10 Best Real-Time Strategy Games

There are several excellent games in the real-time strategy subgenre that have won the hearts of their players. Metacritic highlights the most highly regarded ones.

Strategy game lovers have a lot to look forward to in 2022, what with the release of Total War: Warhammer III earlier this year and the upcoming release of Company of Heroes 3 by Relic Entertainment. Some of the most taxing and time-consuming games to play are real-time strategy titles, which often have intricate user interfaces and a plethora of gameplay features, all of which occur simultaneously.

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1. Command & Conquer (1995) — 94

Even though it was released in the early to mid-nineties, Command & Conquer is still widely regarded as the best real-time strategy game of all time. In an alternative timeline version of history, the Brotherhood of Nod, a sinister sect, and the Global Defense Initiative (GDI) are at odds over who will rule the planet.

Old and new RTS gamers alike will recognise the gameplay’s focus on amassing Tiberium for use in constructing bases and training armies. Although it lacks the breadth and richness of more recent products, it is nevertheless one of the most fun strategy games because to its original live-action cutscenes.

2. Anomaly: Warzone Earth (2011) — 94

The fact that Anomaly: Warzone Earth for iOS is one of the highest-rated games is all the more remarkable given the dominance of PC games in the category. In this unique twist on the tower defence genre, the player engages in dynamic real-time strategic combat against alien invaders to reclaim the world’s key cities.

Top-down viewing may take some getting accustomed to, but the game’s visuals are amazing and the offensive action is great fun. Anomaly: Warzone Earth has shown itself worthy of a spot among the top real-time strategy games with a Metacritic score of 94.

3. Company of Heroes (2006) — 93

Company of Heroes, released in 2006, is Relic Entertainment’s highest-rated game to date and a shining example of the genre’s potential. Because a brand new instalment in the series is being released this year, now is the perfect moment to re-experience the finest strategy game of the mid-2000s.

Company of Heroes, which was also set during World War II, revolutionised the genre by adding a degree of immersion and dramatic intensity not seen in other games of its kind. The game stands up fairly well considering the game’s realistic mechanics and destructible environment, as well as the complexity of the story.

4. Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty (2010) — 93

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is the foundation upon which subsequent expansions have been built, and the successor to the 1998 original Starcraft. Starcraft II’s competitive environment has thrived for a long time, which is a tribute to the game’s considerable complexity.

Wings of Liberty centres on the Terrans, although the game’s previous instalments centred on the Zerg and the Protoss. It’s still an RTS classic with a science fiction storyline that may be testing the skills of seasoned players. Not only is Starcraft II still highly recommended, but so is Wings of Liberty, another free-to-play MOBA. Comprehensive game development courses will enhance your knowledge.

5. Homeworld (1999) — 93

Homeworld, the first of what would become another popular series for creator Relic Entertainment, won over gamers with its unique and interesting tale, as well as its frantic gameplay that made use of the real-time feature to put the player under genuine strain. Set in space, much like the Starcraft series, Homeworld tasks players with designing, constructing, and commanding their own spaceships for use in battle.

The plot design alone makes the game worth playing, but the gameplay is extremely interesting and challenges the player’s tactical abilities, particularly in the multiplayer games when players fight to destroy the other’s mothership. Homeworld is not only highly regarded as an RTS game, but it was also named the best PC game of 1999 by Metacritic.

6. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (2002) — 92

Warcraft III was published only two years before Blizzard developed their flagship massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft. With the introduction of a new adversary seeking to take over Azeroth with an army of the undead, the high fantasy strategy game changed the series away from the classic battle between humans and orcs.

The gameplay was largely based on what made the first game so popular, but with some additional twists, such as the addition of creeps, artificial intelligence units who are hostile to all players. There are four separate factions available for control in this game, and each has its own special troops and benefits. After receiving high marks from critics, the game’s popularity has continued to grow.

7. Sid Meier’s Gettysburg! (1997) — 92

On a long time now, having Sid Meier’s name attached to a strategy game has nearly ensured its popularity; Sid Meier’s Gettysburg! for the PC is just one example. The Civilization series propelled the company to the top of the strategy game industry, but other titles, such as Gettysburg!, also contributed to its rise to prominence.

Set during the American Civil War, the game allows the player to assume command of either Union or Confederate forces for either a single fight or an entire campaign. In addition to its widespread acclaim at release, the game’s online features received praise for how effectively they were released in comparison to other games of their time.

8. Rome: Total War (2004) — 92

While many real-time strategy games from that period have faded into oblivion, Rome: Total War’s updated version was launched last year to demonstrate the game’s lasting popularity and appeal. It also boasts the most critical praise of any game in the legendary Total War series, making it the finest of the series.

Those who like real-time strategy games and have a keen interest in the Roman Empire will get a lot out of this title. There are other paths to become Emperor of Rome in this game, but ultimately the goal is to utilise strategy to consolidate power over the city-50 state’s provinces. As a strategy game, it stands up remarkably well, and the remaster is right up there with Age of Empires IV.

9. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (1999) — 92

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, the sequel to the enduringly successful Age of Empires, raised the bar so high that all subsequent games in the series had to meet it or fall short. Age of Empires II was a landmark real-time strategy game of the 1990s, and for good reason: it included not one but five distinct campaigns, as well as both single- and multiplayer-focused gameplay.

The game takes place in the Middle Ages, and the player may choose from among 13 distinct civilisations. The goal of the game is to defeat challenging enemy forces by amassing resources, constructing cities, and training sufficient soldiers to do so. Age of Empires II is one of the best real-time strategy games available, and it also has the highest Metacritic score of the Age of Empires titles.

10. Myth: The Fallen Lords (1997) — 92

Myth: The Fallen Lords, created by Bungie in 1997, was groundbreaking due to its incorporation of real-time strategy gameplay into a full 3D world. This was many years before the studio’s extraordinary success with Halo. The game included many multiplayer modes that pitted players against one another in an unique matchmaking mechanism.

Single-player mode tasks the player with completing goals, most of which require defeating an opponent army that is far bigger than their own, and follows the story of great sorcerers fighting the evil forces commanded by the eponymous Fallen Lords for possession of a fabled country.

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