Summary
RTSgamesare sometimes challenging and complex,but they can be rewardingwhen players get really into them, serving as tests of will and quick thinking. Many of these games require players to turn into great strategists able to command troops, manage resources, and deploy tactics at incredible speeds.
But some RTS games are quite polarizing, either because the fans of the series they belong to saw something not so good in them, or because the devs implemented unpopular changes or mechanics to the core concept of the genre. These RTS games draw conflicting opinions, but are still worth a try for fans of the genre.
TheCommand & Conquerseries was always a step further away from the traditional RTS. Whether it was its thrilling storytelling or its unit control mechanics, it has always had something special that fans liked.
But what they didn’t like was the changes in its core base management mechanic that were changed in its fourth iteration:Tiberian Twilight.The developers decided to outright eliminate the base building mechanic, and instead repurposed it into a more fast-paced version where crawler bases are the core. Of course, fans didn’t stay quiet about this and expressed their disgust for this new mechanic. Be it as it may, it is still a fun game to play.
BothHalo WarsandHalo Wars IIhave the same core issue: oversimplification. This is a great thing for RTS novices who want to play a great series without having too much trouble managing resources and going through the classic base-building mechanics. However, veterans of the genre might find it particularly offensive.
Some think this simplification was becauseHalo Warswas catering to a console audience, thinking perhaps that the RTS genre has traditionally been associated with the PC. But this is far from the truth. TheHalo Warsfranchise might be accessibleto newbie players, but that doesn’t make it any less good, with a thrilling story that is part of theHaloUniverse. So, it is worth a try.
Stormgatehas a lot of negative critics, but readers would do good to take them with a pinch of salt. It is true that when the game was released in July 2024, it had a lot of launch issues (like most games with online features do). However, that doesn’t mean it is a bad game. On the contrary, it has a good campaign, and it was developed by people who love RTS games as much as players do.
This game was made byStarcraft 2veterans, and it promised a lot but didn’t manage to quench the thirst ofthe fans who were expecting aStarcraft 3.In the end, the many complaints and review bombing are mostly due to optimization issues, but the game is still worth a try.
Warhammer 40,000is a franchise that should be treated with respect, not only because its many fans would cry at the sight of heretical hands manhandling their precious grimdark universe, but because of what its rich lore can offer.Dawn of War Ioffered incredible depth while also maintaining the narrative quality.
On the other hand,Dawn of War 2had a more tactical focus, placing emphasis on unit control and reflecting the trueWarhammerexperience through its gameplay. WhatDawn of War 3did wrong was to attempt to integrate both the first game’s best qualities with the second, and ended up failing at both. The change in the pacing from its previous delivery, plus the forced introduction of MOBA mechanics, ended up ruining the experience for many players. Still, it might be worth a try if players have it on their wishlist.
3Act of Aggression
Some Call It Unplayable; Others Call It A Masterpiece
Though its predecessor,Act of War,offered a realistic and in-depth war simulation experience,Act of Aggressionwas an amalgam of bugs, crashes, and desync errors that thwarted all the devs' efforts to make a great game. In the end, optimization is always the way with RTS games, and players can notice when something is done poorly or rushed.
Sadly, since the devs cut all support toAct of Aggression,it never reached its full potential. But it’s an otherwise great game, with good mechanics, a thrilling campaign with well-developed tactical missions, and lots of hours of fun RTS goodness to offer.
Star Wars: Empire At Warhas aged magnificently, and thanks to its recent remaster, it has survived the passing of the years like a champion. But it wasn’t always like this. Ever since its release back in 2006, it has suffered criticism due to the imbalance between ground and aerial (space) combat.
The different factions are also unbalanced, and the merciless AI doesn’t help players get used to the game. Desync errors, crashes, bugs, and save-corruption issues completed the scenario for a game that was almost forgotten. But, thanks to the modding community, the game survived long enough to be picked up again and remastered. Now, it is better than ever, though fans are still split between love and hate.
Some call this game theNo Man’s Skyof the RTS genre, and for a good reason. The game tried to offer a huge experience where wars were waged on a planetary scale. However, it ended up crashing down, since the numerous technical issues made the game practically unplayable.
Another downside was the incredible difficulty and complexity of its core mechanics, which made learning them a true nightmare even for the most experienced players. Still, one thing is undeniable: It is a huge game, with massive battles that almost exceed the screen in scale. The developers might have been too ambitious and might have lacked the appropriate tech to accomplish it, but the goal was there.
