Real-time strategy games have fallen out of the spotlight. What was once the dominant genre for PC gamers has seemingly faded into the background and is only somewhat kept alive by devoted fans of the games. That’s not to say that RTS games have gotten any worse, though.
Rather, many are still exceptional games with some of the best designs in the industry. New games, like The DioField Chronicle, are still keeping it alive for hungry fans. While the genre is generally focused on gameplay, there are also plenty with great stories, packed with exceptional mission designs and narrative moments to keep you entertained.
9 The Battle for Middle-earth
It’s a shame that games based on The Lord of the Rings are no longer easily accessible. Such is the case with the anthology The Battle for Middle-Earth. These were RTS games set in the world of Tolkien, as depicted in the Peter Jackson movies.
The first game took you through the most iconic moments of the movies while controlling the armies. The game’s sequel and the Rise of the Witch-King expansion are borrowed from Tolkien’s other books, leading to interesting depictions of characters that previously existed only in text. Fans of the series will no doubt love these games, and if you still have your drive, hold on tight.
8 home world
There are several Homeworld games on the market and any one of them could be worthy of a spot on this list. When it comes to RTS games, this series consistently fires all cylinders, putting you at the wheel of an entire space fleet.
While most RTS games give you a top-down view of foot soldiers, this one lets you stare at the stars with your spaceships in tow. Unlike many of its contemporaries, the Homeworld series has a focus on the story missions, giving the story a priority where other series would leave it an afterthought.
7 Army men RTS
Most of us can remember a time when we played with plastic army men and had massive battles in our bedrooms and front yards. Army Men RTS takes that feeling and uses it to control the entire game.
You fight around huge rubber ducks, over blades of grass and more. Making the game even better is how it shapes its story. The titular army men take themselves seriously, which leads to the whole experience being both enjoyable and humorous. If you’re up for a few hours of nostalgic fun, then it’s time to speed through the Army Men RTS campaign.
6 Tooth and tail
A brutal food shortage has turned the lives of forest animals upside down. This led them to create their own factions and fight for survival in large scale RTS battles. With Tooth and Tail, you control waves of anthropomorphic animals as they try to take over the land and find good food for themselves.
Because Tooth and Tail is largely based on historical events such as the American Civil War and Revolutionary Wars, it has an introspective yet darkly gripping story that injects much of its own personality into every line of dialogue.
5 Commander in chief
Supreme Commander doesn’t sound like much when you first take the title. However, seeing the game in action makes it hard to turn away. The sense of scale is amazing. You find yourself in a conflict known as the Infinite War that has been going on for thousands of years.
This intergalactic battle has three factions trying to conquer each other to rule supreme. This sense of scale and epic battles is reflected in the story, which slowly introduces you to this strange world of conflict, gigantic machines and conquest.
4 Game power 3
When a game wants to create a world with its own knowledge and rules, chances are the story will be interesting too. That’s easily the case with Spellforce 3. After the mages rebelled, they were nearly wiped out. However, the land of Eo is still afflicted with disease and strife.
The game is a combination between an RTS and an RPG, giving you the freedom to build your character, steer your story in your own direction, and take the narrative dominion of the story. The setup alone makes this story worth delving into.
3 Stellaris
Stellaris is one of the biggest and deepest RTS games on the market. Each player’s experience will be different from the rest due to the sheer amount of mechanics and options at your disposal. You take control of a civilization that has just discovered the ability to travel among the stars.
From there, take your ships and explore at your own pace, discovering new planets, civilizations, and even other stars. What you do instead of these new discoveries is up to you. You can become a friend of those who live on other planets, or you can become their conqueror. In Stellaris, the story is written by you, the player. A huge amount of further replayability is also offered via mod support.
2 Age Of Empires 2
When it comes to RTS games, it will be hard to find one with the Age of Empires 2 pedigree. This game has been kept alive to this day, with devoted fans loving the balance, rock solid gameplay and praise the visual design. .
In addition to its healthy online community, Age of Empires 2 also offers multiple, very interesting historical campaigns. You will take on missions in different time periods with important historical figures and factions, such as Joan of Arc and Saladin. The campaign also simplifies excellently across the different systems so that you can become the ultimate ruler.
1 Company of Heroes 2
Games based on World War II will probably never go away. While they have dominated the fps genre, they have also made their way into the RTS genre. Company of Heroes 2 is an RTS game based on the famous war and focuses on the Eastern Front.
As such, it covers the politics of the time, as well as some of the questionable actions of the important figures at the head of the war. If you’re looking for a wartime experience that doesn’t sacrifice scale, Company of Heroes 2 is definitely worth checking out.
0 Comments