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Summary
TheAge of Empiresfranchise is a titan of the RTS genre. A mark of an excellent game is one that players feel they can’t put down.Age of Empirescertainly fits the bill in that regard. The series' influence is such that many other games have taken inspiration from the vaunted franchise over the years. Plenty of alternatives populate the market for fans who can’t get enough ofAge of Empires.
These games focus on city-building, RTS combat, grand strategy, or combining all three.AoEfans will be more than satisfied with the wealth of games that have taken inspiration from this series time and time again. These RTS games have built upon the series' basics while adding unique spins of their own to keep players interested in the long run. While somegames likeAge of Empiresare clearly inspired by this title, others do their own thing with varying levels of success. Both types of strategy games are worthwhile for players who want to either stick to something familiar or try something new and interesting.
Updated July 24, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:Age of Empires 4 is a great elevation in the series that lets players relive some of the greatest battles in history, but it is not the only game with superb RTS mechanics built for war.
There are dozens of other games on the market that deliver similar experiences either in different eras or with unique gameplay mechanics. The RTS genre is widely appreciated by PC gamers still, and that gives enough motivation for developers to create new adventures every year.
1ICBM: Escalation
The Dawn Of World War 3
Put your entire emphasis on warfare as there is no need to keep people happy!ICBM: Escalationis a battle-focused RTS experience that depicts modern warfare with tanks, fighter jets, and long-range missiles.
Players will get to manage their resources and divide between researching facilities to get access to new war tools and production facilities to strengthen the army. The game features the entire world with all the countries, and it comes with an online PvP mode next to a single-player campaign.
2Ultimate General: American Revolution
Help The American Colonists To Force British Army Out
For those who want battles with a larger scale and an abundance of troops,Ultimate General: American Revolutioncould be a good pick. The game tells the story of the historical battles between American Colonists and the British Army in the United States.
The game focuses more on warfare, but managing the finances is still a key to success. It’s important to use the resources in the right place and to engage in wars where the possibility of winning is more than losing. Aside from resources, it’s also crucial to put the right people in charge of the army sections. Each commander comes with unique pros and cons that impact the performance of the army in battles.
There are few RTS games that are free-to-play andWar Selectionis one of them. This game allows the player to progress through 7 different ages. From the Stone Age to the modern day.
The gameplay loop is quite similar to that ofAge of Empires 4, as the player will need to be on the lookout for resources to upgrade the building, produce new weapons, and recruit more soldiers.
Aside from single-player modes, the game also features competitive 1v1 and 2v2 modes. There are multiple factions in the game with access to different kinds of weaponry in each one of the ages.
Rise of Nationsdelivers a pretty close experience to theAge of Empiresseries. The game starts from the ancient ages and players slowly invest in science to reach new technological advances. As time passes, players go through multiple ages until they reach modern times.
This unique variety in the gameplay ofRise of Nationsmakes it a joyful experience, as the player faces new challenges with every new age they witness. The building systems and wars are similar to that ofAge of Empires, and it is always crucial to keep a balance between scientific advancement and preparing a powerful army.
Command & Conquerfans will never forgive Electronic Arts for cancelingGenerals 2, which once used to be one of the world’s most anticipated RTS games. AfterRed Alert 2, EA took a break from that series and introducedGenerals, depicting modern-day warfare between three powers in the world: the United States, China, and Revolutionists.
Offering a unique campaign for each one of the factions, it didn’t take long forGeneralsto become one of the best RTS games at the time. The variety of offensive and defensive units for each group was quite authentic, which was why it became a massive success back then. The fact thatGeneralscame out only a few years after the 9/11 attacks gave it more authenticity.
A huge part ofAge of Empiresinvolves amassing resources to ensure a regular flow of units and buildings to help a base stand strong. Players who love this form of gameplay will findFactorioto be a worthy recommendation, despite the complexity present in this title. The learning curve is immense but worthwhile once players manage to understand how to set up an optimal factory with many failsafes.
The alien planets where players set up their factory will leave them vulnerable to hostile creatures unlesssome protectionis set up to keep the factory intact. Players who set up towers, castles, and protective units to ensure that an opposing force is hampered inAge of Empireswill find these pseudo-tower defense mechanics to be oddly familiar.
Fans who felt thatAge of Empires' gameplay could benefit from RPG elements will love theWarlords Battlecryseries. Players can create heroes who can equip powerful weapons and armor to take out their enemies. However, it’s also important to set up bases and form units so that said heroes aren’t mobbed and killed due to a lack of support.
Players can choose from numerous factions, classes, and races, adding a lot of variety to one’s playthrough. Harvesting Gold, Metal, Crystal, and Stone makes it asimilar game toAge of Empiresand a gameplay loop that players will become familiar with in no time. This, coupled with the game’s RPG mechanics, makesWarlords Battlecry 3one of the most unique video games players should check out.
Before the turn of the millennium, strategy fans were graced with one of the greatest sci-fi RTS games of all time, spawning a series that is still going strong to this day.Homeworld’s learning curve can be pretty massive, but players won’t mind as long as they get to experience rich worldbuilding with unique gameplay mechanics that let players form fleets and take out any opponents standing in their way.
Age of Empiresfans who want to check out another RTS game with a sci-fi twist will findHomeworldto be right up their alley. The many spaceships that players can move around in this game look amazing to this day, and grabbing a remastered version of this classic title will help players get into a series that deserves all its plaudits and then some.
Given the historical focus of mostTotal Wargames, it’s easy to see why fans were pleasantly surprised to see the studio take a crack at aTotal Wargame set in a fictional universe. To make things even better,Total War: Warhammerwas one of the best games released by Creative Assembly, with this collaboration being a massive hit.
Not only is this one of the bestTotal Wargames of all time, but it’s arguably the bestWarhammergame of all time too. The focus on politics and warfare makes this title a bit more complex thanAge of Empiresbut something that strategy fans will feel right at home with after a point.
Paradox Entertainment is known as the king of the grand strategy genre, releasing a wealth of games in this department that have all been pretty fun for fans of complex political sims.Europa Universalis 4is a game where players must become a superpower by any means necessary, combining diplomacy, warfare, and economic superiority in one engaging bundle.
The title has a steep learning curve, but most players won’t mind putting in the effort to enjoy a ridiculously detailed grand strategy game where every playthrough is different. People seeking outgames likeAge of Empiresneed to do some homework before getting into this title, but the effort is a worthwhile one that will lead to players enjoying one of the most impressive grand strategy games ever made.
