The Best RTS Games For Strategy Fans

StarCraft 2

You can't be an RTS fan and not have heard of StarCraft 2. The legendary RTS' campaign is talked about to this day, and its strong mechanics have carried it through the rise of live-streaming video games. Each installment in the trilogy explores different corners of the StarCraft universe, and they all contributed heavily to the competitive scene that reached its peak in its heyday.

StarCraft 2 can be downloaded from Blizzard on PC.

Homeworld Remastered Collection

The Homeworld series is known for its intense space battles, and you can experience four games that made the franchise popular, with enhancements, in this collection. With over a hundred ships to choose from and an extra dimension to navigate them through in space, the Homeworld games are excellent for any sci-fi fan. If you love watching epic space battles, try out Homeworld and you'll actually live those experiences. The sense of scale that comes from Homeworld in realizing different civilizations across a universe is staggering,

The Homeworld Remastered Collection is available on PC.

Company of Heroes 2

If you're in the mood for a boots-on-the-ground experience, look no further than Company of Heroes 2. While a third game is also there, we like the second one more because of how complete the content is. Tanks, flame-throwers, artillery, they're all tools you can use to crush your enemies, that is unless the weather is on the enemy's side. Its campaign cutscenes may look old, but they're very sincere in recreating beats from any classic period piece you may have seen.

Company of Heroes 2 is available on PC.

Age of Empires 4

The Age of Empires series has been a mainstay of the RTS genre for decades, and that legacy continues with AoE 4. It doesn't break the wheel in any way, but sometimes just being safe is enough. The game's anniversary edition adds new civilizations, maps, and the best of all - mod support. Its adherence to sticking with real history may bore some while attracting history nerds, but that makes it stand out from the crowd.

Age of Empires 4 is playable on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, and is available on Xbox Game Pass as well.

Halo Wars 2

The Halo Wars games successfully translate the fun of shooting Covenant grunts and brutes from a first-person perspective to an isometric, strategic view. Following the crew of the Spirit of Fire and their battle against the Banished, Halo Wars 2 is an essential entry in the franchise, directly preceding the events of Halo Infinite. The campaign may be too simple for RTS veterans, and that's where the excellent Stronghold, Domination, and innovative Blitz modes come in, the latter combining mechanics from deck-building card games with the strategy genre.

Halo Wars 2 is available on PC and Xbox One, and can be downloaded with Xbox Game Pass as well.

The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2

The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2 is the best (and one of the few) RTS games in the franchise. It's a shame that EA struck down its servers, although you can still play LOTR: Battle for Middle-Earth on PC, which is now enhanced with mods. The sequel expanded on the concept from the first game, allowing players to build unlimited structures, use hero cards based on iconic LOTR characters, and even use the power of the One Ring to rule them all. Those who prefer turn-based games can also have fun with its War of the Ring mode.

Star Wars: Empire at War

A Star Wars game with RTS mechanics? Sign me up. Very few games in the franchise ever explore the full scale of a galactic war, but Empire at War does it in spades. You can choose to play as either the Rebellion or the Empire, take the fight to space, use the mighty Death Star, or control troops on land. It's a 4X strategy game where you control the flow of resources, and power, in the galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars: Empire at War is available on PC and Mac.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2

The Warhammer series is known for its ridiculousness and push for perfectionism across a variety of genres, and Dawn of War 2 exceeds on both counts for the RTS genre. No base building means you get to focus solely on the action, and that's where Dawn of War 2 delivers in spades. Once you're done playing the good guys in the campaign, hop into the multiplayer to explore the perspectives of different factions. The spectacular horde mode will also let you play out your hero fantasy in a ruthless universe out to get you.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 is available on PC.