Real-time strategy (RTS) games were the backbone of PC gaming during its early days, and recently they’ve been back and in greater numbers than ever. In this article, we delve into the vast world of the Best RTS Games for PC in 2024, exploring top contenders like the timeless classic “Age of Empires 2” and the gripping warfare of World War 2’s revolutionary “Company of Heroes.” to discover the crème de la crème of the genre, with most of these games conveniently available on the renowned gaming platform, Steam. Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or a newcomer to the genre, this comprehensive guide ensures you stay at the forefront of the Best RTS for PC in 2024.
This list is in order of my favouritism as of the writing of this article, so it’s always subject to change. Feel free to disagree and let me know if I missed any seminal RTS that should be making an appearance!
20 – Red Alert 2
Red Alert 2 holds a special place in the hearts of many, and personally, it was a game that filled my childhood gaming with unparalleled joy, being the second RTS I have ever played (the first being Age of Empires II). This classic real-time strategy (RTS) gem stands tall as one of the best RTS games you can play today, evoking a sense of nostalgia and timeless enjoyment alongside some of the best sprite-based graphics ever made.
The Red Alert 2 combines a captivating storyline with iconic factions that have become synonymous with the Command & Conquer series. The game’s unique blend of strategy and humour creates (The charm of its FMV scenes is legendary) an unforgettable experience, making it a beloved classic that continues to resonate with gamers across generations.
Red Alert 2’s vibrant graphics, memorable (and, to this very day, singular) units, and strategic depth contribute to its enduring popularity. The game’s intuitive interface and accessible mechanics make it an excellent choice for both seasoned strategists and newcomers to the genre. Whether you were orchestrating masterful military manoeuvres or unleashing the devastating power of the Chronosphere, Red Alert 2 never failed to deliver in both sprite spectacle and silliness. Who doesn’t want to go back in time and save Einstein?
19 – Dawn of War 2
Launched when Relic was scoring hit after hit,Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IIdistanced itself from its predecessor by focusing on smaller-scale tactics, with every unit having several skills and requiring a fair bit of micromanaging (it was more MOBA than some). It ditched the base building aspect and focused a lot on the four F’s that made Company of Heroes so beloved: fire, fix, flank, and finish.
After Dawn of War 3 failed to live up to its predecessor, Dawn of War 2 still claims the title of one of the best Warhammer titles ever crafted and remains an enduring classic, hailed as one of the most innovative and interesting real-time strategy (RTS) games of its time (or all time? I’ll leave that to you). As one of the best RTS games you can play today, it offers a captivating blend of intense battles, and tactical depth, all the while immersing you in the expansive Warhammer universe.
Simply put, imagine Company of Heroes, but with Space Marines and Orks.
18 – Supreme Commander
The definition of insanity? To pack as many units as possible into a single map. Released in 2007, just a year after Company of Heroes,Supreme Commandercould not have been more different than prior’s year success story. If CoH zoomed into the small units tactics and micro, Supreme Commander zoomed out (literally), and brought massive armies fighting battles across long and short distances.
Its spectacle is still nearly unmatched to this day, and it remains a hallmark title for enthusiasts seeking epic-scale battles.
17 – Bad North: Jotunn Edition
A pretty neat concept, that brilliantly executes its minimalist real-time tactics by limiting the gameplay loop by having the player always on the defensive and the objective is to always prevent the Vikings from setting fire to the buildings on each island. In a world that’s always looking to “trim the fat” of strategy games, only Bad North seems to know how to do it.
“Bad North is comfort food. If you’re looking for something you can play just to keep your brain lights on, and your hands moving, but don’t feel like putting the effort into playing a more serious game, then Bad North could be that game.”
16 – Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
What set Sins of a Solar Empire apart was its seamless integration of 4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate) elements into real-time strategy, evolving a genre hybrid that, to this day, still manages to have an active player base of space enthusiasts. Its epic scale, sprawling star systems, and the dynamic interplay of diplomacy and warfare set it apart as one of the best RTS games of its era.
The excellent graphics paired up with an active modding scene are the cherries on top of a beautifully crafted cake. Want to play on the Mass Effect Universe? Modders got you covered. Halo? Yup. Star Wars? Please…
There’s a Sins of a Solar Empire 2 on the Epic Store in active development, and it will come to Steam once the game is complete.
15 – They Are Billions
Zombies make for the perfect excuse to build a real-time strategy game around “turtling”. Turtling is the game tactic we all enjoyed as kids of building a massive base with impenetrable defences and then just sitting back and relaxing as the AI send in wave after wave trying to tear down your fortress. Inside, people lived confined but happy lives, in a perfect functioning, self-sustaining economy, aloof to the fact that outside of your city walls lay only death and misery.
They Are Billionsis exactly that, a real-time strategy title where your job as mayor is to build defenses so tall and mighty that they must be able to stop hordes of billions… Well, maybe a couple dozen thousand would be more accurate.
They Are Billion is an underappreciated gem that never got the recognition it deserved when it came out in 2019 and mostly vanished from the public conscience.
14 – Rome 2: Total War
More of an honourable mention than anything else, because there’s some enjoyment to be had here, and because Creative Assembly, despite all their failures, has managed to turnRome IIfrom a terrible, borderline unplayable mess into one of the best Total War titles around. I just personally prefer to go back to the original, and with the remastered edition, there’s no reason not to, as you’ll see further down the list.
However, Rome II isn’t without its merits nowadays, after 10 years of updates and refinement. The campaign is way more developed than the original title, with better building chains and a deeper political system.
What sets it back is how faster battles play out and how the first Rome had a much more robust battle system that took into account unit collision, mass, and experience and simulated all these independently, instead of being based almost exclusively on hard class counters.
13 – Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
Each time the Real-Time Strategy (RTS) genre is brought up, Age of Empires II inevitably makes an appearance and will often steal the spotlight, even more than two decades after its original release.
It has solidified its place since its release in 1999 and continues to be a top choice in 2024.Age of Empires II: Definitive Editionoffers players the opportunity to construct and oversee their civilization while engaging in battles with other nations. Discover why it remains one of the best RTS in 2024 by experiencing the strategic brilliance of this seminal game.
“The game offers stunning graphics, improved AI, and new content, including four new civilizations and three new campaigns. The gameplay is both challenging and rewarding, and the multiplayer mode provides endless hours of fun. If you know nothing about the Middle Ages and want to start somewhere, have fun with well-designed single-player campaigns, and enjoy a revitalized classic you might have missed, then Age of Empires II The Definitive Edition is the game for you.”
12 – Age of Mythology
The truest definition of a classic,Age of Mythologyoriginally released 21 years ago by the team that created Age of Empires, Ensemble Studios. It sold over 1 million units in the year of its release, and in 2022, Age of Mythology: Retold was announced!
Age of Mythology revamped the series graphics to 3D and set itself in a fantastical setting where Gods, Men and mythological creatures all co-exist. I cannot put into words how much of this game I played as an 11-year-old kid when I got my hands on it. I played this to the point where the main theme is engraved into my brain, note per note.
What set Age of Mythology apart from Age of Empires was the excellent campaign that spawned all three pantheons (Greek, Norse and Egyptian) as you led Atlantian Admiral and war hero, Arkantos against the forces of Gargarensis. To this day, Arkantos is still amongst my favourite characters of any RTS.
11 – Starcraft 2
Starcraft 2is synonymous with one thing: Being the best esports RTS title ever created. It left an indelible mark as not just one of the best RTS games you can play today but also earning its place as one of the best RTS of all time, and would most certainly rank higher on this list if I wasn’t a single-player kind of guy. Renowned for its strategic depth, asymmetric factions and nailbiting fights, Starcraft has proven itself to be the epitome of enduring excellence in the real-time strategy genre.
Starcraft’s 2 impact on the gaming world is monumental. Its success in the competitive esports scene has elevated it to legendary status, with a legacy that’s both enviable and near impossible to replicate. The game’s three distinct factions, the Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss, offer players a diverse and balanced strategic experience, showcasing the hallmark of a true classic.
Before Blizzard fell to the dark side and became one of the most hated game developers and publishers, the company was known for making extremely polished games to the point that “Blizzard polish” was something every developer should strive for. Starcraft 2 hails from that period, and that means everything is just so tightly put together that it’s hard to find any gameplay faults. Its nuanced balance between factions and refined RTS conventions doesn’t leave much for doubt as to why Starcraft 2 became an instant classic as soon as it dropped, all the way back in 2010.
In 2017 the game went free to play and allows everyone to play through the original Wings of Liberty campaign. So where’s your excuse?
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