Best Strategy Games Forgotten by Time

The strategy game genre hasn’t seen much innovation lately. While older genres like JRPGs and CRPGs have made a comeback in recent years, strategy games have largely been overlooked. Despite a rich history and enduring popularity of classic titles, the genre feels stagnant.

Lots of great games within this genre haven’t received the recognition they deserve. These are titles that built a fanbase, but never quite reached the popularity of major hits like Starcraft.

We’ll be revisiting some overlooked strategy games that are well worth playing.

8. Grey Goo

An Original in a Sea of Copies

Released in 2015, Grey Goo was poised to be a leading example of modern strategy games. Despite its unusual title, it’s a remarkably true successor to classic real-time strategy (RTS) titles. The game features three distinct factions: humans, the Beta, and the Goo. The Goo are especially unique – they’re a self-replicating race whose main base can move and build an army directly from itself.

This game offers a unique gameplay experience unlike most other real-time strategy titles. While the human and Beta factions are fairly typical, the Goo are truly special and stand out. Beyond the innovative gameplay, the game boasts impressive graphics, a wide variety of units for each faction, and stunning visual effects. It really feels like the next step in the evolution of games like Starcraft.

Back in 2015, this release came out during a difficult time for the genre. With a stronger title and more effective marketing, it could have been much more successful. However, it’s still worth checking out for anyone who really wants to explore this type of music.

7. Battle Realms

Mortal Combat From Above

Ed Del Castillo, a developer who previously worked on Command & Conquer, created Battle Realms. The game was so impressive that it even caused Blizzard to postpone the release of their highly awaited Warcraft 3 after playing it.

Still not excited? This real-time strategy game draws heavily from Wuxia culture, featuring incredible heroes, dynamic martial arts, and rich mythology – plus plenty of magic! You can choose from four unique clans, but the most compelling part is building your forces from humble villagers into powerful, experienced warriors. It’s surprisingly engaging and makes you really care about your troops.

The game features intense, visually impressive battles with lots of action, from archers firing arrows to powerful magic spells. What really stands out is how the game makes you feel like a true ruler – the different clans will directly address you and make requests, adding a unique level of immersion. There’s also a compelling story about a prince who’s been exiled and is fighting to reclaim his throne.

This game came out during a really popular time for its type, but it didn’t get much attention because so many other great games were released around the same time. Luckily, it was re-released in 2019, and people are now discovering how good it is. If you’re interested, it’s worth checking out!

6. Earth 2150

The Near Future War

I really hoped Earth 2150 would be a hit when it came out in 2000. Starcraft and Command & Conquer were the big names in real-time strategy games then, and Earth 2150 felt like a really innovative change of pace. While it played like a traditional RTS, it stood out with its impressive graphics, especially the explosions, and felt more realistic than most games of that era.

Despite receiving positive reviews, the game never became hugely popular. It lacked that special something that made games like Warcraft so successful. Perhaps its realistic setting held it back – it depicted a near-future Earth torn apart by conflict, and that compelling world and gameplay weren’t enough to reach a wider audience.

Funnily enough, RTS games are still trying to do what Earth 2150 was doing over 20 years ago.

5. Empire Earth

The Battle Through the Ages

Empire Earth stands out with a truly appealing concept for a strategy game. Players can choose from 21 different nations and battle across 14 historical epochs. As you advance through these ages, you unlock increasingly advanced technologies, adding depth and variety to each game.

The concept isn’t new, particularly considering games like Age of Empires had explored similar ideas by 2007. But instead of just offering improved medieval weapons, this game leaps into the future. Players can command a wide range of units, from traditional planes and tanks to advanced forces like robot armies.

Even today, the game still looks good, and its variety keeps the gameplay fresh. You can choose from 21 different nations, which significantly changes how each game plays. While the core gameplay is typical for a real-time strategy game, the sheer number of nations offers a lot of replay value. It feels like a precursor to modern games like Age of Empires, and many new strategy games are aiming for the same experience Empire Earth delivered almost 20 years ago.

4. Emperor: Battle for Dune

The Spice War Begins

Emperor: Battle for Dune feels surprisingly modern, even though it was released 24 years ago. It seems a bit unusual that it came out when it did, considering the Dune movie was made in the mid-80s and the early 2000s were dominated by Star Wars. This darker, more serious take on a space opera didn’t really gain popularity until much later.

Emperor: Battle for Dune is a really fun game. You can choose to play as one of three houses – Harkonnen, Atreus, or Ordos – and each has its own campaign. These campaigns tell unique stories based on the world of Dune, giving you a good reason to try them all.

The game is really fun to play, with each house offering a distinct set of units that match its style. The Harkonnen, for instance, focus on powerful military vehicles like tanks, while House Atreides can recruit unique troops like the Fremen. It’s a fantastic way to experience the world of Dune, and a game any fan of the series – or real-time strategy games – should definitely try.

3. World in Conflict

An Alternate World War

World in Conflict explores an alternate history: what if World War III had erupted in the late 1980s, escalating from the Cold War? This often-overlooked strategy game, released in 2007, still looks great today and lets you command forces from the United States, NATO, or the Soviet Union.

The campaign heavily focuses on the American perspective. What’s really interesting is that Alec Baldwin provides the voice for the main character! For a real-time strategy game, it’s surprisingly intense, with a very serious tone and each mission offering something different. It’s a consistently enjoyable and well-connected experience.

This game offers a unique multiplayer experience where players select a role – infantry, air support, or armor – at the start of each match. The gameplay revolves around how these roles interact and counter each other, with each role having specific objectives, making it stand out from traditional strategy games.

Even today, this game holds up remarkably well for a title released in 2007. It’s one of the few real-time strategy games that truly feels high-quality and realistic.

2. The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring

The Battle for Middle-earth

The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring isn’t a widely discussed game, but it’s a surprisingly compelling entry in the series’ history.

There are two distinct campaigns to play: one where you fight for the good side and another where you control Sauron’s forces. To fully enjoy everything the game offers, you’ll need to play through both.

The game features two playable sides, which is a bit limited for a full-priced strategy game. However, each side boasts a huge number of different units. Playing as the Free People of Middle-earth lets you command everything from Elves and Ents to diverse forces like Gondor, Rohan, and the Dwarves – it’s truly impressive to see them fighting together. The Minions of Sauron also offer a lot of variety, including Wargs, massive spiders, Uruk-Hai, and even creatures not seen in the films.

This game is a fantastic and highly balanced 1v1 real-time strategy experience. If you enjoy perfectly matched factions and strategic gameplay, this is a great choice.

1. Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds

A Shift to the Stars

It’s simple: Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds is like Age of Empires, but set in the Star Wars universe. That concept immediately appealed to me, and it should to anyone familiar with both franchises. Interestingly, despite being made by the same team – Ensemble Studios, the creators of the popular Age of Empires – and using the same game engine, it didn’t achieve the same widespread success.

Whether you love strategy games or Star Wars, this game is fantastic. You can play as the Galactic Empire, the Rebels, or even the Gungans, experiencing both iconic moments from the films and completely new scenarios that build on the Star Wars universe.

With support from both LucasArts and Disney, this game delivers an authentic Star Wars experience, featuring dialogue and sound effects directly from the films. It combines the familiar gameplay of Age of Empires with a Star Wars theme, and the result is fantastic. Battles can feature massive armies – up to 200 units on each side – ranging from simple droids to iconic bounty hunters and even powerful Jedi warriors.

If you’re looking for a classic strategy game that’s flown under the radar, this is my number one recommendation.

2025-12-11 20:41