Recs.
Updated
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro Several playable vehicle types in combined battles
You can play with biplanes, propeller airplanes, early jets, supersonic jets, helicopters, armored cars, tanks, and several classes of ship types ranging from small speedboats to cruisers. They are also used in combined battles, being the only game so far that lets tanks, aircraft and ships play together.
Pro Awesome Graphics
It has better graphics than most simulators to date. It uses a high polygon count, even for far away models, it has excellent physics and features like dynamic weather generation.
At max setting, the game's polygon count put it in the same tier as the latest Battlefield game, while the physics are more unique since the engine accurately simulates ricochet of each bullet over very long distances and also draws ricochet against liquid surfaces like water or mud, and most buildings are at least partially destructible. The drawing of moist surfaces is almost photorealistic, and its proprietary Dagor graphics engine is updated regularly with the game itself.
Some of them come close graphics-wise, like the latest Il-2 Sturmovik, or the latest DCS but Warthunder is still better in this regard.
Check this side by side comparison against World of Tanks,
and this one against World of Warplanes,
and this comparison against Il2 Sturmovik.
Here is a video showing Warthunder's graphics at max setting.
and a video showing mud effects
Pro It can be an extremely complex simulation for advanced users
In summary: This is not a hardcore simulator like DCS, which recreates almost a picture perfect copy of the flight simulator model for each aircraft, but War Thunder has everything for everyone. That is its aim: to appeal to each type of vehicle combat games player.
Or, those who prefer to watch a video summary: watch this.
There are 3 game modes. Arcade, Realistic and Simulator.
Arcade mode has no physics or detailed damage registering at all. This mode does not differ much from your favorite console shooter.
Realistic mode is meant to provide a challenge without scaring away the regular players: Vehicle damage has consequences on the overall functioning of the vehicle, for example an airplane engine that's leaking oil will eventually overheat and die, but there are a lot of things that the player can do to prolong engine failure. Damage is registered modularly inside the vehicles. Also the flight model has a great deal of physics, for example: in planes, wings break apart if you turn with too many Gs, inertia is now a thing, and you can control the inner workings of your engine like the supercharger, the fuel/air mixture and the propeller pitch.
On simulator mode, airplane engines' RPMs become a factor, and you get access to even more advanced engine functions. Planes can enter unrecoverable stall/spins, like a flat spin for example, and wind and temperature affect the aircraft as well. Roll inertia is a thing, and engines can suffer stress from continued high RPMs.