5 – Aliens: Dark Descent
Aliens: Dark Descent is what you get when you take the idea of micromanaging in an RTS game to its absolute extreme. Set within the iconic titular universe, and developed by Tindalos Interactive, this game places you in command of a squad of Colonial Marines, tasked with containing a terrifying Xenomorph outbreak on Planet Lethe. Unlike traditional base-building RTS titles, Dark Descent focuses exclusively on squad-based tactics and real-time combat, demanding meticulous unit micromanagement, strategic use of cover, and intelligent deployment of defensive measures like sentry guns and flares to survive overwhelming hordes. When other strategy games can appear more concerned about the thousands of units they can render on screen, Aliens: Dark Descent goes the opposite route, and gives you just a squad (but a highly competent one) to expertly order around and command.
Between high-stakes missions, players return to the Otago starship to manage their base, level up and specialize their Marines across various classes, and research new technologies. The game features a dynamic “Aggressiveness” system where the Xenomorph threat adapts to your actions, leading to constant tension and a palpable sense of dread. Keep an eye out for this highly-rated PC strategy game during the Steam Summer Sale 2025.
4 – Sins of a Solar Empire II
Sins of a Solar Empire II was my favorite game of 2024, and, amazingly, that’s already on sale, less than a year after it fully launched on Steam. Better yet, the game did exactly what most players wanted it to do, by keeping what made the original Sins of a Solar Empire so beloved, while evolving the acclaimed real-time strategy (RTS) and 4X hybrid experience by increasing the depth of the combat, and empire expansion, and bringing the series into 2025 with unparalleled visual fidelity and performance, even with hundreds of ships battling across several star systems. Players choose from the Trader Emergency Coalition (TEC), the mysterious Vasari, or the psionically-powered Advent, each with unique sub-factions, unit rosters, and strategic paths to victory through military might, diplomacy, or economic dominance.
A standout feature is the dynamic galaxy, where planets orbit their stars in real time, subtly shifting phase lanes and creating new strategic opportunities and challenges. This, combined with refined combat simulation—including individual missile tracking, detailed ship components, and customizable capital ships—makes for incredibly deep tactical engagements. With continuous updates and DLCs expanding its content, Sins of a Solar Empire II offers hundreds of hours of exploration, expansion, exploitation, and extermination, making it a compelling choice for any player seeking an epic space RTS during the Steam Summer Sale 2025, or just someone who has always heard great things about the original but never got to play it back in the day.
3 – Tempest Rising
Tempest Rising emerged in April 2025 as a significant new entry in the real-time strategy (RTS) genre, capturing the essence of beloved 90s classics while introducing modern design and visuals. Developed by Slipgate Ironworks, it managed to capture the heart of critics and players alike by focusing on well-implemented real-time strategy (RTS) mechanics like base building, resource management, and tight and frenetic combat, all set within a compelling post-apocalyptic world, with a look and feel reminiscent of the Command & Conquer series. The best part of Tempest Rising is that players can delve into two distinct story campaigns, commanding either the Global Defense Force (GDF) or their adversaries, the Tempest Dynasty. Each offers unique playstyles and unit rosters. It’s sharp fundamentals, combined with gorgeous graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5 and a well-optimized performance that even extends to Steam Deck (with keyboard and mouse), Tempest Rising is one of the best real-time strategy (RTS) one can play in 2025, and a strong contender to consider buying during the Steam Summer Sale 2025.
2 – Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
My love for the Age of Empires series is widely known, but my passion for one particular game rises above all. For over two decades, Age of Empires II has stood as a benchmark for real-time strategy (RTS) games, and the Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition ensured that a whole new generation of players still gets to experience this amazing game almost 30 years after it first came out. This meticulously remastered version offers a truly comprehensive overhaul of the original game, featuring 4K Ultra HD graphics, a fully re-orchestrated soundtrack, and all previously released expansions, including The Conquerors, The Forgotten, The African Kingdoms, and Rise of the Rajas. Beyond all of that, the game is still getting new and exclusive DLCs for the Definitive Edition, balance patches, and it has one of the most active multiplayer scenes of any strategy game.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or a new player discovering the genre, the Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition provides hundreds of hours of engaging single-player campaigns and robust multiplayer RTS action. Look for significant discounts on this essential PC strategy game during the Steam Summer Sale 2025.
1 – Total War: Warhammer III
Total War: Warhammer III, the grand finale to Creative Assembly’s critically acclaimed fantasy trilogy, stands as one of the most ambitious and expansive real-time strategy (RTS) games available for PC, and one of the strategy genre’s biggest commercial successes of all time! The last entry plunges players into the well-known war-torn world where new and familiar factions, including Kislev, Grand Cathay, and the Daemons of Chaos, clash for supremacy. What does it for me, in the Warhammer series of games is how CA managed to craft each faction into a unique experience, integrate it with other factions, each with their own agenda and mechanics, and all the while still delivering on some of the most intense and visually spectacular real-time strategy battles involving thousands of units, where lowly spearmen can go against Great Daemons. Also, CA’s ability to read the room with their “Immortal Empires” model, where everything comes together to deliver the largest campaign ever seen in a Total War game, ever, is just the cherry on top of a very delicious cake. If you want to go deep into the trilogy and don’t mind spending some cash on it, it might be worth it to get the whole collection.
Don’t Miss Out: Your Final Orders for the Steam Summer Sale 2025 RTS Haul
Remember, the Steam Summer Sale 2025 draws to a close on July 10th, but you still have plenty of time to get yourself stocked up with some of the best real-time strategy (RTS) games of all time. From historical epics and futuristic grand-scale warfare to tense survival challenges and charming medieval city-builders, each title provides unique strategic experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned commander or a newcomer eager to dive into the genre, these games represent the pinnacle of RTS design, offering countless hours of engaging gameplay.
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