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What is the Best RTS game of all time?
- Thread starter PCTrainer
- Start date
Zed Clampet
Community Contributor
The only ones I play are from the Total War series. I actually wouldn't mind trying some other RTS and plan on playing Last Train Home soon.
In my opinion, StarCraft II is one of the best RTS games of all time. The balance between factions, competitive depth, and strong esports scene really set it apart.
From a mass audience perspective, I would say Age of Empires II probably holds the crown. It has remained popular for decades, received a successful Definitive Edition, and still has an active player base today.
Personally, my favorite RTS is Warcraft III. The campaign, hero system, and custom maps made it incredibly memorable and influential.
Honorable mentions:
Each of these brought something unique to the RTS genre.
From a mass audience perspective, I would say Age of Empires II probably holds the crown. It has remained popular for decades, received a successful Definitive Edition, and still has an active player base today.
Personally, my favorite RTS is Warcraft III. The campaign, hero system, and custom maps made it incredibly memorable and influential.
Honorable mentions:
- Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
- Company of Heroes
- Total Annihilation
Each of these brought something unique to the RTS genre.
Zloth
Community Contributor
I think Red Alert (the original) is the only one I ever finished.
World in Conflict was better, but I had more choices by that time and started playing something else before I finished. Also, Homeworld: Cataclysm (now called Homeworld: Emergence) was really fun for a long time.
World in Conflict was better, but I had more choices by that time and started playing something else before I finished. Also, Homeworld: Cataclysm (now called Homeworld: Emergence) was really fun for a long time.
For me, the crown has to go to the Command & Conquer series, with Red Alert being the absolute highlight. The blend of campy storytelling, fast-paced base-building, and satisfying unit combat made it genuinely addictive in a way few RTS games have managed to replicate. Red Alert in particular struck a perfect balance — accessible enough to pick up quickly, but deep enough to keep you coming back.
The original Command & Conquer deserves equal credit for laying the groundwork that defined the genre. It introduced the resource-harvesting, base-building formula that so many later titles borrowed from, and its FMV cutscenes gave it a personality that still feels iconic today.
Honorable mention to Red Alert 2 as well — arguably the most polished entry in the series and one of the most fun RTS experiences ever made.
The original Command & Conquer deserves equal credit for laying the groundwork that defined the genre. It introduced the resource-harvesting, base-building formula that so many later titles borrowed from, and its FMV cutscenes gave it a personality that still feels iconic today.
Honorable mention to Red Alert 2 as well — arguably the most polished entry in the series and one of the most fun RTS experiences ever made.
