1 – Age of Empires 2
Say what you will about the Age of Empires series, either you like it or not, one thing is undeniable: Age of Empires 2 became the benchmark for the real-time strategy genre, one from which every other game is compared to. While not the first RTS game by any means, Age of Empires 2 carved its own path by bringing historical settings to a genre dominated by sci-fi and fantasy. Its “Ages” system allowed players to advance their civilization through distinct historical periods, providing a strong sense of progression and authenticity, but also introduced a new strategic dynamic, as players had to manage their economies, military capabilities, and technological advancement to gain an even bigger advantage. Add to that the game’s timeless art style, iconic voicelines, and tight combat design, and it’s no wonder people still play it in the hundreds of thousands to this day.
The cultural impact of Age of Empires 2 goes beyond gaming, but expands to the mainstream cultural zeitgeist as well. If you want to experience Age of Empires 2, and somehow you never did, go with Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, which is the ultimate version of the game, updated with new graphics to 4K resolution, quality of life improvements, a lively multiplayer community, and healthy amount of DLC arriving each year, making it one of the best RTS games you must play in 2026.
Conclusion
Real-time strategy is still the most played sub-genre in strategy, and by far the most well-known, so the influence of these titles remains as compelling and relevant as ever. The games on this list didn’t just reshape the RTS genre through bold ideas, technical innovation, and timeless design philosophies that still influence modern strategy games today, but also inspired gaming as a whole, spawning new genres and franchises that went on to become massive successes on their own right. Whether through mechanical innovation, cinematic storytelling, competitive potential, scale, or a mix of all, each one of these RTS classics offers something uniquely worth experiencing in 2026, and you should give them all a go, at least once.
Support Strategy and Wargaming
I would love for Strategy and Wargaming to go ad-free, and if you would like to support me with that, you can subscribe to my Patreon for a 3 dollars a month, or buy me a coffee for a dollar, or more, if you’re feeling generous. If you can’t, no worries, Strategy and Wargaming will always be free, and I’ll love to have you around!
Leave a Reply