Summary
Real-time strategy gamesare a joy to play, with most players loving thecompetitive multiplayer matchupsof the best games in this genre. Fans love the idea of outpacing the opposition and either amassing an army strong enough to conquer their foes or achieving a victory by other means.
However, some players love thesingle-player modesin this genre and don’t want to get the short end of the stick from titles that are geared toward multiplayer. Thankfully, these players have their fair share ofamazing story-driven RTS campaignsto choose from, including ones in games that may seem to prioritize multiplayer over everything else.
Age of Mythologymay not have captured the same fanbaseasAge of Empires 2, but there’s no denying that the game has dedicated players who continue to enjoy the many multiplayer modes present in this mythological spin on theAoEformula.
Age of Mythology: Retoldpromised players more of the same, and one thing old fans wanted to jump into was the game’s amazing story campaigns, which had a lot of thought and effort put into them. It was clear that being free of the chains of history that bound other games in the genre aided the narrative quality quite a bit, and new fans will be surprised after checking out the immense quality of the campaign.
Empire Earthisone of the wildest RTS gamesever made, encompassing ages that start from prehistoric times before letting players move on to the future. Players will love multiplayer matchups where speedrunning through the ages takes precedence before players can amass the strongest army possible and go to war.
This unique take on the genre’s gameplay helps the campaigns shine too, letting players experience everything from stories based on historical events to original tales that are rife with fun dialogue and scenarios. It helps thatEmpire Earth’s gameplay is very similar toAge of Empires, making it all the more familiar for players who want to jump into the single-player content without too many problems.
There was a time when Blizzard Entertainment was hailed by many as one of the best video game companies around, withgames likeWarcraft 3further cementing this image. The RTS gameplay was as engaging as anything on the market, but a huge part of what made this game a mainstream success was its epic plot.
Multiplayer may have keptWarcraft 3relevant in the long run, but what initially endeared this title to fans was an epic story that let players control heroes and witness their descent in some of the most epic storytelling an RTS game has to offer.
At the time of its release,Homeworldwasone of the most impressive RTS gamesever made. Its learning curve was pretty steep, but it rewarded players who learned from their failures and understood how to amass an impressive fleet and overpower their opponents.
Homeworld’s multiplayer was a joy to play for hardcore RTS fans, but everyone could jump into the campaign and enjoy a riveting story where they must help the Kushan recover their home world. It’s an excellent story that will help players learn the ropes before they choose to jump into the multiplayer side of things.
Tiberian Sunis one of thebestCommand & Conquergamesplayers can get their hands on. The game’s presentation was turned up a notch from previous entries in the franchise, ensuring that multiplayer matchups could be breakneck and intense during the cinematic battles players were treated to.
What made things even better was the campy single-player story that went all in on its hammy FMVs while letting players explore a riveting sci-fi setting. The objectives in the campaign are varied enough to capture any player’s attention and encourage them to uncover the charm of this beloved RTS game’s story.
AnyLord of the Ringsfan would love the idea of playing an RTS game set in the series' world.Battle for Middle-earthaccomplishes exactly that, serving up an excellent multiplayer experience that dedicated fans continue to enjoy on unofficial game servers.
The “Good” campaign covers the events of the story from the books and films and lets players play an active role in the victories of the Fellowship. However, most fans love the “Evil” campaign for providing an alternate take on the story, which is a treat for long-time fans ofTheLord of the Rings.
Fans were elated to hear that a newAge of Empiresgame would be released after a lengthy wait, withAge of Empires 4’srelease appeasing many fans. This sequel emulatesAge of Empires 2’s best qualities and builds on some of its gameplay elements in a way that fans will adore.
The multiplayer side of things boasts the quality players would expect from theAoEseries, but it’s the single-player campaign that will surprise many fans. The game makes the brilliant decision of structuring the campaign like a documentary, which makes complete sense given that this is a re-telling of real-life martial conflicts from throughout history.
Another amazing RTS game that was a revolution in its time,StarCraftintroduces a sci-fi worldwith three unique races to choose from. The Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss are a joy to control, and each brings their strengths to the table, which makes for a balanced multiplayer experience.
However, it would be impossible to brag aboutStarCraftwithout mentioning the story-focused campaign rife with amazing writing. The fact that the sequel is considered inferior from a narrative perspective despite being more mechanically sound speaks volumes about the writing chops Blizzard brought to the table for this title.
