History can be hard to simulate realistically in games, and sometimes gamers just want to inhabit the fantasy of being a war general in the distant past. If that’s the case, then there’s no better port of call than the historical RTS genre. Whether it’s Medieval sieges or the Sengoku period, there’s a lot of scope in historical RTS for great strategy gaming all across history.
Although many games have tackled the Medieval era, few have attempted to replicate the actual experience of Crusade warfare quite likeStronghold Crusader. Players can take the role of various historical characters such as Richard the Lionheart or Saladin as mighty empires fight for control over the Holy Lands.
However, what makesStronghold Crusaderunique is its focus on siege and castle warfare. Players can design castles for themselves, and attacking forces need to balance risk and reward to find ways to overcome obstacles making itone of the best RTS games for base defence gameplay. Most RTS games don’t have a focus on siege warfare, so it’s a fascinating and welcome addition to the genre.
ThoughAge of Mythologyisn’t strictly set in any one historical period, Ensemble Studios were clearly fascinated by the hold of stories and mythologies had over warfare. As such,Age of Mythologyattempts to fuse the two together in the now cult classic.
Playing as various peoples such as the Norse, the Egyptians, and the Greeks, players are able to engage in traditional RTS combat, but with the added twist of being able to use mythological units and powers. That gives the game an extra bit of flair that turns rote combat into something far more fantastical making it a fan favorite,even after a somewhat controversial remake was released.
As one part remake, one part sequel, of the 2001 originalCossacks: European Wars, Cossacks 3is a fan favorite in the RTS genre for its historical accuracy and a particular focus on 17th and 18th Century warfare, which is comparatively less explored than other eras.
In particular, fans love the Cossack franchise for its focus on massive unit counts, meaning that wars truly feel massive in scale and scope with up to 32,000 individual units at any time with complex naval and military tactics. It’s hardcore but well worth the time to learn.
Despite being one of the most popular periods of history to learn about, there are surprisingly few games that truly dig into the Roman military expertise, particularly beforeTotal War: Romewas initially released. However, in 2013,Total War: Rome 2hit stores, and despite a rocky launch, became a fan favorite as the epitome of Roman war simulation.
Taking the classic Creative Assembly formula of mixing macro and micro tactics that would lay the groundwork for future games likeTotal War: Warhammer, players can wage campaigns across the ancient world and get a first-hand perspective on just how the Roman military machine functioned.
Despite the newestCompany of Heroes3enjoying increased appreciation after a slew of updates, many fans still maintain that the originalCompany of Heroes, released in 2006,is the best the franchise ever was, and for good reason.
Pioneering physics, tactical combat, and dynamic battlefield systems,Company of Heroesis set during the final years of WW2 and is an unparalleled simulation of controlling units in urban and open warfare. It’s an incredibly engaging perspective into history and has more than enough mechanical meat for any RTS fan to eat their fill.
The Sengoku Period of Japanese history is famous for the widescale wars and high-drama, making it a perfect setting for an RTS game likeTotal War: Shogun 2that mixes martial expertise with cunning planning and stunning historical details that would make any history nerd a fan.
Best of all, the DLC expansion Fall of the Samurai takes the game forward to the 19th Century with the encroachment of Western forces and modern warfare, making for a wholly unique blend of samurai tactics and gunpowder. It’s a stunning vision of the pastand is often considered the very peak of the entireTotal Warfranchise.
It’s hard to imagine how any RTS game will beat the reputation, popularity, and mechanical depth ofAge of Empires 2. Roughly simulating the extent of the Medieval period,Age of Empires 2lets players take control of a wide variety of historical civilizations in a bid to dominate a series of engaging maps, as well as an incredibly memorable campaign.
Players must set up a thriving economy to fund a war effort in real-time, just as enemy players are doing the same, sending out scouts and preparing for battle. It’s a tense and thrilling game where quick tactical decisions can decide the fate of a game, which keeps it popular well into modernityas well as being a perfect entry-point for beginners. All RTS fans should playAge of Empires 2, especially those who are interested in history.
