15 RTS Games That Are Perfect For Newcomers To The Genre

Jumping into the RTS genre can be pretty overwhelming for newcomers. Here are some games that are beginner-friendly.

The upcoming launch of RTS giants like Age of Empires IV has brought a huge wave of excitement for potential fans. And the best games to get the first Real-time Strategy experience are numerous. RTS games (or real-time strategy Games) are a very fast-paced version of their progenitors, strategy games. RTS games force the players to adjust and respond in a real-time scenario, unlike normal strategy games. This makes each game very fast-paced and dynamic.

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While the official trailer of Age of Empires IV has riled up many of the long-time RTS fans, it has also piqued the minds of the less experienced. However, difficulty in learning in a competitive culture can deter many. But there are plenty of options for new players to jump into, and here are some of them.

Updated October 20, 2022, by Jack Pursey:The RTS genre has a reputation for having a steep learning curve, which puts many people off the style of game. This is a great shame, as there are a plethora of fantastic RTS games that provide hundreds of hours of entertainment. Moreover, some of the genre’s great titles are specifically designed to be beginner-friendly, ensuring that newcomers to the genre are accommodated. To give those interested in jumping into the world of RTS some more beginner-friendly games to consider, we’ve expanded this list.

15

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II

Release Date: February 28, 2006

Available Platforms: PC and Xbox 360

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II is a particularly great choice for RTS newcomers if they’re already fans of the Lord of the Rings franchise, as the familiarity that they’ll have with units, maps, and movesets will come in handy.

However, Batlle for Middle-Earth is also a good pick for those not previously interested in Tolkien’s universe, as the game is accommodating to beginners with tutorials that impressively manage to be detailed without being overwhelming for those who have never even tried a real-time strategy game before.

14

Sins of a Solar Empire

Release Date: February 4, 2008

Available Platforms: PC

Sins of a Solar Empire is one of the best-named sci-fi games of the last decade, and despite its hard-sounding title, it’s actually one of the best RTS for beginners. Its gameplay is straightforward and reminiscent of Civilization. It’s well-balanced and built with easy-to-grasp progression systems, though it might take some getting used to all the technobabble.

It’s an older game, too, having been released nearly a decade and a half ago in 2008, and it is likely to run perfectly on just about any modern system.

13

Northgard

Release Date: February 22, 2017

Available Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

Northgard is a beginner-friendly but hard-to-master recent entry in the RTS genre. It puts the player in control of a clan of Vikings looking to secure their dominance in a newfound world. The colorful (and almost cartoony) graphics make it stand out amongst similar fantasy strategy games.

Most RTS games have a basic campaign mode, like in Starcraft 2 and Halo Wars, and Northgard is no exception. However, there’s a lot more to the game than the narrative, and it’s as replayable as it is a feast for the eyes.

12

Stellaris

Release Date: May 9, 2016

Available Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

Stellaris is an incredibly deep sci-fi RTS that centers around building a galactic empire from the very beginning. Like many RTS games, Stellaris features a progression system that changes over time, offering players new technologies, powers, and attributes as they continue to expand.

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As complex as the game is, it features great tutorials and a variety of difficulties to get to know how the mechanics of Stellaris work. It’s by no means a difficult game to grasp, but there are a lot of things going on that can take a little while to properly learn.

11

Age Of Empires II: Definitive Edition

Release Date: November 14, 2019

Available Platforms: PC

This title is easily the most iconic RTS game to ever exist.Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is a tasteful brush-up on Ensemble Studio’s original masterpiece. As one of the many iconic Empires throughout history, players have to skillfully balance resources as they progress through different ages. These resources are used to unlock better units and help build wonders like the Roman Coliseum.

Meanwhile, players have to fend off opposing nations and take over resource pools all over the shared map. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition gets a special mention but doesn’t get its own spot on the list as it can be slightly more difficult for newer players to jump into.

10

Total War: Warhammer Series

Total War: Warhammer

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Available Platforms: PC

Total War: Warhammer 2

Release Date: September 28, 2017

Available Platforms: PC

Total War: Warhammer 3

Release Date: February 17, 2022

Available Platforms: PC

The Warhammer franchise is one of the biggest expanded game verses that spans many genres and forms of media. Thus, it is only fair for newer players to be wary of this title. But players can rest assured that Creative Assembly and Sega’s brainchild, Total War: Warhammer 2, is one of the easiest titles for the first RTS experience.

Not to forget the easy entry it gives you into the extensive Warhammer fandom. This series is perfect for all RTS beginners, especially Warhammer fans.

9

Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos

Release Date: July 3, 2002

Available Platforms: PC

This title not only holds credit for being one of the pioneers of this genre but also the sole reason for the existence of yet another. Launched originally in 2002, Blizzard’s Warcraft 3 is the original fantasy RTS. It is also the first to introduce heroes and hero abilities to the genre. Its easy-to-understand nature has made sure that its player base is growing to this day. In fact, a custom map called Defense of the Ancients gained so much of a fan following that Valve took upon the idea years later and created DOTA 2.

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Warcraft 3: Reforged is the recently launched official remastered edition of the game, which is being regularly updated and fine-tuned. It is easily the perfect place for any new players to start, be it through the offline campaign or with the robust multiplayer community, though it has been criticized for a variety of reasons.

8

StarCraft 2

Release Date: July 27, 2010

Available Platforms: PC

Speaking of multiplayer communities, Blizzard’s StarCraft franchise, or more specificallyStarCraft 2, has been dominating the competitive RTS scene for over ten years and shows no signs of stopping.

Highly tense multiplayer matches are the key feature of this title. With a very diverse yet sharp multiplayer experience, StarCraft 2 sits apart from the others on the list. The StarCraft series has also made many RTS games like “Zerg Rush” and “Base Race” famous.

7

Company of Heroes Series

Company of Heroes

Release Date: September 12, 2006

Available Platforms: PC, iOS, and Android

Company of Heroes 2

Release Date: June 25, 2013

Available Platforms: PC

Not all of the best RTS for beginners are set in make-believe settings. In fact, Relic Entertainment’s Company of Heroes series prides itself on quite the opposite. With both parts of the series set in World War 2, players are given control of both sides of the war depending on the mission as they get in various iconic operations like Operation Barbarossa and the liberation of France.

Bringing a more realistic and gruesome take on RTS games, Company of Heroes is sure to be the game for those who enjoy learning about the history of the Second Great War. And with the newly introduced cross-play feature, players now have even more reason to jump into the game.

6

Halo Wars…

Release Date: February 26, 2009

Available Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

Halo Wars originally debuted on the Xbox 360 soon after the release of the third entry in the series. It was widely considered to be the most casual-friendly RTS game at the time, partially thanks to its intuitive use of the Xbox 360 control scheme.

With that said, the game does play much faster with a mouse and keyboard. The Definitive Edition of the original game is available on Steam, including all DLC and modernized visuals.

5

… And Halo Wars 2

Release Date: February 21, 2017

Available Platforms: PC and Xbox One

Newer players might be afraid of jumping into RTS games because they do not know any IPs. And the solution to that problem is 343 Industries and Creative Assembly’s Halo Wars 2. Halo Wars 2 is an improvement over the original game as it focuses on the core features of the RTS genre instead of shiny mechanics.

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The title is packed with vehicular action and iconic Elite units and is bound to get players’ blood rushing. Moreover, the title’s storyline canonically precedes that of Halo: Combat Evolved and proceeds that of its predecessor. This game serves as the portal for any Halo enthusiast to jump into the genre.

4

Command and Conquer

Release Date: September 26, 1995

Available Platforms: PC, Sega Saturn, PlayStation 1, and Nintendo 64

If any RTS franchise could be said to have it all, it is the Command and Conquer franchise. With games set in environments ranging from the setting of the famous IP of Dune 2 to a hyper-futuristic Sci-Fi setting, and with availability from Mobile Phones to the most expensive consoles, this series has not once failed to satisfy RTS fans over the 25 years of entertainment it has provided. And with the recent launch of Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection, entry into the IP could never be easier.

So, regardless of whether one is a fan of vintage games or the latest media, and regardless of whether they play on their mobile phones or their highest-end Desktop, Command and Conquer is the IP for anyone wanting to get into RTS. Oh, and did we mention the live-acted cutscenes instead of the usual rendered kind?

3

Stronghold: Warlords

Release Date: March 9, 2021

Available Platforms: PC

Not all players aim to defeat their enemies in RTS using aggressive unit micro-ing and hyper-managed troop deployment. Some players wish to out-value opponents with superior resource management and structural advantage. And for such kinds of players, Firefly Studio’s Stronghold: Warlords is the game.

The Stronghold series has been famous ever since the first iteration for its gritty approach to war. More often than not, war is not fought by battles but by attrition; the title is lauded for how close it has come to stimulating this reality. The Stronghold series even provides access to such an RTS experience on both PC and mobile.

2

Machines at War 3

Release Date: September 21, 2012

Available Platforms: PC

There are multiple franchises with Mobile playable variants available, yet none of these hold a candle to Machines at War 3 as far as mobile accessibility is concerned. The medieval fantasy set title lets the player command a warring kingdom. In fact, many say that the game has the best UI/UX experience among all mobile RTS titles.

This game is easily the best option for primarily mobile phone gamers. The only fully 2-D game on the list, this title is bound to tickle your grey matter. Not to forget the old-school army units and Commando-esque look that is bound to fill old-timers with nostalgia.

1

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Release Date: May 23, 2019

Available Platforms: PC

Total War: Three Kingdoms is an RTS set in the 3-kingdom period of China. Players can choose a faction out of 12 to push to the top and unify China. The title offers unit-group-based gameplay, meaning that any player can have only specific units on the battlefield at a time. This slower approach to RTS allows newer players to get a hold of the game a bit more easily.

The game features two game modes. One of them is a bit more story-like, while the other focuses on historical authenticity. Players can choose famous generals from history to command and exploit, and each general, in turn, comes with specific units unique to them.

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