The real-time strategy genre has been a cornerstone of PC gaming for decades. Its versatility is part of the secret to its success; the genre has seen WW2 shooters, mythical battles, and historical events. Another popular type of RTS game is futuristic science fiction, a category that has been dominated by Blizzard Entertainment's StarCraft series.
18 RTS Games That Are Perfect For Newcomers To The Genre
Jumping into the RTS genre can be pretty overwhelming for newcomers. Here are some games that are beginner-friendly.
The original game, StarCraft, won a multitude of awards upon its launch, including Strategy Game Of The Year by GameSpot and Real-Time Strategy Game Of The Year by PC Gamer. The excitement surrounding StarCraft 2 was one of the more memorable events in gaming history, and the sequel is one of the highest-rated games on Metacritic. For those who love Blizzard's signature RTS game but want a change of scene, there are plenty of choices for games like StarCraft.
Uploaded on October 23, 2025, by Jack Pursey: This list of real-time strategy games to play if you love Starcraft has been updated to improve the layout and quality of images.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
Fast-Paced RTS With A Wild Story
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
- Released
- October 23, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
Fans of StarCraft who want a riveting real-time strategy experience will appreciate the fast-paced excitement offered by Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and the flexibility of its gameplay options. Set in an alternate history where the Soviets launch an all-out attack against the Allies using hyper-powerful Tesla coil technology aided by the psionic army of the psychic Yuri, Red Alert 2 offers equal parts campy FMV cutscenes and challenging encounters.
Similar to StarCraft, gameplay in Red Alert 2 positions players as either the cheap but heavy-hitting units of the Soviets, the expensive but hyper-specialized roster of the Allies, or to amass an army through infecting both sides using Yuri’s psychics (in the expansion). Gameplay majorly consists of gathering enough resources to amass enough units for all-out assaults - that is, unless enemies manage to whip out a quick counter-offense to turn the tide. On top of rather crazy stunts in the story, the game offering a lot of creativity in terms of abusing the meta has made Red Alert 2 a lasting classic.
Total Annihilation
A Classic Title With Interesting Mechanics
Total Annihilation
- Released
- September 30, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows, macOS
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
- How Long To Beat
- 23 hours
While other modern RTS titles boast incredible graphics and more sophisticated gameplay, Total Annihilation was a surprisingly complex and fluid entry to the genre despite its 1997 release date. Set in the far future where remnants of humanity known as the Arm fight a galaxy-spanning AI-led faction known as the Core, Total Annihilation will have players control towering mechs known as Commanders as they try to out-produce and outgun the enemy using a variety of units and technologies.
Compared to other RTS titles, Total Annihilation has constantly-generating Metal and Power resources, the consumption of which depends on the potency of the constructing unit and the power of the unit being built. Arm units boast sleek builds designed for fast-paced incursions, while Core units have more durable bodies, with each side boasting Kbots built to meet specific combat situations. Total Annihilation is also among the first RTS titles to feature a radar system that showed units on the minimap, with the game having a “tech” that can disable enemy radar to make it much harder for them to get information.
Battle Realms
Builders Become The Foundation Of Core Units
Battle Realms
- Released
- November 8, 2001
- Platform(s)
- PC
Despite its Asia-inspired themes and settings, Battle Realms packs a lot of finesse outside its story of exiled heir Kenji returning to a chaotic land. The Battle Realms campaign takes Kenji to different paths depending on the player’s choice - each battle leads them closer to one of the game’s factions and unlocks heroes or Zen Masters they can call upon in combat. Choosing between the honorable Dragon Clan, the nature-tied Wolf Clan, the technologically-advanced Serpent Clan, and the sorcerers of the Lotus Clan can give players access to a wide array of units they can use in fast-paced combat.
While Battle Realms follows a similar RTS formula of macro-comboing and overwhelming opponents to submission, its gameplay loop offers more flexibility. Matches will see a steady stream of Peasants being produced, depending on the player’s population, and can be assigned to gather Rice, Water, and Horses - the latter of which can be equipped to units to upgrade them to mounted variants. Peasants themselves act as “base” units who upgrade to more specialized variants through structures, while Battle Gears can buff units to counteract others they’re normally weak against.
Ashes Of The Singularity
Thousands Of Units And Giant Maps
Ashes of the Singularity
- Released
- March 31, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Stardock Entertainment, Oxide Games
- Publisher(s)
- Stardock Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Ashes of the Singularity was released by Stardock Entertainment, the team behind the Sins of a Solar Empire and Galactic Civilizations franchises. The RTS game differentiates itself from others in the genre by having thousands of units fighting at one time on enormous maps that make the game feel ahead of its time.
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The game didn't blow critics away when it was first released, but the Escalation expansion redeemed the game when it was released six months later. The expansion was initially released as a standalone product but has since been merged with the main game.
War Party
Everybody Walk The Dinosaur
War Party
- Released
- March 28, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Think WarCraft with dinosaurs, cavemen, and a dash of StarCraft's simplistic sensibilities, and this multiplayer indie might be the result. Studio Rogueside hearkens back to the era of colorful, early Blizzard RTS romps, and applies a fun and cheeky dinosaur overlay in War Party.
The game dabbles with fantasy elements by way of mages, undead, and battle-altering spells — though it grounds things more in prehistoric motifs. War Party allows players to pick between one of three distinct factions, not unlike StarCraft's human and alien armies, which intertwine and often clash. Players must tackle different missions — typically defeating outposts and bands of foes — while taking care of smaller, secondary tasks.
While more of a mixed bag in terms of refinement and depth, the game stands out for being a rare example of a decent home console port. It offers fairly organized, intuitive controls for Switch, which allow swift multitasking without being overwhelmed by a dozen commands and countless micromanaging.
Halo Wars 2
Gunplay, Sci-Fi, and... Card Battles
Halo Wars 2
- Released
- February 21, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries, Creative Assembly
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
343 Industries and Creative Assembly manage to polish the formula for their sci-fi RTS based on the iconic Halo series, while adding various bells and whistles that include new modes and card battles. Though simplistic at first, the card fights work surprisingly well, and add an interesting, quasi-Magic the Gathering feel to the experience, in addition to the on-the-nose StarCraft vibe.
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The game features an impressively detailed, cinematic campaign that follows the events of Halo 5. This story mode is strengthened by appealing RTS combat that works surprisingly well even on home console, and features a slew of unique missions and challenges.
Multiplayer is another strong suit of the game, featuring both online co-op and competitive matches with impressive customization. While it has a few quirks and can be tough to find one's footing at first compared to its simpler predecessor, Halo Wars 2 is a rewarding (and frankly overlooked) RTS on Xbox.
Grey Goo
Distinct Races With Special Powers
Grey Goo
- Released
- January 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Petroglyph Games
- Publisher(s)
- Grey Box
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Grey Goo has a few details in common with StarCraft, such as the alluring science fiction backstory and the choice between four different races, along with the option between a single player or a co-op campaign. A distinct addition is that each race has its power or perk, like extra speed or the use of teleportation technology, and players have to find ways to use these specialized abilities to their advantage.
The setting is 500 years into the future, when humans have ventured into space and encountered the Beta, a race that is developing a wormhole of sorts to return to space after a long hiatus. Unfortunately, an aggressive alien race comes through to attack them and everything else in the galaxy. Fight them or join them and conquer the stars.
The Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle-Earth 2
Real-Time Strategy In Middle-Earth
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2
- Released
- March 2, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
A real-time strategy game set in Middle-Earth always sounded like a match made in heaven, so there was a ton of hype when Sierra Entertainment announced that The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring would be released in 2003. The game failed to impress most, but fans wouldn't have to wait long before the next RTS Middle-Earth game was released, as EA's Battle For Middle-Earth hit stores just over a year later.
The game was a critical and commercial success, so a sequel was announced shortly after. The Lord of the Rings: Battle For Middle-Earth 2 isn't only beloved for its licensed features, but also because it is an excellent RTS in its own right.
Total War: Warhammer 2
In-Depth Strategy With A Vast Number of Choices
Total War: Warhammer 2
- Released
- September 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Creative Assembly
- Franchise
- Total War
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Much like Battle For Middle-Earth, Total War: Warhammer is the sort of game that fans of the franchise will fantasize about but not expect to see in reality. Total War: Warhammer was released in 2016, and a positive reception meant that work quickly began on a sequel.
Warhammer 2's fantasy themes are far more than just a gimmick. They offer a unique layer of depth and strategy to a game like StarCraft by giving players a vast range of unique units to contend with and control. The third entry is also a fantastic conclusion to this trilogy.
Age Of Mythology
Legend, Myth, And Epic Battles
Age of Mythology
- Released
- October 30, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ensemble Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Tactical
As the title implies, the Age of Mythology is an Age of Empires spin-off. The characters offer a fascinating layer of depth to the classic Age of Empires gameplay. Age of Mythology is a fantastic game in its own right and earns a higher spot on this list of games like StarCraft for its fictional setting.
The game focuses on Egyptian, Greek, and Norse mythology and features key mythological figures like Zeus and Ra. It has similar mechanics to Age of Empires, with resource management, base building, and unit deployment again being key to the gameplay.