Check out some of the best real-time strategy games that will spark deep feelings of video game nostalgia.

Classic Strategies (RTS) For Your Nostalgia

Although it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, it’s been over 20 years since gamers were clocking innumerable hours playing some of the best real-time strategy games the gaming world has ever seen. 

Those games have such significance and influence that still, to this day, we recognize that particular period as the golden era of the real-time strategy genre. With those games being so deeply engraved into our memory and with gaming nostalgia now hitting harder than ever, we couldn’t help but go down memory lane and make a list of the top 5 RTS classics.

Age of Empires 2

Developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft in 1997, Age of Empires 2 is one of the most significant games ever released. For millions of gamers all over the globe, Age of Empires 2 was the game that helped them develop a strong bond with the real-time strategy genre and video gaming in general. 

From the ability to control great armies and bring them into battles with diverse styles of opponents to the necessity to manage resources and keep your economy thriving, the game kept gamers at the edge of their seats for many hours during the late ’90s and most of the 2000s. It was a genuine war micro-management excellence glowing with strategy epicness that is still hard to replace.

Warcraft 3

Although Warcraft 3 was the successor to an already highly acclaimed series, it was actually this game with which Blizzard hit the homerun and produced what is known as one of the most masterfully crafted games of all time. 

From developing an advanced heroes system to including various factions with distinctive units and unique abilities to having some of the most exceptionally written narratives combined with stunning cinematics, Warcraft 3, without a doubt, brought a revolution to the genre. It also gave people the ability to design their own custom maps that could be turned sort of into games within the game itself. 

This feature not only helped the game stand out among its competitors and reach an astonishingly broad audience but also changed gaming forever since it was the birthplace of DotA and DDay: Judgement.

Heroes of Might and Magic 3

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is a game that will certainly hold a special place in the hearts of many of us forever. Released in 1999, Heroes of Might and Magic 3 welcomed gamers to a mystical world full of engaging battles between diverse creatures with unique special abilities.

From comparing those creatures and their abilities at their particular level to learning about all the artefacts you can attain to making the most of the super-addictive turn-based combat to navigating through the various adventure maps, Heroes of Might and Magic 3 had so much to learn about that kept us entertained for innumerous hours. There are seriously not enough words to sing all the praises for this strategy classic that always seemed to find a way to make us play just one more turn. 

Age of Mythology

Prostagma! Maista! Etimos! Can you really consider yourself an aficionado of the real-time strategy genre if these phrases don’t bring back to you some of the fondest memories of the Age of Mythology LAN parties from two decades ago?

Published in October 2002, Age of Mythology is a masterpiece enjoyed by real-time strategy enthusiasts even 20 years after its original release. Developed by Ensemble Studios, AoM is a game that takes us to a time when heroes were fighting with mythical creatures like Minotaurs and Cyclopes, and gods’ intervention was needed to defeat rivals. 

The game offers a wide selection of gods to choose from and an extensive selection of contrasting play styles that players can employ to defeat their opponents. There are three original civilizations in the game, with the Egyptian civilization being the most intriguing one. Those of you fond of the history of this civilization and interested in other spheres of online gaming can check out the Book of Ra and try to make real money by enjoying a genuine casino classic.

Starcraft

Released in 1998, by what many consider the most influential video game developer ever, StarCraft is a science fiction real-time strategy game that spawned one of the most monumental video game franchises and paved the way for modern esports. 

The game has three separate galactic races, and although each one of them has its unique units with different strengths and abilities, no race has an advantage by default, which creates the balance that helped the game to have such incredible longevity. StarCraft was well-supported with new patches and constant improvements, and it’s still an RTS classic centred around player skill. Two decades after its release, the game still holds a special place in the hearts of the many of us who spent our free time in Battle.net lobbies searching for our next galactic opponent.