Next FestRTS Reviews

Marching Orders: Empire of the Ants Delivers a Gorgeous RTS Experience

Empire of the Ants, based on Bernard Werber’s novel, is a real-time strategy game that’s both visually stunning and fun to play. After our preview earlier this year, I got another chance to spend some time with the demo as part of the Steam Next Fest, and while it’s not the most complex RTS on the market, it definitely delivers a unique experience — controlling an ant colony as they navigate through a resource-scarce and hostile environment. The demo gives...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Global Conflagration’s Beta Proves Why Classic RTS Games Are Still Unbeatable

Nostalgia for the ‘good old days’ has become increasingly common in modern gaming. This trend is partly fuelled by the current state of the industry, which often favours generic live-service games over truly authentic experiences. However, nostalgia alone isn’t the whole story—many older players are simply drawn to the past, while newer gamers struggle to understand why they enjoy titles that, by modern standards, seem technically inferior. That’s why a game like Global Conflagration is more relevant now than ever....
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Next FestRTS Reviews

Space Tales Review: Retro-Futuristic Charm Meets Simplified Strategy

When I first reviewed Space Tales in July, I said I really wanted to like it, but ultimately, it fell short. The visual design was undeniably a highlight, pulling me into a retro-futuristic world that felt like The Jetsons crossed with Worms. However, the gameplay just didn’t live up to the promise. The survival mode was overly simplistic, lacking the depth needed to keep things interesting, and the absence of tooltips made it harder to engage with the mechanics. Despite...
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Next Fest

Steam Next Fest – The Best 9 RTS Game Demos You Can Play Now!

It’s that time of year again, and real-time strategy gamers are in for a treat. The Steam Next Fest has rolled around once again and there’s a whole host of upcoming RTS games you can sample during the next eight days, between 14 and 21 October. If you’re a fan of grand battles, tactical skirmishes or if you’re looking for something a little different, you’ll find it during Next Fest. It’s a perfect opportunity to check out demos of upcoming...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Beyond Astra: Taking 4X Back to it’s RTS Roots

Grand Strategy and 4X games have come a long way, transforming from niche genres into major pillars of the gaming industry. Yet, their shared DNA with real-time strategy often goes unnoticed. In truth, these genres are a natural evolution of the RTS formula, a response to the stagnation of traditional RTS and the advancements in hardware. As gaming landscapes evolved, developers expanded the scale and depth of their games, resulting in iconic titles like Stellaris and Civilization. Although these games...
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News and Features

Sea Power: A Fusion of RTS and Naval Warfare Simulation

Casual gamers have often stereotyped real-time strategy games as overly complex. However, this perception quickly changes for anyone who actually plays them, as many of these games are easy to learn but difficult to master. Yet, with the upcoming release of Sea Power, one might begin to wonder if this stereotype is finally gaining some validity. The game blends traditional RTS mechanics with a full-scale naval combat simulation, and I don’t make that claim lightly. Players have full real-time control...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre – A Thoughtful New Take on RTS

IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre offers a refreshing mix of familiar mechanics and new ideas. Developed by SunSpear Games, this title incorporates the depth that RTS fans enjoy, while introducing a few innovations that set it apart from traditional offerings. With a thoughtful approach to strategy and gameplay, IMMORTAL aims to carve out its own space within the genre. In IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre, players control powerful generals known as Immortals, each representing a different nation and equipped with distinct abilities...
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RTS Retrospectives

Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation – A Modern Nod to Classic RTS Battles

In a distant future, humanity takes a bold step towards becoming a posthuman species, merging biological life with artificial intelligence. However, this transformation faces brutal opposition, leading to an intense battle for survival. Welcome to Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation. Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation is a throwback to the golden era of the genre. Inspired by classics like Total Annihilation (1997) and Supreme Commander (2007), this game brings back the joy of building massive armies without getting bogged down...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

D.O.R.F.: Early Impressions and Insights

The upcoming real-time strategy game D.O.R.F.: Real-Time Strategic Conflict has quietly built up some real excitement among fans of the genre. Developed by the DORF team, the game promises a fresh take on the traditional RTS formula, bringing together familiar elements like base building, resource management, and tactical warfare while also introducing new mechanics that aim to elevate the experience. Gameplay What sets D.O.R.F. apart is the way it pays homage to the golden age of RTS games from the...
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News and Features

Company of Heroes 3 Update 1.8.0: New Maps, Features, and Improvements

The Company of Heroes series has long been a staple in the RTS genre, known for its tactical depth and attention to historical detail. With the release of Update 1.8.0 for Company of Heroes 3, players can look forward to several new features, improvements, and tweaks that aim to refine and enhance the overall gameplay experience, regardless of whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just getting started. New Maps and Environments Update 1.8.0 brings three new maps, available in all...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Battle Aces: Next Beta Phase Starts November 7th

The next phase of the Battle Aces Beta is set to begin on November 7, 2024. The Beta offers a great opportunity to explore new features and help shape the future of the game and brings some exciting updates. New units will be available, offering fresh challenges and forcing players to rethink their strategies on the battlefield. Additionally, the introduction of a 2vAI Cooperative Mode allows players to team up with a friend and face off against AI opponents that...
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RTS Retrospectives

The Future of War? – Dark Reign

If you’re a fan on retro real-time strategy games, Dark Reign: The Future of War stands out as an exemplary choice. Developed by Activision and launched in 1997, this title drew frequent comparisons to the acclaimed Command and Conquer series of its era—a testament to its quality. In fact, Dark Reign: The Future of War achieved notable success, with sales nearing 700,000 copies by 2004. This game is a quintessential sci-fi real-time strategy gem that initially graced Windows platforms followed...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Welcome Back, Commander

Commander, it’s time to gear up and face a city on the brink of collapse. In Welcome Back, Commander, you lead a strike team into the heart of Sun Stone, a city quarantined after a deadly plague breaks out. Your mission is to find out what happened and stop the infection before it spreads beyond the city’s borders. You are the last line of defence in this fast-paced RTS experience that blends tactical squad management with strategic decision-making, ensuring every...
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Indie GamesRTS Reviews

Block Strategy: A Twist on RTS with a Fully Destructible World

Block Strategy has just launched on Steam following an early debut during June’s Steam Next Fest. Developed by indie studio Marc Makes Games, this PC-only title brings a refreshing mix of familiar RTS mechanics and innovative new ideas, set against the backdrop of a fully destructible world. Block Strategy is an RTS base defence game with roguelite elements, designed for single-player experiences. The premise is simple but compelling: you are among the last surviving robots, warping through space to escape...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Diplomacy is Not an Option Exits Early Access

Early access on Steam is a double-edged sword: it can give us unforgettable games or leave others to languish in obscurity. Yet, developers like Door 407 have shown how the system can work by delivering Diplomacy is Not an Option, one of the most absurd and entertaining RTS games in recent memory. It’s a game that’s kept the core elements of the genre intact while offering an experience like no other. Since its debut in early access, Diplomacy is Not...
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News and Features

Call to Arms – Gates of Hell: Airborne!

World War II was a defining moment in history, shaping not just global events but also our understanding of conflict, strategy, and perseverance. Its impact on media, from films to books, has been immense, and gaming is no exception. Some of the most iconic titles in gaming history are rooted in this era. Company of Heroes, a real-time strategy (RTS) game, dominated the 2010s, keeping the genre alive even as RTS games were becoming less prominent. However, with the recent...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Powerplay: Adding Complexity or True Innovation to the Stagnant RTS Genre?

RTS games have long been a cornerstone of the gaming industry. However, the genre lost momentum in the mid-2000s and was largely forgotten by the 2010s. Now, in 2024, RTS games are regaining relevance, partly due to the heavy monetization of other genres. Yet, these new titles face the same challenge that plagued the classics: stagnation. Despite their quality, many RTS games can be reduced to base building and resource gathering. While some have attempted to break this mold by...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

Broken Arrow Release Postponed

Slitherine and Steel Balalaika have announced that Broken Arrow, originally expected to launch in 2024, has been postponed to 2025. While this delay may come as a disappointment to many fans, the decision is driven by a clear goal: delivering the best possible experience for players. According to Marco Alessandro Minoli, Director of Publishing at Slitherine, this additional time will allow the team to conduct more thorough testing and refine the game’s code. Minoli stated, “We don’t want to underestimate...
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News and Features

Have you got the Critical Moves?

There’s a new player podcast in town. Where strategy gaming meets good vibes! Join us as we break down the tactics, share tips, and have some fun chatting about all things strategy. Tune in for laid-back discussions, game reviews, and more. No stress, just Critical Moves. Critical Moves is a joint venture between me (Al) and Nuno from StrategyandWargaming.com. A few weeks ago now, I reached out to Nuno as a fellow strategy game enthusiast with a goal to hook...
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Indie GamesNews and Features

STARHOME: A Bold Attempt to Revive Space RTS Greatness

Space has always been a prime frontier for games to explore. Whether it be the heroic story of Master Chief or the subtle dread of the Metroid games. It has been used as the backdrop for many great stories. But one game and story that stands out from the rest, for its ability to convey emotions is Homeworld. The first instalment to be specific, as it tells a tragic tale of loss and finding hope when all is lost. It...
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Editorials and Opinions

Exploring the Vision Behind Kanoogi and Intergalactic Space Empire

Ten years ago, Chris Taylor set out to explore whether a rich gaming experience could be delivered through web browsers. Back then, browser compatibility was limited, and the differences between platforms were a major challenge. But Taylor saw potential, especially in Google Chrome’s capabilities. His initial work resulted in The Infinite Desktop, a concept offering a virtually limitless desktop filled with interconnected apps that remained persistent across sessions. This early work showed how immersive, continuous user experiences could unfold on...
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News and Features

Age of Mythology: Retold

Age of Mythology: Retold has just been released, and those who grabbed the Premium Edition got early access, diving into the game a week ahead of everyone else. Players have been buzzing online about their experiences, while Microsoft and content creators have teased some of the exciting changes, including gameplay updates. They’ve rebalanced units and buildings compared to the original game, and there’s even a brand-new age called The Wonder Age. We won’t spoil all the surprises, but it’s safe...
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