In order to improve the service life of nickel-based single crystal blades and solve the key technology of aeroengine turbine and gas turbine, domestic and overseas researchers carried out a large number of research on the failure and damage mechanism of nickel-based single crystal superalloys under service conditions in recent years. The research achievements and progress of fatigue, creep and thermomechanical fatigue damage mechanism of nickel-based single crystal superalloys under service conditions were concluded. In addition, in view of the time and cost increase caused by a large number of experiments, the research works and achievements in life prediction methods of nickel-based single crystal superalloys in recent years were summarized, and the difficulties and challenges in life evaluation and failure analysis of nickel-based single crystal superalloys were proposed.