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The 25 Best RTS Games of All Time

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During the early 1990s, game designer Brett Sperry uttered a phrase that is now considered a gaming lexicon. While marketing the game he was the producer of (Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty), he coined the "real-time strategy" moniker to give fans a better understanding of what his game entails. Ever since then, that sub-genre of strategy games has grown into a major pillar of PC gaming. Perhaps real-time strategy games have never quite had the most mainstream spotlight on them, but for decades now, dedicated fans of them will put up hundreds of hours into masterpieces of the genre. Below, we did our research and put together a well-rounded list of the 25 best RTS games of all time, taking into consideration influence in the genre, depth, story, and more crucial factors.

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Best RTS Games

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1. ‘Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition’

Available on: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC - Steam

Download Now, $4.99

2. ‘Age of Mythology: Extended Edition’

Available on: PC - Steam

Download Now, $7.49

3. ‘Command & Conquer: Red Alert’

Available on: PC - Steam

Download Now, $4.99

4. ‘Company of Heroes’

Available on: PC - Steam

Download Now, $4.99

5. ‘Crusader Kings III’

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC - Steam

Download Now, $24.99

6. ‘Empires of the Undergrowth’

Available on: PC - Steam, Epic Games Store

Download Now, $15.99

7. ‘FTL: Faster Than Light’

Available on: PC - Steam, GOG.com, iOS

Download Now, $2.49

8. ‘Frostpunk’

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PC - Steam

Download Now, $5.99

9. ‘Ground Control’

Available on: PC - Steam, GOG.com

Download Now, $0.74

10. ‘Homeworld’

Available on: PC - Steam

Download Now, $3.49

11. ‘Myth: The Fallen Lords’

Available on: PC

Buy Now, $19.99

12. ‘Northgard’

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC - Steam, GOG.com, iOS, Android

Download Now, $7.49

13. ‘Rise of Nations’

Available on: PC - Steam

Download Now, $4.99

14. ‘Rome: Total War’

Available on: PC - Steam, iOS, Android

Download Now, $10.19

15. ‘Sid Meier’s Gettysburg!’

Available on: PC

Buy Now, $55

16. ‘Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebelion’

Available on: PC - Steam

Download Now, $13.59

17. ‘StarCraft’

Available on: PC - Battle.net

Download Now, $7.49

18. ‘Steel Division 2’

Available on: PC - Steam, GOG.com

Download Now, $9.99

19. ‘Stellaris’

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC - Steam, GOG.com

Download Now, $11.99

20. ‘Supreme Commander’

Available on: PC - Steam

Download Now, $2.59

21. ‘The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth II’

Available on: PC

Buy Now, $129.88

22. ‘Total Annihilation’

Available on: PC - Steam

Download Now, $4.99

23. ‘Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos’

Available on: PC - Battle.net

Download Now, $14.99

24. ‘Wargame: Red Dragon’

Available on: PC - Steam

Download Now, $7.49

25. ‘Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II’

Available on: PC - Steam, GOG.com

Download Now, $3.99
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