The RTS genre may not be particularly beginner-friendly, but it continues to grow in popularity. We’re taking a look at the 10 best RTS games ever, ranking them to see which ones you should still be playing in 2025.
Credit: Ensemble Studios
A console game on the list of the best RTS games ever? It’s more likely than you’d think. Halo Wars took an iconic IP, put a new spin on it, and showed that the real-time strategy genre could work on consoles without losing too much of its identity. A fantastic effort from Ensemble Studios, holding up to date even as other Halo games crash and burn.
Credit: Westwood Studios
In Commander & Conquer: Red Alert, the faction you choose affects your play style. Both sides have their own strengths and weaknesses, which players must adapt to on the fly. This is in contrast to many other RTS games, where factions are only different superficially.
Credit: Relic Entertainment
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II features some of the most unique gameplay of any game here. Base-building, an RTS staple, is completely removed, with a heavier focus on combat than most other RTS games. Its nonlinear campaign is a ton of fun for all Warhammer fans, but its multiplayer really is the star of the show.
Credit: Gearbox Software
Homeworld is ludicrously ambitious for a 1999 game. Telling a deep sci-fi story, the game follows a similar gameplay loop to many of the other best RTS games – gather resources, build units, kill enemies. However, the multiplayer component of Homeworld really allows it to shine and stand out among other games in the genre.
Credit: Cavedog Entertainment
Total Annihilation makes for fantastic sci-fi, as well as one of the great real-time strategy games. Its setting is a perfect backdrop for the unique game mechanics, many of which innovated in ways that are still relevant today. It doesn’t quite hold up as well as some of the other games here, but it was arguably the King of the genre back in 1997.
Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos is the best Warcraft game there is. Gamers can play through the Burning Legion’s attempt to conquer Azeroth in a thrilling single-player campaign, with four playable races offering a unique experience.
Credit: Relic Entertainment
Company of Heroes was a massively successful foray into World War 2 for the RTS genre. With a campaign spanning numerous iconic WW2 battlegrounds and a multiplayer mode that allowed gamers to play as both the Allies and Axis, Company of Heroes remains one of the best RTS games around, and is yet to be surpassed by any of its sequels.
Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
StarCraft‘s impact comes not in innovation, but in balance. It takes everything players love about the best RTS games, and balances them to perfection. StarCraft never feels unfair, and does a great job of intertwining the story with gameplay. Don’t let its 1998 release date fool you – the original StarCraft remains among the best real-time strategy games ever.
Credit: Forgotten Empires
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is by far the greatest way to experience the legendary 1999 title. Arriving alongside a brand-new expansion and improved AI, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition sees players gather resources to build up their towns, while building an army to take over the map. The game progresses through four different “Ages” spanning 1,000 years, unlocking new technology to use in battle along the way. It’s still an absolute blast to play in the modern day.
Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
Just about everything the original game did, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty does better, and that’s no small feat. The game expands the deep StarCraft lore even further, while continuing to innovate on key areas of gameplay. The impressive modding tools gave StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty years of longevity, to the point where StarCraft III is still nowhere to be seen. For us, this is the best RTS game ever made, and we don’t quite know what it would take to top it.
LOL
CS2
Dota 2
Valorant
Fortnite
Call of Duty
Mobile Games
Gaming
Wow, a greatest rts of all time list that includes Halo Wars…., nice. Never played T.A., but the rest of the list seems in order. I’d personally switch 1 & 2, but that’s probably because I’ve got a lot more time into AOE II.