Looking for the best real time strategy games?
The feeling of being a commander, guiding your troops through hell and back to obtain the sweet victory. The disappointment when, after doing everything you could, you still get outsmarted by the enemy. The satisfaction after a long campaign full of blood and glory. If you’ve played Warcraft or Age of Empires before, you know these feelings, and you probably love Real Time Strategy games.
No videogame genre is more synonymous with PC than RTS. It’s been around for more than 30 years, and while, during that time a lot of things have changed, what drives us to these games remains the same. We want to be the best in the battlefield and show that nothing will stop our ability to strategize and beat challenges.
A lot of the best titles in the history of gaming come from this timeless genre, and that’s why I’m counting down the best of them.
Let’s begin!
Sega’s Herzog Zwei: the first RTS
25. Total War: Arena
Total War: Arena Cinematic Trailer
Creative Assembly is one of the biggest developers in the RTS world, being responsible for the massively popular Total War series, that’s been around since 2000. As of late, however, the once small studio has been expanding internationally and experimenting with the Total War formula, giving as a result games like Arena.
Total War: Arena is a free-to-play online strategy game in which you take control of historical civilizations and go to war in multiplayer matches with up to 10 people. Your objective is to eliminate other players in 15-minute games. The result is a chaotic, exhilarating experience that ought to keep you playing for hours. Prepare for battle in this fun experience that you can’t miss out.
Massive wars with up to 10 players
Don’t be a Roman, be a star
24. Ultimate General: Civil War
Ultimate General Cinematic Trailer
The Ultimate General: Civil War is the second in the Ultimate General franchise, a series of strategy games, developed by Game-Labs (a company from Ukraine, of all places), that focuses on accurately portraying the United States during the years of the Civil War.
Recreate some of the biggest battles in this period of American history. Assume the role of the confederacy or the union. Defeat your enemies in a fantastic campaign mode with an easy to understand user interface. Upgrade your weapons and army to engage in long clashes that will make you lose track of time.
Ultimate General has become one of the best in the field of historically accurate strategy games, and for that, it gets a spot on this list.
Change the course of American history
Participate in the best recreation of the Civil War put into videogame form
23. Ancestors Legacy
Ancestors Legacy Launch Trailer
From the American Civil war, we’re going back to the middle ages with this next entry. Developed by Destructive Creations, Ancestors Legacy is a 2018 strategy game with a heavy emphasis on tactics, that aims to depict some of the most important moments in European history.
Choose from a group of four historical groups (Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, Germans and Slavs) and set on your quest to conquer Europe. Build camps, troops and put your brain to good use to win battles. Factors like environment, unit morale and special abilities will keep you guessing in this challenging experience. Play the campaign mode and make others fear your unstoppable empire.
Ancestors Legacy is a fun experience, if you like crushing your enemies and the middle ages, this one’s for you.
Fight alongside some of the biggest figures from the middle ages
Use everything in your power to destroy rival groups
22. Northgard
Northgard Cinematic Trailer
Let’s talk about Vikings for a minute. Vikings are probably one of the most famous cultures in the history of humanity, known for their strength and bravery on the battle field and still revered by many today. If what you want is to try a Viking adventure, look no further than Northgard.
Released through Steam Early Access, and developed by Shiro Games, Northgard is a base-building strategy game starring Vikings. Choose one out of four different tribes with distinct abilities and playstyles. Survive the long cold winters, wild animals and other tribes. Keep your people happy and discover new technologies in a game that takes the investigation elements from Civilization and applies it to the RTS genre.
Of course, for the peace lovers, war is not the only way to win matches. Become a cultural or economic force and get ready to dominate your friends online in this fun Viking game.
Experience what it’s like to be a Viking… You know, without the whole “dying in a brutal war” part
Terrorize enemy settlements
21. They Are Billions
They are Billions Update Trailer
Another Early Access triumph, They Are Billions is a strategy game set in a post-apocalyptic planet with steampunk elements, that emphasizes survival like few on this list. It was released by Numantian Games in 2018 and in it, you play as a small civilization that’s being attacked by a zombie horde.
Your only way to survive is by expanding and creating units to defend you for 100 days. From the moment the game starts zombies are coming your way, with more waves on their way to destroy you. Choose from five types of maps with roguelike elements that will make every playthrough feel different.
Strategize to the best of your abilities as every wave is more terrifying than the last. Prepare to die and have fun in this fantastic game.
This game is what a zombie apocalypse should actually look like
Why shoot a zombie in the head, when you can kill it with a Mech?
20. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
Dawn of War 2 Cinematic Trailer
Developed by Relic, Dawn of War 2 is a different kind of RTS. First, it takes place on the immensely popular Warhammer 40K universe, which already makes it essential for any fan of the long-running franchise. Second, it makes important choices to differentiate itself from every other RTS.
In Dawn of War 2, you won’t build a base, as you begin every match with a set number of units, your goal is to keep them alive and beat your enemies. Customization is a strong aspect of this game, change your characters’ looks, abilities and power levels in a fun game with a lot of gore.
Choose from different races from the Warhammer universe and play a campaign mode that will keep going whether you win or lose. A redesign of the RTS genre, Dawn of War 2 is not only for Warhammer fans, but for RTS fans looking for a different experience.
Prepare for the gore!
Killing stuff has never been so fun
19.AirMech Strike
AirMech VR Trailer
Let’s take it back to Free-to-Play games with Carbon Games’ AirMech, released in March 2018. This game puts you in control of a fleet of Transformer-like robots, as you try to defeat other mechs.
Managing to perfectly combine MOBA elements in an RTS setting, level up your mech and control units to capture enemy bases. Filled with vibrant colors and running at a break-neck pace, matches are short and never overstay their welcome. With PvP options, get ready to play with and against friends. This is a fun game if you like League of Legends or Dota.
If you’re looking for fun matches at the low-low price of $0, this game might be just for you.
The definition of short and sweet
If only all mechs were this fun
18. Wargame: Red Dragon
Wargame Launch Trailer
Eugen Systems is a French game developer that has been involved in more RTS games than you’d imagine. They’ve been in the scene for 18 years now, giving us amazing franchises like Wargame, of which Red Dragon is their best game to date.
Wargame: Red Dragon is a strategy game with an emphasis on deck-building. With 21 nations eligible and 1900 units, your task is not to create a base, but to prepare a winning deck of units to be deployed during a match. The point of the game is to capture deployment zones.
If you like the combination of classical RTS games and Yu-Gi Oh! This is a game for you.
The sheer numbers of units should be enough to pique your interest
Chaos comes quickly in this fantastic RTS
17. Total War: Warhammer II
Total War: Warhammer II Announcement Trailer
What happens when you combine one of the most famous series in the RTS genre with a behemoth fantasy franchise? You get Total War: Warhammer. Developed by Creative Assembly in 2017, it takes the famous races from the universe of Warhammer 40K and puts it at odds with each other using the Total War Formula.
Choose from a list of 5 races, with different looks, playstyles, abilities and even personalities that drastically change how you play. Enjoy the campaign mode, full of drama, fantastic characters and amazing writing, where your objective is to perform rituals and impede your enemies from performing them first. Online mode is always fun, and if you own the first game, you’ll be able to choose all the races it featured.
This is both the best W40K and Total War game, so don’t miss out on it.
War never changes, but it’s a thousand times better with a dragon
Epic battles are just another Tuesday in the W40K universe
16. Age of Empires II HD Edition
Age of Empires II HD Trailer
Age of Empires has acquired an iconic status since it was released in 1999 (almost 20 years ago as of the time of this writing… You can start to feel old now). We’ve all seen the memes (if not, you’re missing out), seen the videos, and basically, we’ve all played this game by now.
However, the truth is that despite being as old as most college kids, Age of Empires is still a fantastic game.
A small taste of the meme madness that is this game
This is the bar by which every other RTS is measured. Choose from a list of historic civilizations (each with different units) and wage war against anyone who dares get in your way. Play the campaign mode, based on real historic events (like Joan de Arc). Gameplay is easy to understand, and will satisfy even the most hard-core RTS fan. With the Remastered Edition out now, you have no excuse not to play this game.
Not even castles will be a match for your fierce army
With an updated look and revitalized gameplay
15. Company of Heroes 2
Company of Heroes 2 Cinematic Trailer
After the revolutionary punch in the face of RTS that was the first Company of Heroes, Relic had set high expectations for a sequel to their game about Mother Russia in WW2. In comes Company of Heroes 2, a game that’s just as brutal, dire and challenging as its predecessor, while adding a few changes to make it much better.
CoH 2 is grittier than your usual RTS, as few of them capture the hardships of war in such depressing fashion. However, this is not a criticism, as every decision you take feels like a life or death matter, and sometimes, losing the battle means winning the war.
The campaign and online mode are varied, and deep, environmental factors play key roles on matches (units can die from the cold, for example). You also get The Theater of War mode, full of bigger challenges that will test you greatly. Company of Heroes 2 lives up to the hype of the original and delivers another fantastic entry into this list.
Give your life to the cause and help the Motherland come out victorious
The gritty gameplay makes every unit count
14. Age of Mythology
Age of Mythology Cinematic Trailer
Let’s ask another question. Take the existing formula of a well-beloved RTS franchise and put mythological creatures in it, what do you get? Well, if you haven’t guessed by the title (which, why wouldn’t you? It’s… there), we’re talking about Age of Mythology.
While it’s nothing more than a version of AoE with a couple of gods thrown in for good measure, it’s the best version of that you could hope for. It has better graphics, minor tweaks to smooth things out, and Krakens (always a plus). Again, there’s not much to say about this game other than, if you haven’t, go out of your way and play it.
Who needs realism when you can see a fight between Zeus and Anubis
Beware of the Mighty Titan
Bonus 1: Age of Empires IV
Age of Empires IV Announce Trailer
While we may not have about it beyond the fact that it’s happening, there are a lot of reasons to get excited for a new Age of Empires game.
First, Relic is at the helm of the project, and with such amazing titles as Homeworld and Company of Heroes around their belt, it’s intriguing to see what they’ll do for the franchise. Then, there’s the fact that this will be the first original title in the series since 2005 (yikes). Despite its lack of release date as of the time of this writing, this game should have you excited.
Bonus 2: Iron Harvest
Iron Harvest Cinematic Trailer
Kickstarter campaigns are tricky things to pull off, most of the games funded through the system end up being busts, with a minority ending in a high-quality product. So, while I am a bit skeptical of the project, it’s also difficult not to get excited with what has been showed by the developers of The Dwarves, King Art Games.
Iron Harvest is an upcoming RTS set in a steampunk world, that according to King Art will favor tactics over action, with player freedom being a key word used in their marketing. So far, images and gameplay look fantastic, and the places King Art could take this game are genuinely intriguing. Hopefully they’ll be able to deliver on their promises come release date in 2018.
Bonus 3: Anno 1800
Anno 1800 Cinematic Trailer
Lastly, let’s talk about Anno, the Ubisoft city builder with strategy elements. The series usually set in the future will return after Anno 2205 (2015). We’ll be taken to the past for the first time since 2009, specifically, to the beginning of the industrial age.
With only a trailer, plus multiplayer and campaign mode, there’s not a lot of information out there. However, that’s enough to keep us interested for now, and we hope this year’s Anno 2205 will be the best yet.
13. Supreme Commander 2
Supreme Commander 2 Cinematic Trailer
Supreme Commander 2 is a sequel that has nothing in common with its predecessor. While the latter was complex to the point of exhaustion, the former ditched all of that for a more streamlined approach that, most often than not, delivers a fantastic gaming experience.
Take your skills to the Supreme Commander universe, where chaotic mech battles are happening all around you. Upgrade your units and progress through time to unlock more. Online mode is the nitty-gritty of this game, as you’ll challenge another player in skill testing battles with a Rock, Paper, Scissors damage system. Supreme Commander 2 surpasses the original in terms of fun, don’t you want to be a part of it?
How could you say no to any game with this amount of Mechs?
That’s probably going to leave a mark
12. Stronghold Crusader
Stronghold Crusader HD Trailer
Another classic game, this time from 2002, Stronghold Commander is Age of Empire’s cousin who is a bit smarter and really into castles.
The point of the game is simple, build a castle, defend it; find other castles, destroy them. However, this is a lot more complex than it looks, as managing resources complicates things a fair bit. Plan your attacks carefully and don’t forget to defend your own castle in this magnificent classic. With updated graphics and hours of content, this is an older game that doesn’t lose its charm.
Feel like a true King and conquer other realms
The original Castle Crashers
11. Homeworld Remastered
Homeworld Remastered Cinematic Trailer
For this entry, we look at 2 games for the price of one, with Homeworld Remastered. Created by Relic and featuring some of the most beautiful space landscapes ever put into a videogame, the Homeworld franchise lets you take control of a star fleet and blast your way through space searching for answers.
Both games have outstanding campaign modes with gripping stories and the graphics have been completely updated, leaving you with a game that looks just as great as any major release coming out today. The gameplay and space battles are as fun as ever and an online mode will keep you coming back after the campaign. All in all, this remastered edition improves on the original in many ways, it’s worth a try if you haven’t by now.
Take a look at the vastness of space and marble with the updates made to this timeless classic
The closest to a Star Wars space battle you’ll see in a game
10. Sins of a Solar Empire
Sins of a Solar Empire Cinematic Trailer
Trying to sell a strategy game without a story mode can be difficult, since you’ll need to make every other aspect of your product shine on its own. That’s what Sins of a Solar Empire did fantastically.
Another game set in space, SoSE tries to combine elements of 4X strategy games with RTS space games, creating a gaming experience that’s faster than other 4X games while maintaining the complex elements from the genre intact.ou begin your game with one single planet that you’ll hope to turn into many after conquering the entire galaxy. With 3 different races to play, unit progression systems and an online multiplayer, this game shows that it doesn’t need a campaign to keep people interested.
The most complex space battles await you
With unique spaceship and graphic design that will leave you at awe
9. Ashes of the Singularity
Ashes of the Singularity Gameplay Trailer
Ashes of the Singularity understands the complexity of strategy games like few of its contemporaries. In a game where you play as either a post-human species or an alien AI, it’s only fitting that this is an exercise of strategic thinking and planning.
Battles are long and difficult, but never dull. While there can be hundreds of units on screen at any given time, things don’t get confusing, thanks to smart and distinct unit design. Playing against other people is challenging and fun, and the smallest mistake can cost you the victory at any point in the match.
Thanks to a lot of attention to detail, Ashes of the Singularity is a complex game that’s hard to understand but rewarding like no other.
Prepare for challenging gameplay that will test you
Fantastic graphics and scenery set what will be a fantastic experience
8. Dungeons 3
Dungeons 3 Cinematic Trailer
The Dungeon Keeper franchise has been down in the dumps for a couple of years now, this once great franchise doesn’t seem to catch a break from the bad publicity and horrible games that come its way. However, the latest iteration of this behemoth is easily the best in quite some time.
In the Dungeon Keeper franchise (and by extension, Dungeons 3), you are the bad guy. You live in dungeons underground and your objective is to destroy the surface world by expanding your base and gaining more power. Keep humans away while also trying to steal from them to get more resources.
The campaign mode is the best in any dungeon keeper game, full of funny dialogue with a fun story. It also contains a co-op mode for maximum group fun. This is not only the best dungeon keeper in quite some time, but also one of the best strategy games out there.
The campaign is narrated by the guy from The Stanley Parable, and it’s glorious
Don’t let those pesky humans get in the way of your evil doing
7. Act of Aggression
Act of Aggression Gameplay Trailer
Eugen Systems makes its way back to the list with Act of Aggression, a fast-paced challenging strategy game with an emphasis on online, competitive gameplay.
With three different factions and a small campaign mode, Act of Aggression is difficult to learn, impossible to master, and yet, incredibly fun. If you’re a hard-core fan who’s tired of the easier games, this might be one for you.
Modern war games pale in comparison with act of aggression’s difficulty
Tank duels are common a feature
6. Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne
Warcraft 3 Cinematic Trailer
The game that spawned a world-wide phenomenon, Blizzard’s Warcraft redefined the RTS genre in a way that has yet to be matched or forgotten.
Combining fantasy, clever gaming mechanics and fantastic characters in a world that feels alive, experience the campaign mode that was the precursor to World of Warcraft. With hours and hours of content (including four new campaigns in the expansion).
Different races with abilities to match them, hero units that are fun to play with and compelling characters. Satisfying gameplay that will have you wanting to come back as soon as you leave your computer. Warcraft and its expansions probably have more content than you’ll ever get to play, so you should starts playing right now.
A game so good, it changed the face of videogames forever
Every character feels fleshed out by amazing, witty writing
5. Warshift
Warshift Cinematic Trailer
Seamlessly combining RTS, FPS, RPG and MOBA elements together, this Frankenstein of a game plays and looks amazing.
Take control of a fleet of spaceships, as the last hope for humans during an alien invasion. On the surface is just a MOBA-inspired defense tower game. However, you’ll soon realize there’s a lot more to it than that. You control units like an RTS game, but your main unit is controlled by you in first person. Upgrade and customize your units in RPG fashion and destroy your enemy in this fun game. There’s nothing like this out there, and the fact it was build by one guy is mind-blowing, so don’t let it slip passed you and try it.
Destroy alien invaders with the might of your fleet
This type of genre-melding action is probably the future of gaming
4. Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation Cinematic Trailer
If AoE is credited with polishing genre conventions up to that point to create a fantastic game, then Total Annihilation should be revered as the game that pioneered said conventions and the reason RTS looks the way it does nowadays.
Everything from online matches to simply selecting and directing your units appeared first in Total Annihilation. The top-down view helped with the strategic planning and everything this game did right, was soon copied in other games. I’m a big proponent of knowing the greats that made things possible, and I believe this is a game everyone should play at least once.
The game that defined the modern RTS
While not incredibly pleasing to the eye, Total Annihilation is still one of the most fun strategy games out there
3. Steel Division: Normandy 44
Steel Division: Normandy 44 Release Trailer
For Eugen Systems’ third, and last, entry into this list, I’ve chosen their newest game (at the time of this writing), where they take us back to their native France for a piece of World War II.
Steel Division: Normandy 44 places you at the control of real-life units that fought during the war. Like Red Dragon, it emphasizes deck-building, with 18 different factions, you prepare units before entering a match. Win conditions are simple, you either control the map or destroy the enemy, with options to play up to 10v.10 players at a time, the replay and fun factors are immense.
This feels like the natural progression of Wargame, with incredible attention to detail and fun gameplay Steel Division earns its spot on this list.
Conquer the map and beat your enemies
Customize your units. Just look at that tank!
2. Men of War: Assault Squad 2
Men of War: Assault Squad 2 Cinematic Trailer
For number two in this list, we need to look at Digitalmindsoft’s Men of War series that’s being going for almost 10 years. This fantastically underrated series based on world war II has quietly garnered a following in recent years, and 2014 Assault Squad 2 is the best of the bunch.
Focused on squads rather than armies, Assault Squad 2 feels like a more intimate game. A company of Heroes-like approach makes choices a focus, as your squads are limited to just a couple of units. The stakes are high, and every loss is felt through the rest of the mission.
Play as the most important members of WWII, from Germany to America. A multiplayer mode completes the game, with challenging difficulties and a steep learning curve, Assault Squad 2 should get more recognition than it currently does, and for that it gets this spot.
Create a sense of camaraderie between you and your units
Prepare to reenact some of WWII biggest moments
1. Starcraft 2
Starcraft 2 Cinematic Trailer
While Blizzard’s Warcraft is more famous because of what it spawned, Starcraft once became the biggest videogame in the world by being the best RTS to ever come out.
Like any Blizzard game, Starcraft contains hundreds of hours just in the campaign mode, with the usual fantastic writing, characters and storylines we’ve come to expect from them. However, what makes Starcraft so great is the online multiplayer, that will keep you hooked for months. With in-depth tutorials and ranking system that perfectly matches you with players at your level, you will want to get better at this game.
The gameplay mechanics introduced in Warcraft are perfected. The scale is epic, as you choose from 3 races with their own heroes and villains in the campaign, plus all the downloadable content that only adds to this fantastic experience. To cap it all off, Blizzard has released part of the game as a free download, so you literally have no excuse. You must do yourself a favor and try this game, which is the best RTS to play today.
Get deeper into the world of Starcraft and its neon colors
Conquer the Galaxy in the best RTS experience ever
Well, that’s just my opinion. As always, now it’s up to you. Tell me your favorite RTS in the comments below.
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