The 11 Best RTS Games on Steam (That Are Pure Awesome!)

Updated:

30 Jun 2019

These Are The Best Steam RTS Games

The RTS genre offers a unique experience unlike any other as it gives you full control of your bases and armies while having you manage resources, land, and the movements of your army.

Here are 11 of the best RTS games on Steam.

11. Wargame: Airland Battle

Wargame Airland Battle gameplay

Wargame: Airland Battle gives you Cold War technology right on your fingertips with over 750 different units ranging from M1 Abrams & Challenger Main Battle Tanks, AH-64 Apache & Mi-24 Hind, to infantry.

The year is 1985 and tensions between NATO and the Warsaw Pact has decayed when an incident occurs in the North Sea. It’ll be your job as commander of your troops in the campaign of your selected front.

You’ll have over 750 units to choose from including this sweet F-117 Stealth Bomber for your air support

Use the terrain to your advantage in order to mask the advance of your tanks and catch the enemy off guard

10. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun gameplay

For those wanting a more stealth oriented, real time strategy with RPG elements ninja game then Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun checks out all of those and even more. You initially are put in command of a ninja and as you go through the game, you’ll be joined with different specialists (a samurai, and a geisha) with their own special abilities.

Choosing a more stealth oriented approach would be best for the ninja but if you require power then the samurai would happily cut down his enemies while the geisha would give you opening as she distracts guards and helps in keeping you hidden.

For situations that require a more forceful hand, the samurai specialist will happily cut them down with one swing

A samurai, a geisha, a ninja, a street child, and a sniper all at your arsenal in order to help you fulfill your assassination mission

9. EMERGENCY 20

Emergency 20 gameplay

EMERGENCY 20 puts you into the shoes of the emergency services commander where it’ll be your job to coordinate the Fire Department, Police Department, and Emergency Medical Services to a situation that’s happening in your city.

You’ll be given different situations to test out your ability to coordinate and react to developing events that range from simple street racing crashes going wrong, to terrorists hijacking a cruise ship, and the more sinister emergency of a nuclear meltdown. Who would’ve thought working for 911 can be so stressful?

Will you be able to handle the pressure of dealing with terrorists who hijacked and set afire to a cruise ship and crashed it into port?

Things can get out of hand if you don’t control them. Always be sure to have your firemen put out fire while taking care of casualties as you go

8. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II gameplay

Fans of the Warhammer 40K series hold Dawn of War II close their hearts as you command a squad of Space Marines sent out to conquer a planet contested by the different factions in the Warhammer 40K universe. You can choose from a number of iconic Space Marine units from the Devastator Marines, to the hulking Dreadnought.

It incorporates cover based mechanics similar to those of Company of Heroes where tactical movement and cover is encouraged if your men are going to survive. Tag along through its great visuals, compelling story, and a robust level system for your men in this installment of the Dawn of War series.

Tear through lines of Orc with your Dreadnought and teach them a lesson for getting in your way

As you progress through the campaign, you’ll be able to upgrade your terminators to soak up tons of damage while dishing out killing blows at every charge

7. Total War: WARHAMMER II

Total War: WARHAMMER gameplay

The Warhammer series not only features giant hulking space marines in huge cladded armor but a fantasy series that has been merged with beautiful graphics, turn based empire management, and real time strategy combat that only the Total War series can give.

Command 8 Legendary Lords across 4 races, each with their own unique playstyle, narrative, legendary heroes, and campaign mechanics. Fans of the Total War series and Warhammer will be in for a treat in this epic campaign to heal the vast arcane vortex, or play a part in its inevitable downfall.

Vast armies are under you control in Total War: Warhammer II. Which side will you choose?

Give your men the best chance of defeating their enemies with proper positioning and timing

6. Supreme Commander 2

Supreme Commander 2 gameplay

We all have that inner 8 year old who wishes he could pilot his own giant robot and destroy other robots with it. Supreme Commander 2 puts the steering wheel unto the 8 year old but instead of controlling one giant robot, you control hundreds of other mechanized units and get to battle it out with large scale warfare either by land, sea, or air.

Be sure out to zoom out of the battlefield from time to time as your troop count can reach the hundreds in no time. You’ll see missiles flying and artillery rounds bashing through your shields.

It’s a compelling Real Time Strategy where you have to balance your resource with the units you push out and even making choices of going for a mass of tanks charging towards the enemy or a small unit that’s been upgraded to have additional firepower and armor. Whatever your style, Supreme Commander 2 will satisfy.

Supreme Commander 2 offers you the Fatboy, a tank that’s 5x bigger than you regular tank, equipped with 4 leg cannons and 1 main cannon for maximum damage

When giant robots aren’t enough, you have the option of deploying your own Cybernausaurus T-Rex, one of the most powerful units in the game that spits out fire!

5. They are Billions

They are Billions gameplay

They are Billions puts you into its post-apocalyptic zombie steampunk world where you handle the last remaining survivors of the Earth. It’ll be your task to make sure that your colony survives and fortified enough to last but to build your army to acquire precious resources in this zombie infested land.

Beware the zombies though as with its custom engine, thousands and upon thousands of zombies can come swarming into your units. Plan your every move and help humanity rebuild its world!

Controlling the hordes of zombies is crucial to the survival of your colony but will your men and defenses be enough?

Don’t lose hope yet as your men may still survive the coming onslaught with enough reinforcements!

4. Wargame: Red Dragon

Wargame: Red Dragon gameplay

This is the second Wargame game in this list and you’re put in the year 1991 where this time the Western forces faces against the Communist bloc. Asia (e.g. China, Japan, and North Korea) joins this time around with a total of 17 nations involved and all of its military resources at your fingertips.

The Wargame series feature deep and complex RTS mechanics where you have to manage not only your main resources but the amount of ammo, fuel, and armor your units have. For fans of modern military combat or even looking for a fun, deep, and learning experience with an RTS, then this is the game for you.

With the location now set in parts of Asia, your ability to adapt to the terrain will mean victory or defeat

This time around you have 1750 units to choose enabling you to customize your army that tailors to your style

3. Ultimate General: Civil War

Ultimate General: Civil War gameplay

Set in the American Civil War of 1861 to 1865, you can relive historic battles and experience what it was like to be a commander of the Civil War. The developers paid close attention when recreating the experience as important details like positioning and extensive scouting can make the difference between defending the hill it having it overrun.

The set pieces have been carefully designed and crafted that adds to the authenticity of the experience. For a more civil war oriented RTS, Ultimate General: Civil War is the game for you.

When presented with a pass, you’ll have to split your troops in order to cover each other’s flanks and avoid any enemy ambushes

Careful use of terrain and proper troop positioning will dictate your chances of winning when facing an enemy that has the superior position

2. Stronghold HD

Stronghold HD gameplay

Relieve your memories of the first Real Time Strategies you’ve played before with the original castle building simulation and real time strategy game. With the HD version now released, you can now replay your memories of building your own base and slowly expanding to creating the castle you’ve always wanted.

When you’ve established yourself, send out your armies to your neighboring castles that you can either take for yourself or burn to the ground. Stronghold HD is a fun RTS that puts emphasis on its challenging defensive gameplay set in the Medieval Ages!

The remaster enhances the graphics and resolution while retaining the challenging gameplay that differentiated Stronghold HD from other RTS games

The goal has always been to establish your own castle, build your own army, and conquer other castles in your land!

1. Men of War: Assault Squad 2

Men of War: Assault Squad 2 gameplay

Men of War: Assault Squad 2 takes in the top on our list as it gives you the best mechanics when it comes to infantry and tank combat and as well as offering you great rewards and dire consequences for the position that your troops are currently in.

Choose between 250 vehicles and 200 soldiers that have been tailored to fit your playstyle. Managing your troops will not be your only concern too as your infantry men only have limited ammo while your tanks can run out of fuel. Men of War: Assault Squad 2 factors in historical accuracy into its gameplay that makes it such a fun and rewarding game that in fact this makes it one of the best RTS game that you can play right now on Steam.

Set up your front line with your main battle tanks and troop carriers at the ready. Be sure to scout before charging as Anti-Tank guns can be hidden within the environment