Summary
With a nearly 50-year history, the real-time strategy genre has gone through a plethora of sweeping changes and interactive alterations. As such, the RTS genre is somewhat beholden to the creative drive of not just one pivotal title, but a laundry list of experiences.
Ranging from the hard-hitting critical darlings of classic Blizzard RTS titles to interpretations and expansions of the genre on contemporary hardware, the real-time strategy genre has developed incrementally throughout the years.
Built upon the solid foundation ofSupreme Commander’s original 2007 release,Supreme Commander: Forged Alliancereleased later in the year and expanded theSupreme Commanderseries into a series with a seemingly unimaginable RTS presence.
Producing tightly wound gameplay, and a compelling sci-fi narrative,Supreme Commanderis arguably a cornerstone release of the RTS genre. Bolstered byForged Alliance’s release - which re-balanced the title’s factions and units with the introduction of the Seraphim -Supreme Commanderhas seemingly only transcended its original releasethanks to its “unparalleled modability"and fan commitment. As such, nearly 20 years since its release, its continued presence is proof enough of its place in the annals of RTS greats.
With the 1999 debut ofHomeworld’s smooth and consistent 3D movement, alongside its engaging story and groundbreaking mechanics, the RTS genre arguably saw one of its greatest technological leaps. Spawning a variety of expansions, andrenown as a “revolutionary sci-fi franchise”,theHomeworldfranchise’s installments have become staples of PC gaming and the RTS genre.
Instilling a sense of urgency and high stakes through its world-finding narrative and persistent fleet from mission to mission,Homeworldis an RTS that is not afraid to let the player make mistakes. With a steep learning curve when controlling units - from scouts to corvettes -Homeworld’s gameplay not only creates tension but bolsters the title’s plot through its mechanics.
While it may have originated as a spin-off of the widely-acclaimedAge of Empiresseries,Age of Mythologyhas carved out a place in the RTS genre all for itself. Clearly showing that a market exists for more fantastical RTS experiences, even in 2002,Age of Mythology’s pantheon of gods-fearing societies has since gone on to delight players and evencontribute to scientific learning.
Havingfound its way out ofAge of Empire’s shadow, as an experience that truly stood out,Age of Mythology’s base cultures of Greeks, Egyptians, and Norse societies not only provide aesthetic alterations but produce tangible changes to gameplay. As the gods of these civilizations bestow their powers on their chosen people, the grounded conflict seen in other RTS titles is rocked by lightning bolts and Minotaur-esque titans.
While the established fundamentals ofStarcraft’s narrative and gameplay are core to its 1998 release, Blizzard’s inaugural sci-fi RTS has found its place as a touchstone of the genre arguably due to its societal impact.
In"dominating the competitive RTS scene"in Korea in the late 90s and early 00s,Starcraftfound itself as a formative installment not only within the RTS genre but competitive eSports as a whole. Having expanded into a multimedia IP through novels, board games, and proposed video games in alternate genres, theStarcraftseries' original installment is a clear cornerstone of not only the RTS genre but also the medium of video games.
Although its more personal focus greatly sets it apart from the grand scope of many other RTS titles,Company of Heroes' historical strategy gameplay is arguably just as fundamental to the genre as other titans of the like.
Although its gameplay is more unit-based, with only two playable factions, its tightly wound mechanics and narrative grounding have resulted in it being considered to be the best WW2 strategy game of all time. With its plot following the Allied invasion of Normandy, and the liberation of France from Axis powers,Company of Heroes' 2006 release is a fully-rounded RTS experience. Beyond this, theCompany of Heroesfranchise has gone on to dizzying heights - with sequels, mobile ports, and even a loosely adapted 2013 motion picture - yet its initial installment is still a highly personal RTS touchstone.
Although the pseudo-monopolistic hold ofWorld of Warcrafton the MMORPG genre is somewhat taken for granted now, Blizzard’s success with RPG elements and fantasy narratives can be traced to its time with theWarcraftRTS franchise.
BeyondWarcraft 3: Reign of Chaos' seemingly flawless RTS elements, mechanics, and plot, the title also introduced a whole host of unique aspects. From incorporating role-playing mechanics into its RTS framework, and containing ‘hero’ characters who can dominate the field,Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos' influence on later RTS works is seemingly evident. Even beyond its unique world that"transformed from a successful RTS into an IP that would stretch across multiple genres and forms of media”,Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos' World Editor tools were also integral to the creation of modes and games that went on to develop into fully-fledged titles such as Valve’s highly-successful MOBA,Dota.
WhileStarcraft 2’s single-player offerings are arguably not as strong as some other RTS titles, Blizzard’s trailblazing sequel is arguably one of the most impactful video games in the industry.
While the originalStarcraftseemingly pioneered eSports in Korea,Starcraft 2brought that same overwhelming success to a global audience. As a result, Blizzard"undoubtedly created one of the best, if not the best, competitive strategy games ever"- and its success can still be found in its cultural impact. From its position as an inaugural title in the burgeoning world of video game streaming, and a touchstone of not only gaming butscientific research in the industry, Blizzard’s RTS sequel is undoubtedly formative for the genre.
While theAge of Empiresfranchise has had no shortage of success in the RTS space, it’s within its second installment that the series arguably reached its zenith. AsAge of Empires 2"looms large in the minds of fans and critics as the powerhouse of the franchise", its interpretation and expansion of the RTS formula have made it a touchstone title of the genre.
In providing players with much more expansive defensive options from its inaugural title, alongside the inclusion of unit formations,Age of Empires 2formed an environment that was seemingly perfect for strategic gameplay. Despite the RTS genre’s more striking focus on mechanical development,Age of Empires 2is a much more robust narrative experience. With iconic leaders and historical events scattered throughout its campaign,Age of Empires 2is an extremely well-rounded RTS experience. As a result,Age of Empires 2has found a place as a pivotal title in the RTS genre - bolstered by its multiple remastered experiences - in 2013 and 2019 - that brings its gameplay to new audiences.
