Age of Empires is a strong contender for the most beloved real-time strategy franchise to ever grace a PC. Its blend of base building and resource management, along with a healthy dose of engaging, large-scale battles, has defined the genre for years. But even the most dedicated fans sometimes crave greener pastures.
Every Age Of Empires Game, Ranked
Age of Empires is one of the most enduring franchises in gaming history and a cornerstone of the RTS genre. What's the best title in the series?
The player who has exhausted every campaign, bested every skirmish, or just wants to see what else is out there will find that many games exist that capture the spirit of Ensemble Studios’ classic, each with its own twist on empire-building.
Tzar: The Burden Of The Crown
Real-Time Strategy For Fantasy Lovers
Tzar: The Burden of the Crown
- Released
- January 27, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- Windows
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
Strategy gamers may remember Tzar: The Burden of the Crown as a hidden gem from the turn-of-the-millennium RTS wave. This overlooked title borrows the general structure of AoE - resource collection, base building, and epochal warfare - but flips the script with a fantasy twist and some forward-thinking mechanics.
Tzar’s possesses a flexible tech tree that lets players shape their civilization in one of four paths: religious, magic, war, or trade. Each one offers different strategies. The ambitious campaign weaves political intrigue with large-scale battles, while Hero units and magical abilities add a layer of unpredictability that rewards timely gambits. Tzar’s map editor and custom scenario tools are among the best of their era, allowing fans to craft their own epics.
War Selection
A Competitive RTS Experience With Progression Through The Ages
War Selection
- Released
- October 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Glyph Worlds
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Few RTS games are free-to-play, and War Selection is one of them. This game allows the player to progress through seven different ages, from the Stone Age to the modern day. The gameplay loop is quite similar to that of Age of Empires 4, as the player will need to be on the lookout for resources to upgrade their buildings, produce new weapons, and recruit more soldiers.
Aside from single-player modes, the game also features competitive 1v1 and 2v2 modes. There are multiple factions in the game with access to different kinds of weaponry in each age.
Rise Of Nations
The First Stop For AoE Fans
Rise of Nations
- Released
- May 20, 2003
- ESRB
- T For Teen: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Big Huge Games, Westlake Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
If there’s one title that can be named the spiritual successor to Age of Empires, it’s Rise of Nations. Developed by Big Huge Games, Rise of Nations combines the familiar age-hopping shenanigans with real-time action. Players guide a nation from the Ancient Age to the Information Age, unlocking new units and tech while they expand across a Risk-style world map.
Rise of Nations integrates macro and micro strategy. Instead of just turtling up and hoarding wood and food, players will jockey for territory and manage attrition in dynamic border wars. Battles in the late game become globe-spanning affairs as tanks clash with pikemen and bombers level medieval cities. The territory system makes every inch of the map a fiercely contested resource, which forces players to think carefully about their own cities as well as their position. For Age of Empires fans, Rise of Nations is an absolute must.
Command & Conquer: Generals
A Classic RTS With Three Incredible Campaigns
Command & Conquer: Generals
- Released
- February 10, 2003
- Developer(s)
- EA Pacific, i5works, Aspyr
- Franchise
- Command & Conquer
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Real-Time Strategy
Command & Conquer fans will never forgive Electronic Arts for canceling Generals 2, which used to be one of the world's most anticipated RTS games. After Red Alert 2, EA took a break from that series and introduced Generals, depicting modern-day warfare between three powers in the world: the United States, China, and Revolutionists.
Offering a unique campaign for each one of the factions, it didn't take long for Generals to become one of the best RTS games at the time. The variety of offensive and defensive units for each group was quite authentic, which was why it became a massive success back then.
Halo Wars
A RTS Spinoff Of One Of The Greatest Sci-Fi FPS Franchises Of All Time
Halo Wars
- Released
- March 3, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ensemble Studios, Robot Entertainment
- Franchise
- Halo
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Tactical
The Halo series is one of the most popular FPS franchises of all time, even if some people felt like Halo Infinite did not live up to the high standards set by the series. Still, the single-player campaign was a highlight, with its open-world integrations being fairly seamless.
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Given how popular Halo is, it's no surprise that the series has enjoyed its fair share of spinoffs. One such title is Halo Wars, an RTS-themed game where players must tackle a wealth of missions as they build bases and use their powerful units to take out enemies with a fair bit of preparation. The strategy elements of this title may ring a bit hollow for players, but Halo Wars more than makes up for it with stellar cinematics, a fun story, and an excellent interpretation of the Halo universe that adds some much-needed credence to this IP. The fact that the studio behind Age of Empires 4 worked on this title makes Halo Wars an easy recommendation for these fans.
Warcraft 3
One Of The Richest, Most Imaginative Settings Ever Devised For An RTS
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
- Released
- July 3, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
There's a reason why so many fans were enraged to see the state in which Warcraft 3: Reforged was launched. Not only did it prevent people from enjoying a version of the game that is clearly superior to Reforged, but it also feels like a lazy release from a developer that hasn't been at its best.
Even after all the concessions that players need to make, Warcraft 3 still stands strong as one of the best RTS games ever made. The game is dripping in atmosphere, lore, and story, which is a rarity for most games in the genre. People seeking out a game like Age of Empires with a fantasy twist will love what Warcraft 3 brings to the table.
Sid Meier’s Civilization 6
A Great Choice If You Prefer Turn-Based Strategy
Sid Meier's Civilization 6
- Released
- October 21, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Drug Reference, Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
Sid Meier’s Civilization franchise may be best known for its turn-based gameplay, but there’s plenty here for AoE fans to sink their teeth into. Civilization 6 tasks players with guiding a society from humble beginnings to global dominance, with a focus on big-picture decision-making.
Even though the action unfolds at a slower pace than AoE, the central pleasures remain: expanding cities, developing new tech, and waging war against historical rivals. The hex-based map and “districts” system add new layers to city planning, while the AI leaders have genuine personalities and will remember slights. There are several avenues to victory in Civ 6, from military conquest to science or culture, ensuring that might doesn’t always make right. For players who want to try their hand at turn-based world domination, Civ 6 is a perfect counterpoint to AoE’s real-time action.
Empire Earth
Age Of Empires On Steroids
Empire Earth
- Released
- January 1, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar New England, Activision, Vivendi Universal
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
The phrase “Age of Empires on steroids” gets thrown around a lot. Empire Earth earns it, though. Developed by Stainless Steel Studios and helmed by AoE co-creator Rick Goodman, Empire Earth expands the formula in multiple directions. Its sprawling campaigns and random maps cover a huge time span, from prehistoric caves to nanotech-laced futures, with several epochs and a deep tech tree to wrap one’s head around.
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Resource gathering and base-building will be immediately familiar to AoE veterans, and the scale of Empire Earth is hard to ignore. Massive armies, air forces, nuclear weapons, and the pace of technological development keep every match different from the last. Seeing knights square off against cybernetic mechs rarely gets old! Empire Earth’s level of detail is evident no matter where players look, from its customizable civilizations to its scenario editor. The game is perfect for strategy fans who want a more off-the-rails version of Age of Empires.
Age Of Mythology
AoE With A Mythical Flavor
Age of Mythology
- Released
- October 30, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ensemble Studios
- Franchise
- Age of Mythology
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Tactical
A topic like this wouldn’t be complete without Ensemble Studios’ own popular spin-off. Age of Mythology takes the beloved AoE recipe and injects it with fantastical spectacle. Rather than wasting time with mere mortals, players summon gods and monsters from the myths of Greece, Egypt, and Norse legend. The result is a game that feels both comfortingly familiar and also new.
The gameplay still revolves around gathering resources and building various structures, but each civilization’s unique myth units and god powers spice up the proceedings. The tactical options are as flashy as they are effective. Meteor strikes? Check. Frost Giants? Check. The campaign is one of the best among its peers, filled as it is with memorable set-piece battles. Those who pine for old-school AoE but filled with dragons and lightning bolts know that Age of Mythology is the obvious next step.
Stronghold Crusader
Sieges Don’t Get Any Better
Stronghold Crusader
- Released
- July 31, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Stronghold Crusader is a castle sim that brings siege warfare to life in the most fun way possible. While Age of Empires has its share of mangonels and battering rams, Stronghold Crusader makes the art of attack and defense its reason for existing. Players have to manage resources, train armies, and at the same time, design intricate fortifications to withstand enemy assaults.
Stronghold Crusader is all about creative problem-solving. Traps and the clever use of elevation can make or break a defense. Economic management, on the other hand, is a bit different compared to AoE, with players micromanaging bread supplies, ale rations, and the happiness of their peasants. In addition, multiplayer matches tend to be drawn-out affairs where a single breach can spell doom, and the campaign’s “Crusader Trail” provides a tough gauntlet for veterans.