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 historical events. Another popular type of RTS game is futuristic science-fiction, a category that has been dominated by Blizzard Entertainment’sStarCraftseries.
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 surroundingStarCraft 2was one of the more memorable events in gaming history, and the sequel is one of thehighest-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 likeStarCraft.
Uploaded on July 15, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:WithStarCraft 2securing its status as a game worthy of being in the current esports scene with the likes of the 2024 ESL SC2 Pro Tour Championship, fans might be interesting in sharpening theirSC2skills to compete with the world’s greatest in these tournaments. Although no news of upcomingStarCraftentries were teased by Blizzard, fans of the game’s fast-paced building mechanics and combat can experience similar riveting encounters in some older and newer titles. These include an Eastern-themed RTS depicting a war between clans, an alternate history take on World War 2, and unique takes on the modern military simulator.
Fans ofStarCraftwho want a riveting real-time strategy experience will appreciate the fast-paced excitement offered byCommand & Conquer: Red Alert 2and the flexibility of its gameplay options. Set in an alternate history where the Soviets launch an all-out attack against the Allies using hyper-powerful Tesla coil technology aided by the psionic army of the psychic Yuri,Red Alert 2offers equal parts campy FMV cutscenes and challenging encounters.
Similar toStarCraft, gameplay inRed Alert 2positions players as either the cheap but heavy-hitting units of the Soviets, the expensive but hyper-specialized roster of the Allies, or amass an army through infecting both sides using Yuri’s psychics (in the expansion). Gameplay majorly consists of gathering enough resources to amass enough units for all-out assaults - that is, unless enemies manage to whip out a quick counter-offense to turn the tide. On top of rather crazy stunts in the story, the game offering a lot of creativity in terms of abusing the meta has madeRed Alert 2a lasting classic.
While other modern RTS titles boast incredible graphics and more sophisticated gameplay,Total Annihilationwas a surprisingly complex and fluid entry to the genre despite its 1997 release date. Set in the far future where remnants of humanity known as the Arm fight a galaxy-spanning AI-led faction known as the Core,Total Annihilationwill have players control towering mechs known as Commanders as they try to out-produce and outgun the enemy using a variety of units and technologies.
Compared to other RTS titles,Total Annihilationhas constantly-generating Metal and Power resources, the consumption of which depends on the potency of the constructing unit and the power of the unit being built. Arm units boast sleek builds designed for fast-paced incursions while Core units have more durable bodies, with each side boasting Kbots built to meet specific combat situations.Total Annihilationis also among the first RTS titles to feature a radar system that showed units on the minimap, with the game having a “tech” that can disable enemy radar to make it much harder for them to get information.
28Battle Realms
Builders Become The Foundation Of Core Units
Despite its Asia-inspired themes and settings,Battle Realmspacks a lot of finesse outside its story of exiled heir Kenji returning to a chaotic land. TheBattle Realmscampaigntakes Kenji to different paths depending on the player’s choice - each battle leads them closer to one of the game’s factions and unlocks heroes or Zen Masters they can call upon in combat. Choosing between the honorable Dragon Clan, the nature-tied Wolf Clan, the technologically-advanced Serpent Clan, and the sorcerers of the Lotus Clan can give players access to a wide array of units they can use in fast-paced combat.
WhileBattle Realmsfollows the similar RTS formula of macro-comboing and overwhelming opponents to submission, its gameplay loop offers more flexibility. Matches will see a steady stream of Peasants being produced depending on the player’s population and can be assigned to gather Rice, Water, and Horses - the latter of which can be equipped to units to upgrade them to mounted variants. Peasants themselves act as “base” units who upgrade to more specialized variants through structures, while Battle Gears can buff units to counteract others they’re normally weak against.
Ashes of the Singularitywas released by Stardock Entertainment, the team behind theSins of a Solar EmpireandGalactic Civilizationsfranchises. 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 gamefeel ahead of its time.
The game didn’t blow critics away when it was first released, but theEscalationexpansion 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.
26War Party
Everybody Walk The Dinosaur
ThinkWarCraftwith dinosaurs, cavemen, and a dash ofStarCraft’s simplistic sensibilities, and this multiplayer indie might be the result. Studio Rogueside hearkens back to the era of colorful, early Blizzard RTS romps, and applies a fun and cheeky dinosaur overlay inWar Party.
The game dabbles with fantasy elements by way of mages, undead, and battle-altering spells — though grounds things more in prehistoric motifs.War Partyallows players to pick between one of three distinct factions, not unlikeStarCraft’s human and alien armies, which intertwine and often clash. Players must tackle different missions — typically defeating outposts and bands of foes — while taking care of smaller, secondary tasks.
While more of a mixed bag in terms of refinement and depth, the game stands out for being a rare example of a decent home console port. It offers fairly organized, intuitive controls for Switch, which allow swift multitasking without being overwhelmed by a dozen commands and countless micromanaging.
343 Industries and Creative Assembly manage to polish the formula for their sci-fi RTS based on the iconicHaloseries, while adding various bells and whistles that include new modes and card battles. Though simplistic at first, the card fights work surprisingly well, and add an interesting, quasi-Magic the Gatheringfeel to the experience, in addition to the on-the-noseStarCraftvibe.
The game features an impressively detailed, cinematic campaign that follows the events ofHalo 5. This story mode is strengthened by appealingRTS combat that works surprisingly well even on home console, and features a slew of unique missions and challenges.
Multiplayer is another strong suit of the game, featuring both online co-op and competitive matches with impressive customization. While it has a few quirks, and can be tough to find one’s footing at first compared to its simpler predecessor,Halo Wars 2is a rewarding (and frankly overlooked) RTS on Xbox.
Often considered the pinnacle of RTS gaming along withStarCraft, this 2021 classic reinforces this Medieval warfare epic as one of the kings of the genre. While the franchise has been known for being a more in-depth, ‘hardcore’ alternative to Blizzard’s hit, this more polished sequel offers a learning curve that’s at least a tad less steep.
At the same time, this strategy game ups the ante in several ways, with a greater feeling of historical authenticity aided by sleeker visuals, and loads of diverse content. Players can delve into six different solo campaigns, traverse four Ages, and pick between 16 distinct civilizations that range from the Holy Roman Empire to the Ottomans to the Japanese.
As in past entries, gamers must manage their colonies that contain military, economic, religious, and tech-based buildings, all while powering up their empire and toppling rival forces. It’s a highly alluring, rewarding experience that’s done superbly inAge of Empires 4.
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Like most RTS games that players can enjoy on a historical or nationwide level, the best features ofAncestors Legacyinclude 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.
The playable races include Vikings, Slavs, Anglo-Saxons, and a Catholic Order of militant knights called the Teutons. A DLC calledSaladin’s Conquestincludes 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 theViking campaignwhich uses the raid of Lindisfarne’s Monastery as a tutorial.
Play as either the Allied Powers of the Americas and Western Europe or the Central Powers of Eastern Europe withThe 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 essentially goes nowhere, but that’s part of the horror of war.
Grey Goohas a few details in common withStarCraft,such asthe alluring science fiction backstoryand the choice between four different races, along with the option 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.
