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Best real-time strategy games on GamesNostalgia

The real-time strategy genre, commonly known as RTS, has its roots in the late 1980s, when developers began experimenting with the idea of strategic control in a real-time environment. While not pure RTS by today’s definitions, games like Populous by Bullfrog and Command H.Q. by Dani Bunten introduced several key mechanics: indirect control of units, resource-based progression, and action unfolding in real time rather than turn-based. These early titles laid the conceptual groundwork for what would become a full-fledged genre.

The turning point came in 1992 with Dune II: The Battle For Arrakis by Westwood Studios. This game defined many of the core elements now associated with RTS: base construction, tech trees, resource harvesting, fog of war, and direct unit control in a top-down perspective. Unlike its predecessors, Dune II implemented these features in a cohesive, user-friendly interface, essentially establishing the RTS genre’s identity. The game’s success demonstrated the potential for real-time strategic gameplay and directly influenced a generation of titles.

Around the same time, games like The Settlers offered a different take on real-time strategy. While focused more on economic development and logistics than combat,The Settlers introduced the idea of simulating a functioning economy with autonomous units, adding a layer of depth to the genre. However, the true explosion of the RTS genre occurred with Blizzard’s WarCraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994, and even more so with Warcraft II: Tides Of Darkness in 1995. These titles refined the formula with strong narratives, polished interfaces, and the introduction of multiplayer battles, helping RTS break into the mainstream.

The mid-to-late 1990s saw a golden age of RTS. Westwood returned with Command & Conquer in 1995 and its alternate-history spinoff Command & Conquer: Red Alert in 1996, offering fast-paced combat and iconic full-motion video briefings. Ensemble Studios released Age of Empires in 1997, which blended RTS with historical themes and complex economic systems. Blizzard’s Starcraft raised the bar again in 1998, delivering a science fiction setting with perfectly balanced asymmetrical factions and a legendary campaign. Finally, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings in 1999 cemented itself as one of the most enduring and beloved RTS titles, praised for its depth, scale, and historical accuracy.

Together, these games defined the mechanics, aesthetics, and ambitions of real-time strategy. They created a framework that still influences the genre today, and their legacy remains strong among players and developers alike.

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings windows

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a historical real-time strategy game created by Ensemble Studios. It was published by Microsoft in 1999 for Windows and Macintosh. As you can...

Year: 1999 Genre: Strategy

europe historical battle isometric medieval middle east real-time rts strategy

Age of Empires windows

Age of Empires is a historical real-time strategy game created by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft on October 15, 1997, for Windows. Later it was also published for Mac OS on August 22, 1998.

Year: 1997 Genre: Strategy

classical antiquity history isometric real-time rts strategy war

Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines windows

Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines is the first chapter of a famous tactical game series created by the Spanish studio Pyro and published by Eidos. This first game, designed by Gonzalo ...

Year: 1998 Genre: Strategy

europe historical battle military rts squad management stealth strategy tactics war ww2

Warcraft II: Tides Of Darkness dos

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness is the sequel to the first real-time strategy game created by Blizzard, WarCraft: Orcs & Humans. This second chapter of the fantasy RTS was develop...

Year: 1995 Genre: Strategy

fantasy real-time rts steampunk strategy war

Dune II: The Battle For Arrakis amigados

Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty is a real-time strategy game created by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Games in 1992. The game, also known as Dune II: Battle for Arrak...

Year: 1992 Genre: Strategy

movies real-time rts science fiction strategy war

Starcraft windowsmac-osx

StarCraft is one of the most influential real-time-strategy games ever created and one of the most important video games of all time. It was developed by Blizzard Entertainment, and it was initially released in 1998 for Windows.

Year: 1998 Genre: Strategy

aliens freeware real-time rts science fiction strategy

The Settlers III windows

The Settlers III is the third chapter of the famous real-time/city-building strategy game by Blue Byte. It was released in 1998 for Windows. This third chapter stands as one of th...

Year: 1998 Genre: Strategy

ancient egypt business simulation city building classical antiquity isometric real-time rts strategy

Command & Conquer: Red Alert dos

Command & Conquer: Red Alert is a real-time strategy game created by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin in 1996 for MS-DOS and Windows 95. It was later ported to PlayStation.

Year: 1996 Genre: Strategy

europe real-time rts science fiction strategy war

The Settlers II dos

The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici is the second chapter of the popular series of city building real time strategy games created by Blue Byte software. It was published by Blue Byte...

Year: 1997 Genre: Strategy

business simulation city building classical antiquity real-time rts strategy

Earth 2140 dos

Earth 2140 is a real-time strategy game released in 1997 for MS-DOS and later Windows. It was developed by Polish studio Reality Pump (then known as TopWare’s in-house team "Trans Fiction").

Year: 1997 Genre: Strategy

dystopia real-time rts science fiction strategy

The Settlers amigados

The Settlers is a medieval city-building simulation game by Blue Byte Software, first released in 1993 for Commodore Amiga and in 1995 for MS-DOS. In America, it was published as Serf City: Life Is Feudal.

Year: 1993 Genre: Strategy

2 players amiga original game business simulation city building real-time rts strategy

WarCraft: Orcs & Humans dos

Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, also known as Warcraft I, is the first game in the popular Warcraft series created by Blizzard Entertainment. It's a fantasy real-time strategy game (RTS) ...

Year: 1994 Genre: Strategy

fantasy multiplayer real-time rts strategy war

Command & Conquer dos

Command & Conquer is a real-time strategy game developed by Westwood Studios, and published by Virgin Interactive in 1995 for MS-DOS. Made by the same creators of Dune II: The Bat...

Year: 1995 Genre: Strategy

europe freeware real-time rts science fiction strategy war

Homeworld windows

Homeworld is a sci-fi real-time strategy/simulation game created by Relic Entertainment and published by Sierra in 1999 for Windows PC. The game concept is very straightforward: ta...

Year: 1999 Genre: Strategy

3d real-time rts science fiction simulation space management space sim strategy