Age of Empires Series Alternatives and Similar Games

Civilization IV is the latest iteration of the increasingly popular and well-known Civilization franchise, Civilization VI builds upon the successes of the previous critically-acclaimed title in the series, and makes even more, brand new improvements on top of that. While the Civilization series as a whole tends to focus a little bit more on grand strategy than Age of Empires does, with players controlling entire empires rather than just individual bases, the premise remains largely the same, and this is an amazing game in its own right.

Stronghold Crusader is probably the most iconic installation of the series. Recently re-released again as Stronghold Crusader HD, the original Stronghold Crusader game served as the foundation for a lot of what we think of as the modern real-time strategy game, before some of the heavy-hitters you will see featured in this list came along. You take the role of a commander, issuing orders to legions of faithful crusaders on your quest to take the Holy Land back for Christendom. On your way, you will take part in vast battles, brutal castle sieges, and numerous other threats to your goal that you must face in real-time.

Similarly to the previous game, Rome: Total War is the most iconic game of the Total War Series. The republic as you know it is failing. Barbarians roam the lands, freely pillaging and plundering goods that belong to Rome. In Rome: Total War, you will be put into control of one of the noble families of Rome, with one goal in mind: seize control of the Republic, through diplomacy or conquest, and then lead Rome into battle against the many threats that it faces. The Total War series in general focuses much more on grand strategy than Age of Empires, with players able to conduct diplomacy with friends and foe alike, but also features real-time battles when you engage the enemy in combat.

This classic game will take you on a journey through all of human history, starting all the way from the most ancient eras and taking you all the way to the modern age. If this sounds familiar, it is because this is the very same model used in many of the Civilization games. You can play as one of many civilizations that the world has seen throughout the years, using tools of both diplomacy and war to ensure your nation withstands the test of time throughout the entire game.

One of the most popular Real-Time Strategy game ever made, Starcraft 2, made by Blizzard, is still played extensively today. Starcraft is particularly popular among competitive gamers, being played in massive tournaments with large amounts of money on the line every match. This game takes play in a heavily science-fiction setting, with aliens and humans doing battle for survival as the paragons of each race must fight for their chosen cause.

One of the many city-building games available for you to play, Anno Online allows you to grow your settlement from a small village with nothing to make it unique, to a bustling metropolis with ships, caravans and people moving in and out of it every single day. While this game does not feature much combat at all, you focus much more on growing your city and ensuring that you manage it well so that you can always add bigger and better improvements to it.

And the Red Alert 3 is a pinnacle of the Command & Conquer Series. Based on the tenuous and divisive times we call the Cold War, Red Alert 3 shows us a theory of what could happen if that cold war turned hot, and open warfare was declared between the United States and the Soviet Union. There is an intricate, fantastical plotline to this game, including time travel, Soviet space programs, and other science-fiction gadgets we have yet to see in the real world. In this RTS, you get to choose to play as either the Allies or the Soviets, taking orders and doing missions for your chosen side to speed them on the path to victory.

The first game of its series, Empire Earth is a classic RTS game that many people credit with expanding the genre’s popularity when gaming was just starting to become mainstream. With four different single player campaigns spanning much of the world, Empire Earth will take players on a journey through history as they struggle to conquer the obstacles placed in their path.

Take control and witness history through the eyes of the heroes of the fictional world of Azeroth in the latest of the Warcraft RTS games, the predecessors to the popular MMO World of Warcraft, and influential games in their own right. As death and destruction threaten to sweep the human kingdoms, while the Orcs and their kin must sail across the sea to the west in order to ensure their race’s survival.

In this fun, cute, animated game, you can inspire your fellow settlers and lead them in gathering resources and constructing buildings in order to expand your kingdom and your influence across the land! Spend your time building up a great city, filled with riches and prosperity for your kingdom, and bring about a new golden age under your rule!

The latest in a long series of amazing games, Cossacks 3 expertly blends the normal war gameplay we are all used to with economy management, military building, and building development, making it one of the more unique games you can choose from when you go to play an RTS today. Participate in epic battles that are the stuff of legend today, with over 32,000 men being able to be on-screen at once, allowing for a unique and memorable gaming experience!