Industrial boilers play an important role in energy and manufacturing process sectors, where proficient combustion is critical for improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental emissions. However, fixed parameter control systems are often ineffective in meeting dynamic operating conditions. This review paper presents advanced combustion control strategies with special reference to real-time analysis of flue gases. The review paper compares conventional combustion control strategies, such as PID and cross-limited control, with advanced strategies, including model predictive control, adaptive control, and artificial intelligence. The review also presents the importance of flue gas analyzers in monitoring critical parameters such as O₂, CO₂, CO, and NOx, which can be employed for real-time optimization. The review paper also presents recent developments, gaps, and future directions for the development of intelligent combustion control systems.