The Best RTS Games To Try If You Are Not Into The Genre

Summary

The RTS genre offers diverse gameplay experiences, from simple tower defense to immersive story-driven campaigns.
Games like Frostpunk 2 showcase that RTS can revolve around meaningful decisions, not just war.
Accessibility is increasing in the genre, with games like Pikmin 4 offering a laid-back experience for all players.

Playing a real-time strategy (RTS) game involves managing resources, producing units, gathering intelligence, engaging in combat, and strategizing on the fly. Essentially, players are burdened with numerous tasks, which can make the genre appear complex, inflexible, and sometimes stressful. This complexity often acts as a barrier that discourages many from even trying an RTS game.

Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games are among the oldest types in gaming, dating back to the 1980s and gaining significant popularity towards the end of the 1990s with their speedy, optimization-focused gameplay. Today’s RTS games combine quickness with thoughtfulness, covering a broad spectrum of settings and game mechanics while providing multiple ways to play beyond the conventional approach. This development has made the genre more accessible yet still delivers engaging real-time strategic experiences. Whether you prefer historical battles, futuristic journeys, or simplified strategies, these RTS games cater to various tastes.

10. Thronefall

Simplistic RTS Gameplay For Short Play Sessions

In essence, Thronefall stands out as a harmonious blend of tower defense and real-time strategy games, showcasing an aesthetically pleasing design. Crafted by a compact development team, this game offers a captivating single-player journey where the balance between strategy and action is expertly struck. Players will be tasked with swiftly constructing their modest kingdom and protecting it from adversaries. What makes Thronefall unique is that enemies launch assaults in rounds during the night, with each round escalating in complexity.

As a devoted gamer, I find the defensive strategy revolves around setting up projectile turrets and fortified barriers. It’s not just about that though; it involves raising troops of diverse types and strategically positioning them to guard crucial passageways. This intricate web of defense calls for effective economic management, earning resources from turn-based building accumulation and round completion rewards.

The game mechanics are designed with simplicity in mind, ensuring a smooth gaming experience that’s easy to grasp yet offers high replayability. Short gaming sessions feel rewarding due to the well-crafted systems that make the game enjoyable and engaging.

9. Iron Harvest

An Engrossing And Immersive Story-Driven RTS

If you’re not familiar with artist Jakub Różalski or his popular board game Scythe, Iron Harvest presents an entirely different take on World War 1, featuring massive, dieselpunk-inspired mechs as the main attraction. This is a compelling new entry in the genre, offering a captivating story-driven campaign with a well-crafted narrative and top-notch in-game cutscenes. Players will embark on richly detailed missions set in a world ravaged by war, where auto-machine technology has met head-on with Eastern European traditions.

In terms of gameplay mechanics, Iron Harvest borrows elements from the Company of Heroes series by incorporating infantry teams that can seek cover and capture locations to advance in the game. The game is also known for its stunningly destructible environments within the Real-Time Strategy (RTS) genre, which adds an exciting and engaging experience to the gameplay. This action-oriented focus means base-building isn’t emphasized as much. If you’d rather not play the campaign alone, there’s a cooperative mode that welcomes a friend into the fray. Alternatively, multiplayer competition is available, but due to a shrinking player base and static meta-game, Iron Harvest‘s true appeal lies in its engaging campaign mode.

8. Pikmin 4

A Cozy Puzzle-Based RTS With Personality

Pikmin 4 offers a fresh perspective on the strategy genre, diverging from typical Real-Time Strategy (RTS) gameplay dynamics. Instead of the usual intense micromanagement and rapid clicking associated with many RTS games, it creates an engaging and endearing experience. The game provides a refreshing shift in pace as players traverse diverse environments, tackle puzzles, and search for the series’ protagonist, Captain Olimar. Assisting him in his journey back home is a team of Pikmin, each with distinct abilities, that players utilize to overcome obstacles.

This game boasts robust mechanics that provide a satisfying level of difficulty and design reminiscent of Nintendo’s top-tier quality, making it the most comfortable choice on this list for those who appreciate it. For enthusiasts of this almost two-decade-old series and players seeking a more relaxed gaming experience, Pikmin 4 offers an engaging Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game with a lot of charm.

7. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2

A Glorious Space Battler RTS For Fans Of Sci-Fi

RTS games, notably the successful “Dawn of War” series, have long played a crucial role in the Warhammer universe. In contrast to Dawn of War’s infantry-centric gameplay, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 offers an entirely different experience by placing players as captains commanding massive space cathedrals and other exotic spaceships in deep-space battles. The game offers three substantial campaigns for the Imperials, Necrons, and Tyranids, along with a skirmish mode featuring all 12 factions from the original tabletop game it is modeled on.

In Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2, the basic tasks of gathering resources to purchase more ships take a backseat to the main attraction: exhilarating space battles. These engagements involve typical capture point objectives and story missions with diverse goals, all set against an eye-catching 2D canvas of colorful planets and mesmerizing nebulas. They are captivating, grandiose, and visually appealing to fans of Warhammer and science fiction. If you’re after a deep strategic campaign, this game may not be for you. Instead, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 is all about delivering intense real-time sci-fi combat experiences.

6. Tooth And Tail

A Gamepad-Friendly RTS Suited For Couch Co-Op

In the whimsical realm of an animal uprising, where groups of mice, squirrels, and boars compete for dominance, Tooth and Tail provides a unique and efficient gameplay experience that caters to brief play sessions and local multiplayer – a rare find in many games of this kind. Key features include tailored controls optimized for gamepads, where a mouse commander leads the way instead of a cursor, and matches typically lasting from 5 to 12 minutes. This fast-paced gaming style not only makes it easy to pick up and play but also offers high replay value, boosted by its appealing pixel art design and randomly generated levels.

Although some might dismiss Tooth and Tail as having simplified RTS mechanics, doing so would be an error. In reality, it offers a swift yet engaging experience with a variety of versatile units that accommodate different strategies, striking a perfect balance between simplicity and depth to keep gamers hooked. Moreover, Tooth and Tail boasts exceptionally fun multiplayer modes – local split-screen co-op for shared enjoyment among friends and family or online for a more competitive atmosphere.

5. Anno 1800

A Joyful Entry Point To RTS City-Builders

In the seventh and most recent edition of Ubisoft’s city-building game series, titled Anno 1800, players find themselves on an island during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century. Your mission is to adapt to the shifting social and technological landscapes of Western Europe at that time, developing a settlement to boost the influence of your chosen faction’s nation. This involves trading with nearby NPC towns by sea, engaging in diplomacy, exploration, and above all, creating a new civilization. The game, Anno 1800, offers exceptional realism in its city-building aspects, allowing a simple village to transform into a bustling metropolis; it’s not only fun to construct but also delightful to watch as it grows.

In Anno 1800, the game primarily excels at city-building and diplomacy, but it also includes limited naval and air combat elements. These combat aspects could be improved, but they don’t diminish the overall enjoyment of the game. If you’re new to city-builder games or looking for a fresh experience in this genre, Anno 1800 is an excellent choice. Additionally, there are numerous DLC packs available, providing a wealth of customizable buildings to help shape your unique city designs.

4. Steel Division 2

A Grand WW2 RTS With Large-Scale Battles

Instead of looking elsewhere, consider diving into the deep and strategic world of Steel Division 2, an exceptional real-time strategy (RTS) game set during World War 2. It masterfully combines large-scale battles with finely tuned military tactics, offering a rich and satisfying experience for those ready to delve into its intricacies. If you’re new to the Steel Division series, get ready to assume the role of a commander, leading your chosen divisions in an epic conquest across a sprawling battlefield that can span up to 150 kilometers from top-down viewpoint.

In essence, Steel Division 2 retains many similar features from its earlier version, emphasizing tactical confrontations incorporating aspects like suppressive fire, morale, and resupply both on ground and air. Victory or defeat primarily hinges on the battlefront, depicted by a colored line superimposed over the field that adjusts as units maneuver. Though the campaign mode could seem less engaging, it’s the multiplayer aspect where the game truly excels, providing an opportunity for players to engage in extensive 10v10 battles.

3. Manor Lords

Play A Historically Accurate RTS As A Feudal Lord

Manor Lords is a captivating Medieval city-building and strategy game that has garnered attention since its debut on Steam Early Access. Although it started with minimal content, it showcases the potential for an exceptional game, and its dedicated sole developer has been consistently refining it, even earning two nominations for the 2024 Game Awards. This game is lauded for its authenticity, positioning it as one of the most immersive, stunning, and top historical city builders available.

In Manor Lords, the heart of its gameplay revolves around city-building, where players assume the role of a feudal lord governing their realm. The main goal is to ensure the townspeople are content and well-fed, while managing everything efficiently. Interestingly, it includes dynamic real-time battles reminiscent of the Total War series, featuring large formations of spearmen, swordsmen, and archers. Although this gameplay style differs from other Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games, it successfully combines city-building with its core focus. For those who desire a title with historical authenticity and a more laid-back gaming experience, Manor Lords is definitely worth investing time in. With continuous updates being released, this RTS is set to grow even better over time.

2. Northgard

A Viking-Themed RTS With Satisfying Multiplayer

As a gamer, I’ve always yearned for more Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games set in the captivating world of Norse mythology. Fortunately, that longing is now quenched with Northgard: an enthralling RTS steeped in Viking lore and survival tactics. This game thrusts you into a challenging yet exhilarating experience where you must establish, explore, construct, and trade with neutral NPC Viking clans on an untouched island. The townsfolk’s wellbeing is paramount as they face threats from rival clans and creatures hiding in the mysterious, unexplored wilderness. What sets Northgard apart is its emphasis on survival – resources must be carefully managed to endure the harsh winters predicted by the game’s realistic seasonal clock.

In the struggle against foes and the perils of nature, the delightful, vivid, and almost animated graphics in Northgard provide a comforting break, while a polished HUD and interface make it accessible to all. Essentially, it’s a strategically rich RTS with less emphasis on repetitive tasks, making it simple to learn but challenging to excel at. Once mastered, the fulfillment from Northgard lies in its competitive multiplayer, which is fantastic for both cooperative and competitive play with or against friends and other online players.

1. Frostpunk 2

A Challenging But Rewarding RTS Where Choice Matters

Instead of RTS games always being centered around war, there’s room for something different, like Frostpunk 2. This eagerly awaited sequel to the 2018 hit is a city-building and survival strategy game set in a post-apocalyptic world. In contrast to its predecessor, it pushes the challenging choices at the heart of the game further, heightening the dilemmas that players must confront. In Frostpunk 2, players are tasked with keeping civilians alive during a Victorian steampunk-inspired ice age by managing scarce resources, maintaining harmony among various factions, and ensuring their warmth – a crucial aspect for survival.

It’s essential to understand that the game titled “Frostpunk 2” can be quite challenging, requiring careful thought to advance. Unlike other games, there are no battles; instead, it’s a game about decision-making and handling multiple responsibilities. Naturally, beginners might make mistakes, but learning from them and growing in subsequent playthroughs is an integral and fulfilling aspect of this engaging Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game. The game is further enhanced by its haunting ambiance and stunning visuals, making it a worthy endeavor to explore.

2025-01-06 08:14