We’ve prepped a list of the best real time strategy games that have been launched over the past decade. RTS titles may not have the rich and intense graphics FPS and other ones have, but these aren’t anything ordinary. What makes them so addictive is that they constant demand interaction from players including heavy thinking to outsmart the opposition.
And over the decade, we’ve seen and experienced amazing RTS title. Of course, we can’t list them all out for you’re here, but we’ve made a selection of the most enjoyable ones out there. Have a look and judge for yourself.
1. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty:
Blizzard Entertainment had outdone itself with the original StarCraft and Wings of Liberty takes its legacy forward in a second military science fiction title which is basically the first of 3 parts. The developer has already released the Heart of the Swarm expansion pack with the Legacy of the Void scheduled for launch in the future.
Wings of Liberty is a continuation to Brood War and the story takes off from where the latter ended. The title puts you in the shoes of Jim Raynor as he leads a group of Raiders into battle. Each mission in the game has a new challenge to overcome. The multiplayer mode is fast-paced and very engaging. Also, there’s Battle.net integration which provides a convenient place to play online.
2. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos:
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos takes the cake as one of the greatest RTS titles after Wings of Liberty. If aren’t aware, Blizzard Entertainment is the brains behind this release as well. The game basically revolves around four races, namely Humans, Orcs, Undead and Night Elves, each having its own set of heroes that carry unique capabilities.
Apart from access to Battle.net, you can play against the computer or other opponents over LAN. Gameplay is essentially fast-paced, especially in multiplayer. At the start of each session, you’ll have to gather resources and raise an army by building different structures.
3. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings:
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is over a decade old, yet it’s one of the most loved RTS titles out there. Steam had released an HD remake of it back in April and a new expansion has also been announced by Microsoft. Apart from a quick lesson in history, you’ll be able to control various civilizations which have walked the earth in the past.
Be it single or multiplayer, your main objective here is to build a town and start gathering resources. Once you got enough food, wood, stone and gold stocked up, you can raise different buildings like barracks, castles, stables and more, each having the ability to spawn different units. The game also has an Age system which starts from the Dark Age and ends in the Imperial Age.
4. Rise of Nations:
Similar to AOE, RON also features an Ages system, but offers more advancement. In a typical game, you’d start off in the Ancient Age having warriors of that time. And as you research, you can go all the way up to the Information Age that provides modem-style combat. From stealth bombers to submarines to tanks to nuclear missiles, they’re all present here.
There are 18 civilizations to choose from and the single player campaign dubbed Conquer the World puts you on a quest for global domination. There are 200 units in total and you can raise real-life structures like the Colossus, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal and more, called Wonders that provide a boost to certain resources, and other advantages.
5. Sins of a Solar Empire:
Sins of a Solar Empire takes you beyond the boundaries of a planet on a journey to build galactic empire. Here’s how the story goes – A war is underway and the survival of your civilization is completely dependent on how you manage your empire.
Throughout the game, you’ll be exploring new worlds (min 7, max 130) across five solar systems and also inhabiting them before others do. Asteroids provide resources which help build machines and power the economy. Victory here is only achievable when all enemies are defeated. For that, you’ll be able to set up defenses and also go on the offensive by researching technologies and building warships to exterminate the opposition.
6. Command & Conquer: Generals:
Command & Conquer: Generals is the seventh installment in the series and focuses on modern warfare instead of fantasy and Sci-Fi like most other titles on this roster. This game allows you to choose between 3 forces, the US, the Chinese and the Global Liberation Army that’s made up of freedom fighters and terrorists. Each of them has their own unique abilities and weapons.
For instance, the US provides technologically advanced units which cost more, while the Chinese have weaker ground forces that attack well when in a large numbers and they’re also cheap. The GLA on the other hand, has stealth units. The title also features the Generals point system where on earning experience points, units get stronger.
7. Company of Heroes:
Company of Heroes was released in 2006 and it’s based on WWII. The game follows the Able Company unit as they make their way through some of the greatest battles in history including the D-Day landings at Normandy.
The most noteworthy elements here are the beautiful graphics and accurate sounds of weapons and voices of soldiers. Resources are obtained by capturing certain locations on the map which can be used to upgrade units and vehicles.
Conclusion:
And there you have it – The best real time strategy games we’ve come to love over the past years. We’ve had a lot of fun playing these titles and we’re certain that you will too. Just remember one thing – In RTS, the strongest are easily defeated by the smartest.