5 – Total War: Warhammer Series
The Total War: Warhammer series stands as a monumental achievement in capturing the essence of the old Warhammer fantasy world. With its three entries, this Total War series has seamlessly blended grand strategy and tactical warfare, creating a game that is truly larger than the sum of its parts. It not only stands as one of the best RTS you can play today but is also heralded as the best modern Warhammer RTS available.
What sets Total War: Warhammer apart is its ability to deliver a gaming experience that transcends conventional boundaries. The inclusion of monstrous creatures, asymmetrical factions, and a myriad of unconventional classes introduces a level of spectacle and tactical complexity that few other games can match. This results in a unique RTS that constantly challenges players with interesting tactical conundrums, offering a depth of gameplay that remains unparalleled.
Despite the rocky launch of Total War: Warhammer 3, the series managed to recover its goodwill and the Immortal Empires campaign is probably the largest Total War campaign ever devised.
4 – Stronghold: Definitive Edition
Stronghold, even nearly a quarter of a century later, still stands as a great strategy game that every enthusiast of the genre should, at least once, experience. It remains a highly enjoyable and timeless game with design decisions that have proven to withstand the test of time.
Stronghold is one of my favourite games of all time (alongside Crusader) and one that I still play to this day and age, every year, without exception. Join those two together, and it’s not hard to see why S: DE is going to keep the Stronghold tradition of being installed in every system I own alive and kicking off the next couple of years.
The Definitive Edition is a lot of the same, but the new campaign and the low price of just 13 dollars make this a no-brainer if you played the original title two decades ago.
3 – Company of Heroes Series
The quintessential game of the RTS genre, Company of Heroes is unmatched even after a decade and a half of its release.
Emerging at the tail end of the World War 2 trend that swept the gaming industry in the late nineties and early two-thousands, Company of Heroes not only pioneered the genre but revolutionized it. Stripping away excess and honing in on combat mechanics, this game strives to encapsulate the tactical intricacies of small-scale engagements.
A beacon of innovation, Company of Heroes flawlessly incorporates the four Fs (Fire; Fix; Flank; Finish) of infantry combat. The cover system, a brilliant addition, introduces a new layer of depth and realism previously unseen in games. It remains a magnificent spectacle, witnessing US paratroopers skillfully navigating obstacles while under fire from German MG 42s.
With a flanking element deploying grenades into the enemy position, the vivid imagery evokes memories of Saving Private Ryan and the acclaimed HBO series, Band of Brothers.
While Company of Heroes 3 might have not lived up to the expectations set by the original and the several years of updates of Company of Heroes 2, I still think it’s a competent entry that tried to do things its way, for better or worse.
Experience the unmatched excellence of this enduring RTS masterpiece, still reigning supreme as the Best RTS on PC.
2 – Age of Empires IV
Every single time anyone mentions the Real-Time-Strategy genre, it’s inevitable that Age of Empires II is the game that instantly comes to mind.
However, the seminal RTS that was released way back in 1999 is slowly being replaced by its newer, more engrossing brother, Age of Empires IV.
I jumped into Age of Empires IV earlier this year and had an absolute blast playing through the campaigns, with the English and Russian ones being the particular high points for me. Age of Empires IV most likely will never reach the levels of fame, acclaim and influence its predecessors had, but it’s a very good game in its own right.
Each faction manages to feel particularly unique and the different evolutionary paths for crossing over ages are an interesting way to keep gameplay varied and engaging.
Get it for twenty bucks on sale and the game is worth it for the single player alone.
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