Summary
The concept ofreal-time combatis a mixed bag for some people, and it can mean a totally different thing to others. In this sense, it just means combat that takes place in real-time as opposed to turn-based or long waiting times between turns or rounds. Strategy games often have such a huge scope that the combat can be overlooked; however,real-time combat makesfor an exhilarating tactical experience.
Not only does real-time combat enhance immersion and create a totally unique experience, but it also strengthens the tactical elements of strategy games, allowing for a wider exploration of combat techniques. Whether players are moving large groups of military soldiers or commanding vast fleets of fearsome dragons,strategy games with real-time combat elementsare not to be overlooked.
8Warhammer 40K: Dawn Of War
The originalDawn Of Warblended a mix of everyone’s favorite tabletop miniatures,Warhammer, with the commanding aspect of RTS video games. It was a natural adaption for theWarhammerfranchise and perfectly merged the tabletop game into a video game format. Of course, there have been hundreds ofWarhammervideo games at this point, butDawn of Warwas the first one to truly replicate and adapt the actual tabletop game into a video game that worked.
Players take control of huge troops of Blood Angel space marines and pit them against an array of enemies from the 40k universe. As the combat takes place in real-time, players truly step into the shoes of a commander as they rally and command troops across the battlefield. For fans of bothWarhammerand RTS games,Dawn of Waris a near-perfect experience and the real-time combat is smooth andeasy to get a handle of. Even if players aren’t massiveWarhammerfans, it’s still one of the best strategy games with real-time combat out there.
Released back in 1999 for Microsoft Windows,Age of Empires 2is one of the most definitive real-time strategy games of all time. Naturally, this means that the real-time combat forms one of the best parts of the entire game. TheAge of Empiresseries set the staple for RTS games to follow; however, it’s the second entry that really highlighted the combat mechanics, presenting gamers with the blueprint for what real-time combat should look and feel like.
It’s a visually attractive game despite its age; however, for players looking for a more updated feeling, a remastered version ofAge of Empires 2released in 2019. The remastered version kept everything mostly the same, and the real-time combat elements feel as powerful as they did back in 1999. With a whopping thirteen playable civilizations,Age of Empires 2is a huge game. With campaigns set in the Mongol era of Genghis Kan’s empire or the Frankish campaign in England’s Hundred Years' War,Age of Empires 2features some of the mostentertaining and historically accuratereal-time combat in any strategy game.
6Warcraft 3: Reign Of Chaos
Perhaps the best fantasy RTS with amazing real-time combat mechanics,Warcraft 3proved a massive hit with both critics and players when it was first released in 2002. Players do everything they would normally do in RTS games, collect resources, build bases, and train troops, but this entry is set in aWorld of Warcraftfantasy setting. The less said about the recent remake,Warcraft 3 Reforged, the better.
Players can choose from four playable factions - Orcs, Humans, Night Elves, and the Undead, and battle it out in epic fantasy battlefields. The real-time combat mixes elements of MMO-style skills with classic RTS combat to create an unmissable strategy experience. It’s fluid and engaging, and the single-player campaigns are some of the best in any strategy game ever. If players are looking for a fantasy strategy game where they can take part in the combat in real time,Warcraft 3is the best place to start.
AnyTotal Warentry could be placed here as it’s a fantastic series, but it’sTotal War: Shogun 2that takes the cake for the best real-time combat. Who doesn’t want to experienceepic samurai combaton a grand scale and experience all the action in real-time? Whilst theTotal Warseries does utilize turn-based strategy, it’s the implementation of real-time tactics when the combat gets going that really makes this entry stand out.
There are some awesome animations, and the whole battlefield completely immerses the player when the action gets going. Zooming in with the camera allows the player to witness some pretty brutal death animations as well. It’s visually stunning and completely immersing, but above all, the real-time combat is wholly engaging.
Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, theStarcraftseries has a very dedicated fanbase, and it’sStarcraft 2that proves exactly why, as it is one of the greatest RTS games ever made, and the real-time combat featured in it is some of the best out there. With a number of campaigns and expansions,Starcraft 2is the best RTS game for sci-fi fans.
Players canbuild massive baseson vivid green or desolate rock planets and become fully immersed in the alien settings.Starcraft 2has a strong focus on the environment, which further enhances the real-time combat. Lava might flood the battlefield at any moment, or players could end up fighting forces that only come out when the sun sets. It’s a unique and innovative RTS title.
Real-time combat with spaceships set against the backdrop of stars and distant planets? If that sounds promising thenStellarisis definitely worth checking out. Although it was developed by a smaller team,Stellarisgained a dedicated following pretty quickly and has cemented itself as one of the best strategy games with real-time combat set in space.
Stellarisis all about the balance of power, and players will use their combat skills with a mix of strategies to try and swing that balance in their favor. Control an empire on a grand galactic conquest and utilize skilled real-time combat to claim a place as one of the species of the stars.
2Company Of Heroes
Company of Heroesis one of the best military strategy games and features alluring real-time combat. Players command tanks, ships, and huge fleets of soldiers in an epic WW2 battleground where combat is at the heart of every encounter. Featuring two playable factions, players can command the allies or the axis and take part in a sprawling campaign or fight against one another in multiplayer.
For a more realistic take on the RTS genre,Company of Heroesoffers a gritty look into thedarkness of the battlefieldand allows players to experience the action of WW2 like never before. It’s the perfect game for fans of strategy games and military shooters, and the real-time combat takes everything to the next level.
1Spellforced 3: Reforced
With relaxing background music and gorgeous, luscious environments,Spellforced 3is one of the most relaxingfantasy RTS games. Combining elements of RPGs with real-time strategy combat,Spellforced 3is a unique but entertaining title. All theSpellforcedgames are pretty great, but this is the one with some of the best combat.
Players can go alone, or they can set up co-op skirmish maps and fight with or against one another. There are a multitude of races and skill trees to explore, and with the added RPG mechanics, the combat is much deeper than a traditional RTS game.
