Best Real-Time Strategy Games
264 Real-Time Strategy games, ranked by the Rank and Play community.
SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars
Released: Apr 5, 2006
Critic rating: 88.3 / 100
Rating: M
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
The most beautiful, perfect and deadly of the Dark Races, the Dark Elves, in league with the mysterious Shadows are threatening to overrun the realm of men… Lead the Avatar and his band of heroes in forging new alliances to face the invasion and save the world of Eo !
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
Released: Mar 28, 2007
Critic rating: 84.5 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox 360
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
MultiplayerNote: As of June 2014, our friends at GameSpy have ended all hosted game services, which will affect the online multiplayer aspect of this game.
Age of Mythology: The Titans
Released: Sep 30, 2003
Critic rating: 80.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Age of Mythology: The Titans is an expansion pack to the real-time strategy video game of Age of Mythology.
Stronghold Crusader HD
Released: Oct 21, 2013
Critic rating: 82.4 / 100 • 24 votes
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader HD throws you into historic battles and castle sieges from the Crusades with fiendish AI opponents, new units, 4 historical campaigns and over 100 unique skirmish missions.
Tyranny
Released: Nov 10, 2016
Critic rating: 81.2 / 100
Rating: PEGI 16
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player
Experience a story-driven RPG where your choices mean all the difference in the world.
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun
Released: Aug 20, 1999
Critic rating: 82.3 / 100 • 170 votes
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
The sequel to 1995's genre defining Command & Conquer, Tiberian Sun takes place in a bleak future where the tiberium infestation has spread across the world, and made large regions uninhabitable, and the long dormant Brotherhood of NOD starting a surprise offensive against the GDI forces.
The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici
Released: Apr 17, 1996
Critic rating: 82.3 / 100 • 45 votes
Rating: E
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy
Platforms: Mac, DOS
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen
The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici is a real-time strategy computer game, released by Blue Byte Software in 1996.
Sid Meier's Pirates!
Released: Nov 22, 2004
Critic rating: 82.7 / 100
Rating: E
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Adventure
Platforms: Windows Phone, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac
Game modes: Single player
Based on Sid Meier's original masterpiece, Pirates!, Sid Meier's Pirates!
Giants: Citizen Kabuto
Released: Dec 6, 2000
Critic rating: 82.3 / 100 • 32 votes
Rating: M
Genres: Shooter, Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Giants: Citizen Kabuto is a unique blend of action, strategy, and humor set in a fantastical world.
Hearts of Iron IV
Released: Jun 6, 2016
Critic rating: 83.8 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Victory is at your fingertips!
Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak
Released: Jan 20, 2016
Critic rating: 85.0 / 100
Rating: E10+
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Before you can find your Homeworld, you must first unlock the secrets of the desert.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe
Released: Oct 29, 2020
Critic rating: 86.1 / 100
Rating: E10+
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Adventure
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Split screen
Prepare yourselves, brave explorers, and set-off for the lush planet PNF-404!
Stronghold
Released: Oct 19, 2001
Critic rating: 81.9 / 100 • 201 votes
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Stronghold is a historic real-time strategy game developed by Firefly Studios.
Stronghold Crusader
Released: Jul 31, 2002
Critic rating: 80.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Stronghold: Crusader is the successor to Firefly Studios's 2001 game Stronghold.
Eye of the Beholder
Released: Dec 31, 1991
Critic rating: 81.7 / 100 • 42 votes
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG)
Platforms: PC-9800 Series, Atari Lynx, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), DOS, Amiga, Sega CD
Game modes: Single player
Eye of the Beholder is an all 3-D, Legend Series computer role-playing adventure based on the popular Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition rules and on an original story created for this game .
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 - Yuri's Revenge
Released: Oct 9, 2001
Critic rating: 81.7 / 100 • 141 votes
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
The game begins with a presidential briefing in the White House concerning Yuri and how he has begun his take over of the world through mind control.
Mega Man Battle Network
Released: Mar 21, 2001
Critic rating: 81.7 / 100 • 66 votes
Rating: E
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Tactical, Adventure
Platforms: Wii U, Game Boy Advance
Game modes: Single player
In the future, a young net-battler named Lan, boots his 'personal exploration terminal' (PET) and prepares to hack into the network to battle net crime.
The Settlers III
Released: Nov 30, 1998
Critic rating: 81.7 / 100 • 62 votes
Rating: E
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy, Tactical
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
The gods may be crazy!
Natural Selection 2
Released: Oct 30, 2012
Critic rating: 85.0 / 100
Rating: M
Genres: Shooter, Puzzle, Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy, Indie
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Multiplayer
Natural Selection 2 is an immersive, multiplayer shooter that pits aliens against humans in a strategic and action-packed struggle for survival.
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
Released: Mar 2, 2006
Critic rating: 80.8 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Wage war in the North and assume command of the most storied civilizations in all of Middle-earth history - the Elven and Dwarven armies - or fight on the side of Evil with heroes and creatures that have never been seen in The Lord of the Rings films.
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Released: Oct 15, 2020
Critic rating: 80.8 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition completes the celebration of one of the most beloved real-time strategy franchises with remastered graphics and music, all previously released expansions and brand-new content to enjoy for the very first time.
Total War: Three Kingdoms
Released: May 23, 2019
Critic rating: 82.2 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Total War: Three Kingdoms is the first in the series to recreate epic conflict across ancient China.
DEFCON
Released: Sep 29, 2006
Critic rating: 85.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy, Indie
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
You play the role of a military commander hidden deep within an underground bunker.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade
Released: Oct 9, 2006
Critic rating: 84.0 / 100
Rating: M
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade is a real-time strategy game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Counterstrike
Released: Apr 3, 1997
Critic rating: 80.9 / 100 • 24 votes
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), DOS
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Command & Conquer: Red Alert: Counterstrike is the first of two expansions for Command & Conquer: Red Alert, released in 1997 with some new missions for both the Allies and the Soviets.