focuses on overlooked Cold War conflicts such as Angola, Iran-Iraq, and Afghanistan, offering a change from the usual World War II scenarios.

While the interface is clunky and the learning curve is steep, patient players will find a sim that rewards tactical thinking and offers a level of depth few others match.

3. War Thunder

War Thunder is a long-running combined arms MMO developed by Gaijin Entertainment, first released in 2012. Though it began as an air combat sim, it has since grown into one of the most popular tank games available today, and in 2025 it remains a staple for players who want a mix of realism, variety, and competitive play.

The game features a vast roster of ground vehicles from World War II through the modern era. You can take control of light tanks, heavy armor, self-propelled guns, and anti-air units from countries around the world. The damage model is location-based, with shell penetration, crew injuries, and module destruction all playing a role in each engagement. This makes positioning and shot placement just as important as raw firepower.

War Thunder offers multiple game modes, including arcade, realistic, and simulator battles, each with its own physics and spotting systems. The simulator mode offers a more authentic tank experience, but even the realistic battles deliver plenty of tension and tactical depth. However, the game’s free-to-play structure is often criticized for its grind-heavy progression and monetization mechanics.

For players looking for accessible tank combat with depth and frequent updates, War Thunder is still one of the most active and engaging options on the market.

4. World of Tanks

World of Tanks is a fast-paced, team-based tank shooter developed by Wargaming and released in 2010. While not a simulator in the traditional sense, it remains one of the most played armored combat games in the world, offering a polished and accessible experience that still draws millions of players in 2025.

Gameplay centers around 15v15 multiplayer battles using mid-20th century tanks from nations like the USA, USSR, Germany, and more. Each tank falls into one of five classes—light, medium, heavy, tank destroyer, or self-propelled gun—each with distinct roles and mechanics. The focus is on positioning, map knowledge, and coordination rather than detailed simulation. While there are no crew roles to manage or complex systems like sight modeling, the armor and damage mechanics are more nuanced than they appear at first glance, with angle-based penetration, module damage, and critical hits playing a key role in fights.

The game is free-to-play with optional premium upgrades, though its monetization and grind can be frustrating for newcomers. That said, it offers one of the smoothest and most action-focused entries into tank gaming.

5. Tank Crew: Clash at Prokhorovka

Tank Crew: Clash at Prokhorovka is a World War II tank simulator developed by 1C Game Studios in collaboration with Digital Forms. Released as part of the IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles series, it takes the engine of a well-established flight sim and adapts it into a fully realized ground warfare experience. Despite its origin as a flight sim platform, the transition to tanks is surprisingly successful, offering deep realism, detailed modeling, and large-scale battles.

The game features ten historically accurate tanks from the Battle of Kursk, including the T-34-76, Tiger I, Panther, and Sherman. Interiors are meticulously modeled down to each gauge and crank, with damage systems that reflect real-world vulnerabilities. Crew roles matter, losing a loader slows down your fire rate, and as commander, you can issue orders to your platoon across both single and multiplayer missions. Every tank feels different, with noticeable variations in optics, handling, and ballistic performance.

Tank Crew includes scripted campaigns, standalone missions, and full multiplayer integration with IL-2 maps, complete with air support and dynamic frontlines. Though the visuals are slightly behind more modern games, the scale and authenticity of combat make it one of the most immersive WWII tank sims available in 2025.

6. Multi Turret Academy

Multi Turret Academy is a quirky top-down tank action game developed by indie studio Scarlet Academy and released in Early Access on January 18, 2024. It combines roguelike gameplay, arcade-style shooting, and an unapologetically anime-inspired aesthetic, offering a light-hearted twist on the World War II tank genre. While most tank games lean serious or simulation-heavy, this one trades realism for charm, featuring Soviet catgirls, pineapple-based currency, and an irreverent tone that recalls Command & Conquer: Red Alert at its silliest.

Players command a wide range of historical Axis and Allied tanks (92 in total) including rarely seen multi-turret variants. Missions are short and varied, with objectives ranging from full-on assaults to stealth-based survival. After each run, players choose from a set of upgrades, such as new tank parts or crew members with unique skills. The game also includes customization, re-roll mechanics, and accessible keyboard and mouse controls that still deliver a satisfying sense of vehicle weight.

Though still in development, Multi Turret Academy has received “Very Positive” reviews on Steam. With a growing player base and an active roadmap promising more tanks, maps, and bosses, it’s one of the most offbeat yet promising tank games to keep an eye on. 

7. Pocket Tanks

Pocket Tanks is a classic artillery game developed by Michael P. Welch that first launched in 2001 and continues to entertain over two decades later. Still available on PC, Mac, and mobile platforms in both free and deluxe versions, the game embraces chaos and comedy over balance and competition. In a time when most multiplayer games lean into optimization and skill ceilings, Pocket Tanks stands out by making fun the true objective.

The gameplay is simple: two players take turns launching weapons at each other across a destructible 2D landscape. You control shot angle and power, and your tank can move slightly. Instead of eliminating your opponent outright, each round ends after ten turns, and the player with the highest score wins. What truly defines Pocket Tanks, however, is its absurd arsenal. With over 400 weapons, ranging from Sniper Cannons and Magic Beans to Tunnel Bores and Flea Circuses, most are unbalanced, unpredictable, and intentionally ridiculous.

That imbalance is part of the magic. The weapons' strange effects and cartoonish chaos create laugh-out-loud moments, especially when played locally with friends. Whether you're burying someone in dirt or accidentally nuking yourself, Pocket Tanks remains one of the most joyfully unserious tank games you can still play in 2025.