8 RTS Games With the Best Music

Key Takeaways

• Real-time strategy games’ golden era was 1990-2007, but many current titles are fun to play.
• Good RTS games have fast-paced action and epic music, but aren’t distracting or overwhelming
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2 is an amazing RTS game with an epic soundtrack.

Real-time strategy games are known for being very entertaining, full of exciting co-op campaigns to take on, and brimming with different factions that players can choose from depending on their personal preferences. While it could be argued that the golden era for this genre was between 1990 and 2007, many titles are still really fun to play.

A good real-time strategy game will be fast-paced but probably won’t focus on speed too much. At the same time, it will have epic music, but it will be designed not to be distracting, and will only truly shine when players pay close attention to it. Here are some of the best real-time strategy games with the best music.

8 The Lord Of The Rings: The Battle For Middle-earth 2

Tolkien’s Work Is Wonderfully Represented In This RTS Game

• Six playable factions
• Amazing, epic soundtrack

Set mainly in the northern regions of Middle-earth and the war happening there, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2 is an amazing real-time strategy game that is about to turn 20 years old. Some of the factions that players can choose from in this title are Elves, Men of the West, Dwarves, Goblins, and more.

As is expected from anything coming from J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2 features an amazing soundtrack that will have players captivated in the blink of an eye.

7 Halo Wars

A Risky Title That Strayed From The Classic FPS Genre

• A risky move that strayed from the successful FPS formula
• Great soundtrack that elevates the experience

Focusing on military combat, resource management and base construction elements, Halo Wars was a very risky move when it first came out, as it strayed considerably from the tried and tested success of its universe’s FPS mechanics. Luckily, this risk paid off and delivered players one of the greatest real-time strategy games to date.

Honoring the tradition of its main branch in the franchise, Halo Wars has outstanding music that pairs well with the adrenaline-rushing situations players will find themselves in as they fight and resist the forces of The Covenant.

6 Rise Of Nations

A Quest For The Constant Expansion Of Territory

• The game’s main concept revolves around territory expansion
• The game punishes poor resource management

The core concept of Rise of Nations revolves around territory and everything that comes with it. Players can only construct buildings in their territory, but they can also slowly start conquering their enemies’ territories, expanding their ownership of the land and increasing their construction possibilities.

Like other real-time strategy and RPG games that punish poor resource management, Rise of Nations requires players to make carefully planned decisions and take strategic approaches to ensure their survival. The soundtrack of Rise of Nations is outstanding, and any player who’s ever heard it while enjoying this title can attest to this.

5 Age Of Mythology: Retold

An Entertaining Take On The Divine

• Based on Greek, Egyptian, and Norse folklore and deities
• The soundtrack is epic and fits well with the game’s concept

Real-time strategy games focusing on deities and mythology aren’t anything new, but few titles can pull it off like Age of Mythology: Retold. This great title focuses on some of the best gods in folklore and has strong influences from the Greek, Egyptian, and Norse civilizations. Similar to the original, this title requires strategic planning, a lot of patience, and a good deal of resource management to emerge victorious.

As would be expected in a title covering gods from various civilizations, Age of Mythology: Retold does a great job of delivering a soundtrack that reflects the epicness of every encounter.

4 Command & Conquer 2: Red Alert

Destroying Enemy Bases And Defeating Commanders Is Key

• Players must protect their bases and destroy those of their enemies
• There are many Command & Conquer franchise mods for players to enjoy

While Command & Conquer 2: Red Alert doesn’t contain as many factions as other titles in its genre, this doesn’t mean that the gaming experience isn’t fun. This title’s main objective is to defeat the opposing faction’s commanders, who can either be controlled by AI or other humans. Players will have to make it their top priority to both protect their own bases and commanders, as well as to destroy their enemies’ to ensure their victory.

Although Command & Conquer 2: Red Alert‘s soundtrack isn’t as rich-sounding as others on this list, it still delivers a wonderful experience and raises the stakes considerably. Players looking for a fresh take on the Command & Conquer franchise should test the different mods available for it.

3 Warcraft 3: Reign Of Chaos

A Great Entry In The Warcraft Franchise

• Players can choose from four different factions
• Amazing soundtrack that impresses from early on

The Warcraft universe is vast and full of possibilities, which is probably why the franchise is over 20 years old and still going strong. In Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, players must gather and manage resources, train their units and heroes, and build various bases that they’ll have to protect at all costs. While doing all this, players will also have to figure out different strategic ways of dealing with their enemies to ensure victory.

Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos has many factions, including strong orcs, that elevate every element within this title to new heights. Moreover, the game has such great music, that even the song on the main screen is absolutely epic, and foretells the amazing experience players are about to have.

2 Age Of Empires 2

A Tale Of Societal Advancement And Resistance To Opposing Forces

• 13 different factions are available
• Four different ages to evolve through

Age of Empires 2 focuses on building towns, gathering and managing resources and training armies to defeat opposing forces, regardless of where they come from. The game features 13 different civilizations that players will be tasked with advancing through four Ages, which are the Dark Age, the Feudal Age, the Castle Age, and the Renaissance Age.

Players can also unlock different technologies that they’ll have to choose carefully in order to get the most out of them and gain an edge over their enemies. Age of Empires 2 has amazing music, which feels very true to its setting and gives every Age a layer of depth that a few other similar games lack.

1 Company Of Heroes

The Ultimate World War 2 RTS Experience

• The first installment of the trilogy of the same name
• Epic soundtrack that builds on the theme of modern warfare

The Company of Heroes franchise is great, and while some titles are better than others, they all shine in one way or another. Company of Heroes is the first installment of the epic trilogy of the same name, and it presents players with an amazing experience that many are still talking about today, even after almost 20 years since it was originally released.

Unlike other titles on this list, Company of Heroes does not feature a medieval ensemble, but rather focuses on the adrenaline-rushing events of its setting and builds on that to deliver an outstanding soundtrack.