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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