StarCraft is hands down one of the legends of the real-time strategy (RTS) genre, and its sequel, StarCraft 2, is still played in some of the major international competitions across the globe. But it’s been a while since we’ve had anything new from the StarCraft universe, and some of us are starting to feel the itch for something fresh. If you’re a die-hard fan of commanding armies and executing the right strategy, you must be looking for something to fill that StarCraft-shaped hole in your gaming life. Good news: we’ve got you covered!
The RTS genre has been a standard in gaming for ages. Whether it’s leading troops in historic battles, watching mythological gods throw down, or battling in a futuristic sci-fi universe (thanks, StarCraft!), these games have given us all kinds of ways to outwit our enemies. And while StarCraft will forever hold a special place in our hearts (and our hard drives), it’s not the only game in town. There are some fantastic StarCraft alternatives that might surprise you, and they’re ready to fill the strategic hunger.
Since we can’t exactly time-travel to the next StarCraft release (if it ever comes), why not try some other RTS titles that are as thrilling, intense, and downright addictive? Here are some of the best RTS games like StarCraft that’ll leave you plotting, conquering, and maybe losing track of time—because who needs sleep when you’re this close to victory?
List of Best Games Like StarCraft
Luckily, there’ve been a bunch of new fantastic RTS games developed over the years. So, these are the few alternatives we recommend you to play for the same gaming vibe:
1. Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium War
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium War is this awesome sci-fi RTS game that dropped in 2007, thanks to Electronic Arts. If you’re already a fan of the Command & Conquer series, you’re gonna feel right at home and get ready for a wave of nostalgia.
Picking just one game from the Command & Conquer lineup can be a tough call because they all have their vibe and quality. If you’re looking for something classic, the original title is a solid pick, having a 94 rating score on Metacritic. In the game, you’ll run your own base like in any other RTS, and it’s up to you to use the resources you gather. Speaking of resources, you’ll be collecting Tiberium from all the shiny crystal spots scattered around the map.
2. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun? It’s this super cool real-time strategy game that stands out in today’s gaming scene. Instead of commanding huge armies with tons of units, you lead a tight-knit crew of five characters, who have unique special skills and abilities giving you flexibility in different fight situations.
It has a classic RTS vibe but mixes in some stealth game elements, so you’ve gotta think carefully about your next move. The game offers a fresh take on the genre with new campaign levels and some unique stealth challenges, all of which you’ll tackle with your five soldiers. You’ll often find yourself with many options, which can make things tricky. But after each win, you’ll feel like a total strategic ninja as you watch your enemies fall behind you.
Shadow Tactics nails that nostalgic feel while still being relevant in modern gaming. With its awesome characters, amazing visuals, and clever gameplay, it’s worth checking out.
3. Supreme Commander
Supreme Commander is yet another fantastic RTS game you should play as a StarCraft replacement. The game revolves around building a base, progressing through technological stages, and eventually conquering your opponents’ bases.
Supreme Commander is based in the 37th century, in the far future. The game’s strategic zoom was acclaimed when it was released in 2007. Players have great strategic perspectives of their encounters thanks to zoom. It also enables you to zoom out well enough to see the full map, which is remarkable. As a result, the Gas Powered Games did an excellent job of building each unit to a reasonable level, assuring that they blend in with the rest of the universe.
4. Halo Wars
The Halo franchise is famous for dropping some of the dopest first-person shooters ever. But guess what? There’s also a sick Halo RTS game called Halo Wars that you need to peep if you haven’t already. It’s a fresh take on the genre where you must control massive armies and lead them into battle against your foes.
When Halo Wars dropped in 2009, it was a vibe for both Halo and StarCraft fans. Ensemble Studios took the classic sci-fi world and flipped it into a real-time strategy game. They didn’t just throw out the old formula; they kept it real with RTS basics like building bases, leveling up units, and plotting out strategies.
Halo Wars is seriously one of the best RTS games out there, right up there with StarCraft, and it has a lot of similar elements. The main focus is combat and there’s a big emphasis on managing resources and cranking out units. And if you’re curious, you might wanna check out the system requirements for StarCraft 2 too.
5. Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
You absolutely can’t talk about the best RTS games without giving a huge shoutout to the legendary Age of Empires series. I know many of you have already dived into the awesomeness of this game, but let me tell you, you have to check out the revamped release: Age of Empires: Definitive Edition! It’s packed with all the classic goodness of the original, but with a fresh twist that will blow your mind.
With fantastic updated graphics and so many new features, it’s a completely new experience. Get ready for thrilling unit and technology research that makes this one of the most entertaining RTS experiences. The Definitive Edition isn’t only a rehash; it’s a complete overhaul with new scenarios and a bunch of exciting new civilizations to explore.
In the Age of Empires, you need to pick your civilization and begin from the Neolithic period and gradually progress towards the current era. Forge alliances and engage with a variety of other civilizations as you battle your way to glory. You must plan your civilization’s progress and keep one step ahead of your rivals in this game.
6. The Banner Saga
The Banner Saga is amongst the top-class real-time strategy games, and it was launched in 2014. Regarding the versatile playstyle and good narrative, the game has developed a small fan following. It also makes excellent use of animation to provide a distinct look.
In The Banner Saga, you’ve got two main things to juggle: keeping your caravan stocked up and your crew’s spirits high. When it comes to battles, you need to be smart about your attacks to minimize damage. It’s a bit of a puzzle, making you think about every little move you make, even the small stuff. Honestly, The Banner Saga deserves all the love it gets, especially for its amazing graphics and sound. The harsh beauty of the Scandinavian landscape reflects the struggles of the characters, painting a pretty bleak picture of a society on the brink of falling apart.
7. Ashes of the Singularity
Ashes of the Singularity had a rough start, the campaign was very bland, and it felt like there weren’t many units to choose from. But it’s come a long way thanks to ongoing updates and tweaks. Now, it’s seen as one of the good takes on the big RTS games out there.
Stardock Entertainment, the company behind classics like Sins of a Solar Empire and Galactic Civilizations, dropped Ashes of the Singularity back in 2016. What makes this game stand out from the rest is the crazy large battles happening all at once on massive maps, giving it an awesome futuristic feel. The game takes some cues from Total Annihilation and Company of Heroes, with squad-based vehicles and resource nodes that remind you of Relic’s legendary World War II games. Plus, it offers good formation reinforcement abilities that amp up the strategy.
8. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 is the successor to Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, which takes players on a journey unlike any other. The story of the game centers on the Spear of Khaine, a devastating weapon, and three armies pursuing it. It is a strategy game that mixes serious war tactics with a sci-fi backdrop from the iconic Warhammer world. Because of the solid mechanics and great storyline, it is nonetheless an appealing RTS experience to play.
The game is not just based on typical real-time tactics, but it emphasizes combat techniques instead of demanding you have proper control of the economy. You can collect resources by using infantry units to occupy strategic spots throughout the map. These then are reinforced to boost the resource-generating potential. Merging it with power plants gives the foundation of your resource requirements, and it’s a straightforward yet effective method.
9. Homeworld
Homeworld is set in space, which gives it a unique flare compared to other real-time strategy games. With that big shift, the story focuses on the core gameplay elements that we usually see in RTS titles. The latest installment, Homeworld 3, dropped on May 10, 2024, and was brought to life by Blackbird Interactive. If you’re on the lookout for a fresh sci-fi strategy game, this new release is one to check out.
Then there’s Homeworld: Remastered Collection, which has done an awesome job of polishing up the classic RTS games that used to be a pain to find. It’s been over 20 years since the original came out, but those epic space battles are still unmatched and stand the test of time.
10. Rise of Nations
Even though Rise of Nations dropped in 2003, it’s still one of the all-time greats in the RTS world. It throws a bunch of creative challenges your way and is very easy for players to start right away, which is something, not many strategy games can pull off. The game has a nice territorial setup that stops you from building too close to your base, but as you set up defenses and come up with new ideas, your little area can grow very quickly.
If you’re looking for the perfect sidekick to the Age of Empires series, look no further than Rise of Nations. They’ve even released an upgraded version called Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots, which packs in the original game along with some great new features like better graphics and full Steamworks support. The gameplay is not much different from Age of Empires, with a familiar look and feel.
You start in the Stone Age and work your way up to the modern era by gathering resources and building your empire. You have the option to select any one tribe from the 18 different available, each of them with their qualities and skills, giving the game plenty of interactivity.
