Games To Play If You Like Age Of Empires

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The Age of Empires franchise is a titan of the RTS genre. A mark of an excellent game is one that players feel they can’t put down. Age of Empires certainly fits the bill in that regard. The series’ influence is such that many other games have taken inspiration from the vaunted franchise over the years. Plenty of alternatives populate the market for fans who can’t get enough of Age of Empires.

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Related

Every Age Of Empires Game, Ranked

Age of Empires is one of the most enduring franchises in gaming history and a cornerstone of the RTS genre. What’s the best title in the series?

These games focus on city-building, RTS combat, grand strategy, or combining all three. AoE fans will be more than satisfied with the wealth of games that have taken inspiration from this series time and time again. These RTS games have built upon the series’ basics while adding unique spins of their own to keep players interested in the long run. While some games like Age of Empires are clearly inspired by this title, others do their own thing with varying levels of success. Both types of strategy games are worthwhile for players who want to either stick to something familiar or try something new and interesting.

Updated January 13, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat: Age of Empires 4 is a great elevation in the series that lets players relive some of the greatest battles in history, but it is not the only game with superb RTS mechanics built for war.

There are dozens of other games on the market that deliver similar experiences either in different eras or with unique gameplay mechanics. The RTS genre is widely appreciated by PC gamers still, and that gives enough motivation for developers to create new adventures every year.

1

ICBM: Escalation

The Dawn Of World War 3

• Developer: SoftWarWare
• Release Date: November 21, 2024
• Platform: PC

Put your entire emphasis on warfare as there is no need to keep people happy! ICBM: Escalation is a battle-focused RTS experience that depicts modern warfare with tanks, fighter jets, and long-range missiles.

Players will get to manage their resources and divide between researching facilities to get access to new war tools and production facilities to strengthen the army. The game features the entire world with all the countries, and it comes with an online PvP mode next to a single-player campaign.

2

Ultimate General: American Revolution

Help The American Colonists To Force British Army Out

• Developer: Game-Labs
• Release Date: December 20, 2024
• Platform: PC

For those who want battles with a larger scale and an abundance of troops, Ultimate General: American Revolution could be a good pick. The game tells the story of the historical battles between American Colonists and the British Army in the United States.

The game focuses more on warfare, but managing the finances is still a key to success. It’s important to use the resources in the right place and to engage in wars where the possibility of winning is more than losing. Aside from resources, it’s also crucial to put the right people in charge of the army sections. Each commander comes with unique pros and cons that impact the performance of the army in battles.

3

War Selection

A Competitive RTS Experience With Progression Through The Ages

There are few RTS games that are free-to-play and War Selection is one of them. This game allows the player to progress through 7 different ages. From the Stone Age to the modern day.

The gameplay loop is quite similar to that of Age of Empires 4, as the player will need to be on the lookout for resources to upgrade the building, produce new weapons, and recruit more soldiers.

Aside from single-player modes, the game also features competitive 1v1 and 2v2 modes. There are multiple factions in the game with access to different kinds of weaponry in each one of the ages.

4

Rise Of Nations

From The Age Of Copper To The Age Of Modern Warfare

Rise of Nations delivers a pretty close experience to the Age of Empires series. The game starts from the ancient ages and players slowly invest in science to reach new technological advances. As time passes, players go through multiple ages until they reach modern times.

This unique variety in the gameplay of Rise of Nations makes it a joyful experience, as the player faces new challenges with every new age they witness. The building systems and wars are similar to that of Age of Empires, and it is always crucial to keep a balance between scientific advancement and preparing a powerful army.

5

Command & Conquer: Generals

A Classic RTS With Three Incredible Campaigns

Command & Conquer fans will never forgive Electronic Arts for canceling Generals 2, which once used to be one of the world’s most anticipated RTS games. After Red Alert 2, EA took a break from that series and introduced Generals, depicting modern-day warfare between three powers in the world: the United States, China, and Revolutionists.

Offering a unique campaign for each one of the factions, it didn’t take long for Generals to become one of the best RTS games at the time. The variety of offensive and defensive units for each group was quite authentic, which was why it became a massive success back then. The fact that Generals came out only a few years after the 9/11 attacks gave it more authenticity.

6

Factorio

Perfect For Players Who Love Setting Up Defenses And Automating Tasks In Age Of Empires

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OpenCritic Rating

Strong

A huge part of Age of Empires involves amassing resources to ensure a regular flow of units and buildings to help a base stand strong. Players who love this form of gameplay will find Factorio to be a worthy recommendation, despite the complexity present in this title. The learning curve is immense but worthwhile once players manage to understand how to set up an optimal factory with many failsafes.

The alien planets where players set up their factory will leave them vulnerable to hostile creatures unless some protection is set up to keep the factory intact. Players who set up towers, castles, and protective units to ensure that an opposing force is hampered in Age of Empires will find these pseudo-tower defense mechanics to be oddly familiar.

7

Warlords Battlecry 3

A Fantasy RTS With Some RPG Elements

Fans who felt that Age of Empires‘ gameplay could benefit from RPG elements will love the Warlords Battlecry series. Players can create heroes who can equip powerful weapons and armor to take out their enemies. However, it’s also important to set up bases and form units so that said heroes aren’t mobbed and killed due to a lack of support.

Players can choose from numerous factions, classes, and races, adding a lot of variety to one’s playthrough. Harvesting Gold, Metal, Crystal, and Stone makes it a similar game to Age of Empires and a gameplay loop that players will become familiar with in no time. This, coupled with the game’s RPG mechanics, makes Warlords Battlecry 3 one of the most unique video games players should check out.

8

Homeworld

A Sci-fi RTS Game That Still Holds Up

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Released

September 28, 1999

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Homeworld

Before the turn of the millennium, strategy fans were graced with one of the greatest sci-fi RTS games of all time, spawning a series that is still going strong to this day. Homeworld‘s learning curve can be pretty massive, but players won’t mind as long as they get to experience rich worldbuilding with unique gameplay mechanics that let players form fleets and take out any opponents standing in their way.

Related

Homeworld 3: 7 Best Improvements Over The Older Games

Homeworld 3 launched two decades after the release of its predecessor, and as such, the latest game has made a few improvements to older systems.

Age of Empires fans who want to check out another RTS game with a sci-fi twist will find Homeworld to be right up their alley. The many spaceships that players can move around in this game look amazing to this day, and grabbing a remastered version of this classic title will help players get into a series that deserves all its plaudits and then some.

9

Total War: Warhammer

A Fantasy-Themed Total War Game That Is A Blast To Play Through

Given the historical focus of most Total War games, it’s easy to see why fans were pleasantly surprised to see the studio take a crack at a Total War game set in a fictional universe. To make things even better, Total War: Warhammer was one of the best games released by Creative Assembly, with this collaboration being a massive hit.

Not only is this one of the best Total War games of all time, but it’s arguably the best Warhammer game of all time too. The focus on politics and warfare makes this title a bit more complex than Age of Empires but something that strategy fans will feel right at home with after a point.

10

Europa Universalis 4

Turn A Nation Into A Superpower By The End Of The Napoleonic Era

Paradox Entertainment is known as the king of the grand strategy genre, releasing a wealth of games in this department that have all been pretty fun for fans of complex political sims. Europa Universalis 4 is a game where players must become a superpower by any means necessary, combining diplomacy, warfare, and economic superiority in one engaging bundle.

The title has a steep learning curve, but most players won’t mind putting in the effort to enjoy a ridiculously detailed grand strategy game where every playthrough is different. People seeking out games like Age of Empires need to do some homework before getting into this title, but the effort is a worthwhile one that will lead to players enjoying one of the most impressive grand strategy games ever made.

11

Halo Wars

A RTS Spinoff Of One Of The Greatest Sci-Fi FPS Franchises Of All Time

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The Halo series is one of the most popular FPS franchises of all time, even if some people felt like the latest release, Halo Infinite, did not live up to the high standards set by the series. Still, the single-player campaign was a highlight, with its open-world integrations being fairly seamless.

Given how popular Halo is, it’s no surprise that the series has enjoyed its fair share of spinoffs. One such title is Halo Wars, an RTS-themed game where players must tackle a wealth of missions as they build bases and use their powerful units to take out enemies with a fair bit of preparation. The strategy elements of this title may ring a bit hollow for players, but Halo Wars more than makes up for it with stellar cinematics, a fun story, and an excellent interpretation of the Halo universe that adds some much-needed credence to this IP. The fact that the studio behind Age of Empires 4 worked on this title makes Halo Wars an easy recommendation for these fans.

12

Warcraft 3

One Of The Richest, Most Imaginative Settings Ever Devised For An RTS

There’s a reason why so many fans were enraged to see the state in which Warcraft 3: Reforged was launched. Not only did it prevent people from enjoying a version of the game that is clearly superior to Reforged, but it also feels like a lazy release from a developer that hasn’t been at its best right now.

Even after all the concessions that players need to make, Warcraft 3 still stands strong as one of the best RTS games ever made. The game is dripping in atmosphere, lore, and story, which is a rarity for most games in the genre. People seeking out a game like Age of Empires with a fantasy twist will love what Warcraft 3 brings to the table.

13

Frostpunk

A Hardcore City Adventure Set In A Nuclear Winter

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April 24, 2018

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Frostpunk

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Age of Empires is a game that players with varied skill sets can enjoy. Some people love these titles for how easy they are, while others love the challenge of higher difficulties. For the latter, Frostpunk is a perfect fit that mixes elements of simulation, survival, and story-heavy gameplay to make for a fun time.

Trying to survive during the age of an eternal winter is easier said than done, and players need to be smart about how they build their settlement and tackle certain problems if they don’t want to face endless trials and tribulations every step of the way. It requires a fair bit of thought, but players who manage to understand how this game works will go through its many challenging scenarios without too many problems.

14

Sid Meier’s Civilization 6

A Beloved 4X Strategy Game That’s Easy To Get Into

Civilization is a popular grand strategy series that makes for one of the most unique and approachable games in the genre. Each and every title in the series allows players to control a leader of a popular real-world civilization, starting from ancient times before transforming their utopia into something truly special.

Civilization 6 is the latest entry in the genre that has served as a marked improvement in every department. It’s one of the few grand strategy games that doesn’t seem too intimidating from the get-go, allowing players to slowly ease themselves into the mechanics before attempting a playthrough at higher difficulties, making it perfect for people seeking out games like Age of Empires!

15

Empire Earth

Age Of Empires On Steroids

Players who enjoy the gameplay loop of Age of Empires will love what Empire Earth brings to the table. This title is essentially AoE on steroids, letting players start from the very beginning of human life before reaching modern times and eventually reaching the future as well! It’s easily one of the most ambitious RTS titles that went all out with the level of progress that players could achieve and enjoy in the game.

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8 Things Pikmin 4 Does Better Than Other RTS Games

Pikmin 4 is doing a lot of things right as an RTS game. Here’s why it’s a brilliant title from Nintendo.

It helped that the campaign of this game was pretty great too, covering both historic and fictional scenarios to make for a spectacular experience. There aren’t many RTS games that boast an excellent story, making Empire Earth pretty unique and a title that fans of classic RTS games should definitely not miss out on.

16

Age Of Mythology

A Mythological Take On Classic AoE Gameplay

Perhaps the most obvious game like Age of Empires is Age of Mythology, a spinoff title developed by the same studio as the mainline games. Ditching the historical settings in favor of fantastical ones, Age of Mythology takes place in a world populated with legendary creatures, monsters, and gods.

Gameplay-wise, fans of AoE will feel right at home with this title. Players will still select their civilization, build their base, recruit troops, and battle enemy forces. When in the mood for some fantasy action, it’s hard to go wrong with Age of Mythology.

17

Company Of Heroes

An RTS Title Set During World War 2

When discussing stellar RTS titles, the Company of Heroes franchise deserves to be on the list. Although the series is lighter on resource collection and base building compared to Age of Empires, the Company of Heroes series delivers pulse-pounding action that’s satisfying to behold.

The first Company of Heroes revolves around the Allied invasion of France. Company of Heroes 2 focuses on the savagery of the Eastern Front. Both games offer a wide array of fun scenarios that don’t get old very quickly.

18

Stronghold Crusader 2

A Fun Game Focused On Base Building And Management

If fans are itching for more medieval action after playing Age of Empires 2, then Stronghold Crusader 2 is a worthy choice. Players who enjoy the base-building aspect of AOE will find plenty to occupy their time in Stronghold Crusader 2.

As a manor lord, fans possess a lot of freedom regarding how they want to build their estates. Providing sufficient protection for one’s subjects, however, also plays a major role in the game. Players need to jumpstart their economy while simultaneously erecting defenses and military units in much the same manner as the AoE series.

19

Medieval 2: Total War

A Great Combination Of Massive Real-Time Battles And Turn-Based Strategy

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Released

November 10, 2006

Medieval action and intrigue aren’t limited to just RTS titles. The grand strategy genre is also well-endowed with plenty of popular titles to occupy fans’ time. Even though it’s rather dated at this point, Medieval 2: Total War is still worth recommending, especially for people seeking out games like Age of Empires fans.

Medieval 2 is often cited as one of the greatest Total War games of the franchise. Instead of building cities and armies in real-time like in AOE, players will build their empires in a turn-based fashion on the campaign map. Battles are more in-depth in Total War, so players looking to test their tactical skills will get more of a challenge. Plus, there are still plenty of great mods available for Medieval 2 that keep the game fresh and exciting.

20

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

An RTS Gameplay Set In The LotR Universe

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The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2

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March 2, 2006

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EA Los Angeles

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2 represents a match made in heaven between the lore of Tolkien’s universe and AoE‘s gameplay. Veterans of AoE will find very little to misunderstand when launching the Battle for Middle-earth 2 for the first time.

Players need to erect resource-generating structures, military production buildings, and defenses to achieve victory in a scenario. The game also utilizes a rock-paper-scissors combat mechanic that should be very familiar to AoE fans. It would be a real shame to overlook this RTS gem.