News and Features

OpenRA’s Modern Enhancements

OpenRA continues to be the go-to platform for fans of classic RTS games like Red Alert, Command & Conquer, and Dune 2000. This open-source project brings timeless strategy games to modern systems, enhancing their playability while staying true to their roots. And now, a brand-new playtest version, Playtest 20241116, introduces a host of exciting updates that elevate the experience further. One of the standout features of this release is the introduction of post-processing effects. These graphical enhancements give the game...
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News and Features

Warcraft and Warcraft 2 Remasters Drop Without Warning

Blizzard just pulled off a classic move – dropping remasters of Warcraft and Warcraft 2 with no prior warning. The reveal coincided with the company’s 30th anniversary celebration, featuring a trailer packed with side-by-side comparisons of the original graphics and the new, hand-drawn visuals. Let’s address the obvious question: why remaster these classics now? While the Warcraft 2 remaster had leaked, the first Warcraft was a surprise. According to franchise manager Brad Chan, these updates aim to respect the games’...
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News and Features

Hyperwar: Ushering in a New Age

The RTS genre often feels like it’s been on life support for years. When you think of the classics – Command & Conquer, StarCraft, Warcraft – they’re pillars of the genre, but they also represent a bygone era. Today’s releases, even those born from the indie boom, rarely stray from those established formulas. That’s why Hyperwar stands out. It’s not here to pay homage; it’s here to redefine the genre with bold ideas and a modern approach. Previously known as...
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News and Features

Age of Empires II Chronicles: Relive Ancient Greece in Epic New Battles

In gaming, few stand the test of time, and even fewer are remembered fondly. Of all the games to have done so, perhaps none is more iconic than Age of Empire II. The RTS classic that brought about the golden age for the genre. And even now, 25 years after its initial release and 11 years after its HD definite edition, fans still want more. To which the developers have responded by announcing a new series of DLCs under the...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Epic Medieval Sieges in Age of Respair

Innovation and advancement are the two major pillars on which modern gaming stands. This is why different genres have periodically risen to mainstream popularity throughout history. However, those that couldn’t adapt to changing times faded into obscurity. The RTS genre has recently seen a resurgence in popularity, largely due to the significant innovations introduced by many indie studios. Yet, amidst this wave of innovation, many have forgotten what made RTS games from the golden age so memorable. It wasn’t cutting-edge...
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News and Features

ICBM Escalation: Epic Modern Warfare RTS

Modern conflicts are rarely explored in the RTS genre. Even when other genres, such as FPS, attempt to tackle these themes, they often take creative liberties to avoid referencing any specific real-world forces or powers. Games like Warno and War Game have delved into modern conflicts but tend to focus on self-contained, small-scale skirmishes. Truly epic-scale RTS games that depict present-day conflicts are uncommon—until now. ICBM Escalation, the upcoming game from SoftWarWare, releases on November 21st and offers players a grand,...
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News and Features

Hearts of Iron 4: New Expansion & Alternate History

Hearts of Iron 4 is a name that needs no introduction, as it stands as one of the most iconic World War II real-time strategy games on the market. This reputation has been built through the efforts of a dedicated development team and a passionately engaged fanbase. The community has modded the game to include nearly every imaginable fictional and non-fictional scenario, including popular alternate history mods like “Kaiser Reich: Legacy of the Welt Krieg” and “Red Flood.” These mods...
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News and Features

Arena of the Gods Arrives in Age of Mythology Retold

Age of Mythology Retold has something big on the horizon: a new mode called Arena of the Gods. This mode introduces 35 missions packed with dynamic challenges and is arriving soon as part of a free update. Fans of this legendary RTS can look forward to navigating unique twists and earning powerful blessings while taking on mythic foes in this new experience. Here’s what’s in store with Arena of the Gods: Arena of the Gods’ content-packed, mission-based gauntlet is entirely...
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News and Features

Three Months in the Making: Critical Moves is Here!

After three months of hard work, the first episode of Critical Moves is finally up! We’re covering Strategy Game Remasters in this debut episode—what works, what flops, and everything in between. It’s been a learning experience, and we’re proud of what the team has created. If you’re into strategy games, give it a listen, hit subscribe, and share your thoughts. Critical Moves is made for the strategy community, so jump in, join the discussion, and let’s talk games! Strategy Game...
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Top Ten RTS Games

Top 10 Free-to-Play RTS Games: Strategy Gaming on a Budget

Free-to-Play is a phrase which has, historically, carried some fairly negative connotations. Here at RTS HQ, we aim to highlight the best strategy games across the board, and today we’re focusing on free-to-play real-time strategy games. These titles offer a great way to dive into RTS games without the upfront cost. This can be a great way for people who are curious about real-time strategy to experience some incredible games. Each of these titles brings something unique to the table,...
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Indie GamesRTS Reviews

EVERGLORY: Whimsical Slavic Indie RTS

Graphical fidelity and realistic art styles have become hallmarks of the modern gaming experience. Developers today often prioritize systems like DLSS and FSR – technologies that, while revolutionary, introduce challenges for the industry. These systems allow games to be stripped of unique identity and charm, all in the pursuit of more visually stunning experiences. This trend has led many AAA games to feel similar and lacking in originality. Indie games, on the other hand, tend to avoid this issue by...
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Indie Games

The Cinematic RTS, ZeroSpace

Cinematic storytelling is usually the last thing one expects when launching an RTS game. Most RTS titles prioritize meta gameplay over narrative, and when story-driven elements have been attempted, the results have been mixed at best. Consider games like Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne or the Dawn of War series; while many gamers regard them as some of the best stories told through the medium, both relied on an established fanbase and existing lore. The RTS genre has seen few...
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RTS Retrospectives

Command and Conquer: Red Alert – A Timeless Strategy Classic

In 1996, an era before Google, cellphones, and streaming, there existed a gem that ignited the hearts of the first real-time strategy gamers: Command and Conquer: Red Alert. Arguably one of the greatest strategy games of all time, it hails from Westwood Studios, one of the most widely recognised early developers of strategy games. This is a time prior to its acquisition (and destruction!) by Electronic Arts. Much like the ’90s that birthed it, Command and Conquer: Red Alert is...
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Next FestRTS Reviews

Battlefall: State of Conflict – A Promising New RTS with Retro-Futuristic Style

Command and Conquer is a name that frequently comes up when people discuss RTS games. It embodies the best elements of the golden age of real-time strategy, yet, unfortunately, there hasn’t been a new mainline or spin-off entry for years. It seems that EA is prepared to let the franchise fade into obscurity. However, fuelled by nostalgia, dedicated fans refuse to let that happen. Among the various efforts to keep the spirit of the game alive, the most promising and...
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Indie GamesRTS Retrospectives

Gray Zone: Once a Promising Indie Adventure

It was clear from the outset that Gray Zone was a labour of love. The developers poured every ounce of their creative juices into the game. From the visuals, to the 2D comic-strip style cutscenes to the voice acting from the main characters. The level of detail in Gray Zone went beyond my expectation for an indie title. You played as Valern, a sullen young man who frees himself from the clutches of the evil Union, Gray Zone’s chief protagonists....
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Next FestRTS Reviews

Beyond Astra: A Galactic 4X RTS Experience

Beyond Astra, a promising entry into the 4X strategy genre by solo developer Nebule Games, brings together the scale and complexity of galactic conquest with intricate planetary management. With a release date aimed for 2025, this game has generated considerable excitement, particularly among fans of titles like X4: Foundations, Stellaris, and even Spore. The free demo currently available on Steam provides a glimpse into the game’s mechanics, showcasing the developer’s ambitious vision, but like many early demos, it leaves players...
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RTS Retrospectives

Retrospective – StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

In the history of real-time strategy, certain titles stand as classics, forever etched in the memories of players. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is undoubtedly one of these iconic games. With StarCraft II it’s evident that Blizzard Entertainment created something truly exceptional—a sequel that not only lived up to its predecessor but surpassed it in many ways. In the world of StarCraft II, we revisited the storylines and characters that had captivated us in the original. The protagonist, Jim Raynor,...
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Next FestRTS Reviews

Welcome Back, Commander – Tactical Survival with Replayable Depth

Welcome Back, Commander was one of the more intriguing titles on the list and deserves massive praise just for the choice of name. I had an opportunity to sample this retro real-time tactics game as part of the Steam Next Fest. You’re dropped into the city of Sun Stone, rendered is glorious MS Paint 98, when it is ravaged by a mysterious plague which has turned the inhabitants into blood-thirsty killers. You’re tasked with leading a strike team deep into...
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Next FestRTS Previews

Collapsed Galaxy 2: A Messy and Unpolished Experience

I gave Collapsed Galaxy 2 a shot as part of the Steam Next Fest but honestly, it just didn’t click with me. As someone who never played the original Shattered Galaxy and doesn’t gravitate toward multiplayer-heavy games, I found myself confused and frustrated more than anything. Despite its potential, I struggled to see what makes this game special, and ultimately, I’ve taken it off my wishlist. What’s Good: What Needs Work (A Lot): Additional Gripes: The Bottom Line: For me,...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Astra Sent͏in͏e͏l: The Nex͏t ͏Big ͏Thing in Sci͏-Fi R͏TS Gaming?

Astra Sentinel is poised to make its mark on the world of real-time strategy games. Developed by Somnambulist Games, this upcoming title promises to deliver a unique blend of strategic complexity, immersive storytelling, and visually stunning environments. As players prepare to defend humanity from an alien invasion, Astra Sentinel offers a fresh take on the traditional RTS formula, generating plenty of excitement within the gaming community. The game’s campaign mode is a standout feature, putting players in charge of regaining...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Empire Eternal: An Era-Spanning RTS Adventure

The cyclical rise and fall of empires is the foundation of the iconic quote, “History is doomed to repeat itself.” From the ascent of the Romans to the collapse of monarchies, history has consistently followed this pattern. Yet, this historical cycle of nations rising and falling has rarely been explored in video games. A few titles that come to mind are the cult classics, Empire Earth and Rise of Nations, both of which are now decades old and some even...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Age of History III

Many of you are likely familiar with or have played Crusader Kings. Its second instalment is widely regarded as one of the best historical games driven by player choice. Though it carries the RTS tag on Steam, anyone who has played it knows it’s not truly an RTS in the strictest sense. Solely based on the fact that it focuses more on player-created scenarios and the consequences of the player’s choices. That is where Age of History III comes into...
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