Highlights

  • StarCraft's success lies in its versatile genres like WW2, fantasy, and sci-fi.
  • Mobile devices now host sophisticated RTS games that were once only for PCs.
  • The resurgence of the RTS genre is credited to great titles from the 90s inspiring games like StarCraft.

The success of the real-time strategy genre has been a cornerstone of PC gaming for decades. Its versatility is part of the secret to its success; the genre has seen WW2 shooters, mythical battles, and historic events. Another popular type of RTS game is futuristic science-fiction, a category that has been dominated by Blizzard Entertainment's StarCraft series.

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The original game, StarCraft, won a multitude of awards upon its launch, including Strategy Game Of The Year by GameSpot and Real-Time Strategy Game Of The Year by PC Gamer. The excitement surrounding StarCraft 2 was one of the more memorable events in gaming history, and the sequel is one of the highest-rated games on Metacritic. For those who love Blizzard's signature RTS game but want a change of scene, there are plenty of choices for games like StarCraft.

Updated on Match 10, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: Mobile devices have also evolved to accommodate RTS games, and not just simple or basic ones, but the more sophisticated games that were previously only for laptops and desktops. This trend continues with a new generation of gamers enjoying simulation or civilization-building games in an era of MMOs and VR. Part of the resurgence of the RTS genre is due to how great these things look on big screens with equally impressive sound and graphics. The great titles that started the ongoing RTS trend that continues today came out in the 1990s and had something to do with inspiring games like StarCraft.

24 Ashes Of The Singularity (2016)

Thousands Of Units And Giant Maps

ashes of the singularity: escalation screenshot
Ashes of the Singularity

Developer(s)
Stardock Entertainment , Oxide Games
Publisher(s)
Stardock Entertainment
Released
March 31, 2016
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

Ashes of the Singularity was released by Stardock Entertainment, the team behind the Sins of a Solar Empire and Galactic Civilizations franchises. The RTS game differentiates itself from others in the genre by having thousands of units fighting at one time on enormous maps that make the game feel ahead of its time.

The game didn't blow critics away when it was first released, but the Escalation expansion redeemed the game when it was released six months later. The expansion was initially released as a standalone product but has since been merged with the main game.

23 Ancestors Legacy (2018)

Real Events As Part Of A Larger Campaign

Ancestor's Legacy (2018) screenshot battleground and catapult
Ancestors Legacy

Developer(s)
Destructive Creations
Publisher(s)
1C Company
Released
May 22, 2018
Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , Switch
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

Like most RTS games that players can enjoy on a historic or nationwide level, the best features of Ancestors Legacy include a historical setting, famous leaders, and accurate army units and tactics. The regions the player can visit include various points in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, either as part of a single-player campaign or against their friends in multiplayer mode.

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The playable races include Vikings, Slavs, Anglo-Saxons, and a Catholic Order of militant knights called the Teutons. A DLC called Saladin's Conquest includes the Saracens. What sets this game apart from other historic RTS games is the clever use of real events as part of a larger campaign, such as the Viking campaign which uses the raid of Lindisfarne's Monastery as a tutorial.

22 The Great War: Western Front

Realistic World War 1 Strategy

gameplay screenshot from the great war western front
The Great War: Western Front

Developer(s)
Petroglyph Games
Platform(s)
PC
Publisher(s)
Frontier Foundry , Frontier Developments
Released
March 30, 2023

Play as either the Allied Powers of the Americas and Western Europe or the Central Powers of Eastern Europe with The Great War: Western Front. The game includes gathering resources and fight sequences, and in keeping with the historical context, trenches and tanks are an essential part of battlefield management.

The game is designed to be as realistic as possible, so it's ideal for those keen on historical accuracy. On the other hand, this can be frustrating because stalemates were common during this period, and WWI in particular was notorious for it. The result is a long and expensive battle that gets you nowhere, but that's part of the horror of war.

21 Grey Goo (2015)

Distinct Races With Special Powers

Grey Goo screencap from Steam
Grey Goo

Developer(s)
Petroglyph Games
Publisher(s)
Grey Box
Platform(s)
PC
Released
January 23, 2015
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

Grey Goo has a few details in common with StarCraft, such as the science fiction backstory and choice between four different races along with the choice between a single player or a co-op campaign. A distinct addition is that each race has its power or perk, like extra speed or the use of teleportation technology, and players have to find ways to use these specialized abilities to their advantage.

The setting is 500 years into the future when humans have ventured into space and encountered the Beta, a race that is developing a wormhole of sorts to return to space after a long hiatus. Unfortunately, an aggressive alien race comes through to attack them and everything else in the galaxy. Fight them or join them and conquer the stars.

20 Rome: Total War

Another Fan Favorite Of The Genre

Soilders battling in Rome: Total War
Rome: Total War

Franchise
Total War
Platform(s)
PC , Android , iOS
Released
September 22, 2004

There aren't many RTS titles that are as universally known and acclaimed as Starcraft 2, but Rome: Total War is certainly one of them. The game was released almost 20 years ago, yet it's still one of the most enjoyable strategy games to play today that's like StarCraft.

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Rome: Total War wasn't the first Total War game, as both Shogun: Total War and Medieval: Total War came before it. However, the 2004 game is credited with popularizing many of the features that are now synonymous with the iconic Total War franchise.

19 Empire Earth: Gold Edition

Realistic Settings And Historic Events

Empire Earth copper age image
Empire Earth

Developer(s)
Rockstar New England , Activision , Vivendi Universal
Publisher(s)
Activision
Released
January 1, 2007
Platform(s)
Microsoft Windows
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

The original Empire Earth dates from 2001, and it created a franchise that consisted of four other games before an enhanced Gold Edition was released in 2007. It uses realistic settings and historic events to frame the battles, which is typical of some titles in the genre, but this one adds other features that are often in RP games, like a morality system.

This adds to the immersion and makes the player more emotionally involved in the game's outcome. Heroes can take the role of Warrior or Strategist, with one choice relying more on planning and intrigue with the other focused more on fighting and brute force.

18 The Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle-Earth 2

Real-Time Strategy In Middle-earth

battle for middle earth 2 - storming castle walls
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2

Developer
EA Los Angeles
Publisher(s)
EA
Released
March 2, 2006
Platform(s)
PC , Xbox 360
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

A real-time strategy game set in Middle-Earth always sounded like a match made in heaven, so there was a ton of hype when Sierra Entertainment announced that The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring would be released in 2003. The game failed to impress but fans wouldn't have to wait long before the next RTS Middle-Earth game was released, as EA's Battle For Middle-Earth hit stores just over a year later.

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The game was a critical and commercial success, so a sequel was announced shortly after. The Lord of the Rings: Battle For Middle-Earth 2 isn't only beloved for its Middle-earth features as a game like StarCraft but also an excellent RTS in its own right.

17 Total War: Warhammer 2

In-Depth Strategy With A Vast Number of Choices

Total War WARHAMMER II Large battle gameplay
Total War: Warhammer 2

Developer(s)
Creative Assembly
Franchise
Total War
Platform(s)
PC , Linux
Released
September 28, 2017

Much like Battle For Middle-Earth, Total War: Warhammer is the sort of game that fans of the franchise will fantasize about but not expect to see in reality. Total War: Warhammer was released in 2016, and a positive reception meant that work quickly began on a sequel.

Warhammer 2's fantasy themes are far more than just a gimmick. They offer a unique layer of depth and strategy to a game like StarCraft by giving players a vast range of unique units to contend with and control. The third entry is also fantastic and a great conclusion to this trilogy.

16 Rise Of Nations: Extended Edition

Turn-Based Mechanics And Long-Term Strategy

Battle taking place in Rise of Nations
Rise of Nations: Extended Edition

Developer
Big Huge Games, SkyBox Labs
Platform(s)
PC
Released
June 12, 2014
Publisher(s)
Microsoft Studios
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

Rise of Nations was originally released in 2003 by Microsoft Game Studios, which is known today as Xbox Game Studios. The extended edition title was developed by Big Huge Games, which is also known for its work on the 2012 action RPG Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. The game seamlessly incorporates turn-based strategy mechanics like attrition warfare with the RTS genre.

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Rise of Nations piqued the interest of turn-based strategy fans back in the early 2000s, as the game's development team was led by Brian Reynolds, who had previously worked on Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri and Civilization 2.

15 Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

RTS-Style Gameplay In A Variety Of Periods

Age_of_empires_2_gameplay
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

Developer
Forgotten Empires, Tantalus, Wicked Witch
Publisher(s)
Xbox Game Studios
Released
November 14, 2019
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

The Age of Empires series may be set in a completely different period from the StarCraft games, but it deserves a spot on this list nonetheless for being among the best RTS games ever made. Age of Empires 2 perfected the formula that Age of Empires created and revolutionized the RTS genre.

Age of Empires 2 is set in the Middle Ages and focuses on resource management, base building, and unit deployment. In late 2019, The Definitive Edition was released, providing stunning new visuals to the classic game was released. It includes all the game's expansion packs and is the best way to play the classic strategy game.

14 Total War: Attila

Battles Set In Late Antiquity

Battle gameplay from Total War: Attila
Total War: Attila

Developer(s)
Creative Assembly
Publisher(s)
Sega
Released
February 17, 2015
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Strategy , Tactical

Total War: Attila is an ideal choice for those who like realism and historical accuracy in their RTS games. The setting is late Antiquity, about the 4th century CE, a time when classical Rome was giving way to the medieval era. Battles that would decide the fate of Europe and Asia for centuries were fought during this time, and the player can experience some of that turbulent history through this game.

The title is intended to invoke an image of a certain era as opposed to focusing on a certain person. Attila himself doesn't become a playable character until about halfway through the game, but there's still plenty to do until he shows up.

13 Age Of Mythology (2002)

Legend, Myth, And Epic Battles

age_of_mythology_gameplay
Age of Mythology

Developer(s)
Ensemble Studios
Publisher(s)
Microsoft Game Studios
Platform(s)
PC
Released
October 30, 2002
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy , Tactical

As the title implies, the Age of Mythology is an Age of Empires spin-off. The characters offer a fascinating layer of depth to the classic Age of Empires gameplay. Age of Mythology is a fantastic game in its own right and earns a higher spot on this list of games like StarCraft for its fictional setting.

The game focuses on Egyptian, Greek, and Norse mythology and features key mythological figures like Zeus and Ra. It has similar mechanics to Age of Empires, with resource management, base building, and unit deployment again being key to the gameplay.

12 Company Of Heroes

Immersive Graphics, Effects, And Visuals

Company of heroes pc gameplay
Company Of Heroes

Developer(s)
Relic Entertainment
Publisher(s)
THQ
Released
September 12, 2006
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

Relic Entertainment's Company of Heroes is rightly considered to be the best WW2 strategy game with its stellar, engrossing sound effects and visuals. THQ's real-time strategy gem won multiple awards upon release, including IGN's Best Strategy Game award in 2006.

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The gameplay predominantly focuses on controlling victory points. These points are dotted around key central parts of the map and are captured and controlled similarly to the popular domination mode in Call of Duty. There is also an annihilation mode that removes these victory points and simply requires players to destroy all of their opponent's buildings to win.

11 StarFront: Collision (2011)

The Ideal Choice For A Mobile RTS Game

Starfront collision ios gameplay
Starfront: Collision

Developer(s)
Gameloft
Publisher(s)
Gameloft
Platform(s)
Android , iOS
Released
February 17, 2011
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

The gaming industry often looks down on mobile games. It's frequently criticized for its plethora of cash-grab games that are geared toward getting consumers to spend money. Although plenty of these games like StarCraft do exist, mobile gaming does have a few gems.

One of these gems is StarFront: Collision. It's not just similar to StarCraft in name, as StarFront is also a futuristic sci-fi RTS game that lets players pick from three races to control. These three races play almost identically to StarCraft's Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss varieties, so it's the ideal choice if a player is a dedicated StarCraft fan.

10 Dune: Spice Wars

Galactic Intrigue And Competing Houses

dune spice wars soldier in action
Dune: Spice Wars

Developer(s)
Shiro Games
Publisher(s)
Funcom , Shiro Games
Released
September 14, 2023
Platform(s)
PC , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

There are several video games inspired by the Dune novels, and given the nature of the story, with different noble houses vying for territory and even whole planets, they would naturally be RTS games. Dune: Spice Wars is one of the most recent additions to the franchise, and it's a classic-style 4X RTS game with modern graphics.

The setting is the desert planet of Arrakis, and the goals are to control as much territory as possible and extract the maximum amount of the precious spice, which is also known as Melange. This is done through a mix of diplomacy, intelligence gathering, and brute force. There are five different factions that a player can control; the Fremen, the Smugglers, and one of three noble houses: Harkonnen, Atreides, and Corrino.

9 Warcraft 3: Reign Of Chaos

Same Developer, Same Nostalgia

Warcraft 3 pc gameplay
Warcraft 3: Reigns Of Chaos

Developer(s)
Blizzard
Publisher(s)
Blizzard
Released
July 3, 2002
Platform(s)
Microsoft Windows , macOS
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos is an easy game to compare to StarCraft as it has the same developer, Blizzard Entertainment. The modern remake of this game, Warcraft III: Reforged is famous for how it disappointed fans and players alike with connectivity problems and poorly rendered graphics.

The game introduced multiple new features to improve itself from its predecessors, such as powerful heroes, a day and night cycle that affects the game's races differently, and Creeps, who guard key resources and are hostile towards all players. It looks similar to StarCraft games of the same era regarding gameplay and graphics.

8 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War 2

A Distant Future That Mixes Science Fiction And Dark Fantasy

Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2

Developer(s)
Relic Entertainment
Publisher(s)
THQ
Released
February 19, 2009
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

The bankrupted THQ finds itself on this list again with an RTS title set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Warhammer 40,000's setting is the distant future of the 42nd millennium.

Warhammer 40,000 combines science and fantasy fiction, creating a unique gameplay setting. Dawn of War 2 removed the building bases that were featured in the original game and put extra focus on the cover mechanic. The cover mechanic is well executed and differentiates it from other games like StarCraft.

7 Sid Meier's Civilization 6

Another Vintage Classic That Became A Franchise

A player's empire in Sid Meier's Civilization 6
Sid Meier's Civilization 6

Developer(s)
Firaxis Games
Publisher(s)
2K Games
Released
October 21, 2016
Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC , Android , iOS
Genre(s)
Strategy

There are a lot of great titles in the Civilization franchise, which has been going strong since the early 1990s. The core goals of the game are firmly based on the four "x" factors of RTS games, which means explore, exploit, expand, and exterminate. The player can compete against the computer or their friends to build a civilization big enough and strong enough to crush or assimilate their opponents.

The latest game had new leaders, new civilizations, and some upgrades to the discovery and civics trees so it would be easier for players to achieve peaceful conquests based on cultural victories. So far, the sixth installment in the series has been the last, but two expansions were released to further expand the title.

6 Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds

Strategy And Space Opera

Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds

Developer(s)
Ensemble Studios , Lucasfilm Games
Released
January 1, 2001
Platform(s)
Microsoft Windows , Linux , macOS
Genre(s)
Real-Time Strategy

A game that combines the thrill of real-time strategy with the lore of the Star Wars franchise, Galactic Battlegrounds was limited to the PC and Apple operating systems when it was first released and never got the attention it deserved. It uses the same graphics engine as Age of Empires and Age of Empires 2, and shares some of the same gameplay features.

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Players collect certain resources to build bases, military units, and weapons, and they can either defend their base or attack others. Choose to play either Jedi or Sith and build ships, temples, droids, and other familiar things from the Star Wars universe.

5 Homeworld

A Modern Science Fiction Setting

Homeworld pc gameplay
Homeworld

Developer(s)
Rockstar Games , Blackbird Interactive , Beenox
Publisher(s)
Rockstar Games
Released
September 28, 1999
Platform(s)
Microsoft Windows , Android , iOS
Genre(s)
Strategy , Simulation

Homeworld differentiated itself from most other real-time strategy games by using outer space as the setting, but that doesn't have the same impact today that it did in 1999. It still focuses on the key gameplay mechanics that RTS titles are known for. Resource management and unit production, for example, are key features in the classic but the multiplayer functionalities are the best part.

The Homeworld series is set to get its third installment in 2024 with Homeworld 3. The game was developed by Blackbird Interactive and is certainly worth people keeping an eye on if they're looking for a modern science-fiction real-time strategy game.