Nickel?based superalloys, as typical difficult?to?machine materials, are widely used in aerospace engines, chemicals, ships, and other fields. To meet the special working conditions requirements of the aero?engines, and further improve the surface machining quality and processing efficiency, relevant researchers have carried out many theoretical studies and process explorations. The development of nickel?based single crystal superalloys and polycrystalline superalloys, and their material properties were firstly reviewed. Then the main research results of domestic and overseas scholars on the grinding removal mechanism, grinding surface integrity, and process characteristics of nickel?based superalloys were summarized, and their development trends are prospected.