The best real-time strategy games

Real-time strategy games (RTS for short) are strategy games in which actions do not happen in turns, but are free to happen continuously, thus players can issue commands, like moving or assembling combat units, at any time. Some of the most well-known RTS series are Warcraft, Starcraft, Command & Conquer, and Age of Empires.

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Populous 2: Trials of the Olympian Gods

DOSMac OS1993protected Bullfrog

Populous 2: Trials of the Olympian Gods is a classic sandbox strategy god game. As the title suggests, its setting is loosely based on ancient Greek mythology, and you play as a deity (hence the "god game" label). Populous 2 is th...

Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings

Windows XP/98/951999protecteddemo Ensemble Studios

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a landmark real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft. Released in 1999, it is the second installment in the Age of Empires series and remains one ...

Empire Earth

Windows XP/98/952001protected Stainless Steel Studios

Empire Earth is a real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by Stainless Steel Studios and released by Sierra Entertainment in 2001. It's often compared to the "Age of Empires" series due to its similar gameplay mechanics and histor...

Dune 2000

Windows XP/98/951998 Westwood Studios

Dune 2000 is an abandoned science fiction classic real-time strategy game based on the popular Dune franchise. The Dune "universe" took form in the books of science fiction writer Frank Herbert and went on to include mov...

Dune II: The building of a dynasty

DOS1992 Westwood Studios

Dune II, released in 1992, is a pioneering real-time strategy game developed by Westwood Studios. Set in the world of Frank Herbert's Dune, players command noble houses in a battle for control over the planet Arrakis. With base-bu...

Age of Empires

Windows XP/98/951997protecteddemo Ensemble Studios

Released in 1997, Age of Empires is what happens when ancient history gets drunk and decides to party. You start in the Stone Age, bashing wild boars and clubbing trees, and before you know it, you’re building temples and fl...

Mega lo Mania

DOS1992 Sensible Software

Mega lo Mania, also known as Mega-Lo-Mania: The Battle for Elysium in some regions, is a real-time strategy (RTS) video game developed by Sensible Software and published by Image Works. It was originally released in 1991 for vario...

StarCraft

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1998protecteddemo Blizzard Entertainment

StarCraft is a classic RTS (Real-Time Strategy) game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released in 1998 for Windows and Macintosh. StarCraft takes the Warcraft experience to a sci-fi setting with an interesting story, three ...

The Settlers

DOS1993protected Blue Byte Software

Myth: The Fallen Lords

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1997 Bungie

Reunion

DOS1994 Dinamic Multimedia

In Reunion, you return to a solar system that’s moved on without you—like showing up to your own birthday party two centuries late. Your mission? Rebuild civilization, survive political drama, and master a UI that seem...

Warcraft: Orcs and Humans

DOS1994protecteddemo Blizzard Entertainment

Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is the first real-time fantasy strategy game from Blizzard Entertainment. Two separate story lines (Orcs and Humans) evolve with 12 scenarios per side telling the tale of the battle for the Kingdom of A...

Castles 2: Siege and Conquest

DOSMac OS1992protected Quicksilver Software

Castles 2 took everything the first game did and cranked it up with actual diplomacy, espionage, and conquest mechanics. Now you’re not just stacking bricks—you’re plotting political marriages and assassinating r...

Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness

DOS1995protected Blizzard Entertainment

Populous: The Beginning

Windows XP/98/951998protected Bullfrog

Cossacks: European Wars

Windows XP/98/952000protected GSC Game World

Cossacks: European Wars is a real-time strategy epic that lets you command armies so big you’ll lose track of half your soldiers. Set in the 17th and 18th centuries, it’s a mix of historical battles and freeform conque...

Dragon Lord

DOS1990 Spotlight Software

Dune Generations

Windows XP/98/952002canceled Cryo Interactive Entertainment

Dune Generations was a canceled 3D MMO strategy game set in the Dune universe that was never published. Dune Generations was in development by Cryo Interactive Entertainment, but it was canceled in 2002 wh...

Total Annihilation

Windows XP/98/951997protected Cavedog Entertainment

Dungeon Keeper

DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protected Electronic Arts

Cossacks: The Art of War

Windows XP/98/952001protected GSC Game World

An expansion to the original, Cossacks: The Art of War refines, expands, and generally cranks up the chaos. New units, new campaigns, and more ways to accidentally bankrupt your nation while trying to outmaneuver your enemies. It&...

Dune

DOS1992 Cryo Interactive Entertainment

Dune, released in 1992, is a game developed by Cryo Interactive and published by Virgin Games. It's based on the iconic science fiction novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. In Dune, players assume the role of Paul Atreides, th...

Dominium

DOS1992 Microids

Dominium (1992) is an ambitious mix of real-time strategy and empire management, though perhaps “ambitious” is just another word for “slightly overwhelming.” The game puts you in charge of planets, fleets, ...

Command & Conquer

DOS1995freeware Westwood Studios

The original Command & Conquer (1995, DOS) is the game that launched a thousand LAN parties. It’s gritty, fast-paced RTS warfare with full-motion video cutscenes so cheesy, they’ve aged into gourmet. You build, har...

Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2001protected LucasArts

Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds is a science fiction real-time strategy game set in the Star Wars universe, focused both on the first and the second Star Wars trilogy. Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds was developed by LucasArts...

Z

DOS1996protected Bitmap Brothers

Welcome to Z, the real-time strategy game where psychotic robots with British accents duke it out over territory in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Think Command & Conquer if the developers had a few too many pints and a twisted...

Castles

DOS1991protected Quicksilver Software

Castles is what happens when SimCity meets Game of Thrones. You design your own fortress, manage the budget, and tell unruly peasants why the walls are more important than food. Between building bricks and issuing royal edicts, yo...

Command & Conquer: Red Alert

DOS1996freeware Westwood Studios

Command & Conquer: Red Alert is a real-time strategy (RTS) video game developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive in 1996. It is part of the Command & Conquer series and is set in an alternate history...