Coastal is more fun than Bluewater. Change my mind.
I've been playing War Thunder on and off for years. I played Naval back in 2023, took a long break, and recently came back.
One thing I still can't understand is why Bluewater is so much more popular than Coastal.
To me, Coastal feels far more engaging.
- Fast-paced gameplay.
- Constant maneuvering.
- Ambushes around islands.
- Situational awareness actually matters, almost like Ground RB. You constantly have to check your surroundings instead of just looking straight ahead.
- Every engagement feels different.
Bluewater, from my limited experience so far, feels much slower. I know there's more depth to armor, shell types and positioning. Torpedoes also seem far more impactful there, since destroyers and cruisers can't evade them as easily as fast Coastal boats. I'm genuinely curious what keeps veteran Bluewater players hooked for thousands of matches.
So here's my challenge:
If you've been playing Bluewater for a long time, convince me.
Why do you prefer it over Coastal?
What am I missing?
One thing I did notice after coming back is that the aiming system has changed. Back in 2023, I felt like I was fighting the waves as much as I was fighting enemy ships.
But... Naval Arcade?
I honestly think they completely ruined it.
The old Arcade still required you to read your target, adjust your aim and understand naval gunnery. It was more accessible than Realistic, but it still rewarded skill.
Now it feels completely dumbed down.
The aiming assistance does so much work that, for me, it removed most of the satisfaction of landing shots.
I switched to Realistic Battles immediately and haven't looked back.
Realistic now feels like the only mode where your gunnery skills actually matter.
Am I the only one who feels this way?