4 ms·

This is completely off-topic, but in the vein of talking about old games. Does anyone have any suggestions for games that scratched the same itch as the old sch

This is completely off-topic, but in the vein of talking about old games. Does anyone have any suggestions for games that scratched the same itch as the old school RTS games like Age of Empires and Rise of Nations? I've been searching for years but never found anything that eclipses the classics.

gchadwick 10y ago
How about AoE and RoN? AoE II (the remastered HD version) is available on Steam as in RoN. AoE II HD currently 75% off.
j_s 10y ago
They are still publishing updates to Age Of Empires, not sure the quality though: http://store.steampowered.com/bundle/2148/ http://store.steampowered.com/bundle/2148/ To quote a review: I grew up on AoE2, and these expansions have really brought life into the game as a whole.
- coldpie 10y ago
  The AOE2HD port is reasonably well done, and they've even released new content for it. It holds up.
  - oneweekwonder 10y ago
    Maybe the single player campaign but 3vPC multiplayer just sucks and will dc/hang easily. Unfortunately the same holds true for 0AD as recommend by someone else. But both still wonderful games.
- pilom 10y ago
  AoE2 has been a staple of my entire family gamers and non-gamers alike for 20 years now. My ~50 year old parents played with my wife an I in a big 4 person game over Christmas. The updates have definitely improved the balance. Huns cav archers are a little more expensive, fire ships beat galleys beat demo ships beat fire ships, better AI. All great improvements imo.
jstanley 10y ago
0ad: https://play0ad.com/ https://play0ad.com/ Is an open source game very similar to AoE, I've enjoyed playing it.
Alupis 10y ago
Maybe take a peek at the Wargame series. The latest is Red Dragon, but my personal favorite is AirLand Battle. http://store.steampowered.com/app/251060/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/251060/ If you're looking for something more sci-fi, Sins of a Solar Empire is pretty good: http://store.steampowered.com/app/204880/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/204880/
bminor13 10y ago
It may be only tangentially related to the genre, but Factorio has stolen far too many of my hours and is definitely worth the $20. It is engaging and challenging like no other game I've played in the past couple of years.
- lisivka 10y ago
  Factorio is good, but drones are cheat.
  - craigds 10y ago
    The drones are only available after a certain tech level and require a lot of power to operate on a large scale. They have pros and cons like all the other tech. You need a balance of drones with well planned conveyer belt layouts to do really well. +1 for factorio, biggest non-baby timesink I've had in years
    - lisivka 10y ago
      Create very compact base, with 3 drone towers around it, so drones will be in fly for much less time. Automate everything, up to drones. Profit. Solar power solves problem with energy. Only mining is left, which is easy to layout with drones. Most of the time after drones I'm watching or laying out solar panels and batteries just for fun, until launch.
- rl3 10y ago
  >...and is definitely worth the $20 One thing I love about Factorio (aside from everything else), is the pricing model. It never goes on sale, and never will. That means the usual agonizing over "should I buy it or wait until a sale?" is non-existent. More developers should adopt that model.
  - criddell 10y ago
    > It never goes on sale I'm betting it will one day. I'm waiting.
lisivka 10y ago
Try Cossacks 3. It can simulate 10 000 units in one battle.
ungzd 10y ago
I recommend relatively obscure game Magic & Mayhem. Although not 100% strategy, it has controllable units and isometric view and that feel. Also Majesty and Dungeon Keeper.
agent86 10y ago
Maybe try Planetary Annihilation: Titans? The original Planetary Annihilation was developed by the people that made the classic Total Annihilation RTS. After delivering the Kickstarted game, they further revised it into the "Titans" verison, and gifted the upgrade to the initial backers. http://www.uberent.com/pa/ http://www.uberent.com/pa/ Currently on sale for $6 on Steam too! http://store.steampowered.com/app/386070/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/386070/
- rl3 10y ago
  Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance[0] is, IMHO far superior. I've put far too many hours into both. Only play the community-maintained version[1], Forged Alliance Forever. Over the years it's improved upon and polished the Steam version in virtually every respect. PA: Titans is still a good game, different enough to be fun, and a great deal for the money. It's just not quite in the same league as games like SC:FA, Age of Empires II: HD or Factorio. [0] http://store.steampowered.com/app/9420/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/9420/ [1] http://www.faforever.com http://www.faforever.com
Pica_soO 10y ago
Zero-k? www.zero-k.info
cvs268 10y ago
Most of this year, i have been busy being a benevolent ruler of my tropical islands in Tropico 4. Got it for free on some sale (i think Humble Bundle). Planning to finish the campaign by the end of this year and then will probably proceed onto "Tropico 5 - Complete Collection" on Steam.
BuuQu9hu 10y ago
http://wz2100.net/ http://wz2100.net/
erikj 10y ago
Check out Empire Earth and its sequels.
drdrey 10y ago
The Civilization and Anno games let me scratch that same itch

gchadwick 10y ago

How about AoE and RoN? AoE II (the remastered HD version) is available on Steam as in RoN. AoE II HD currently 75% off.

j_s 10y ago

They are still publishing updates to Age Of Empires, not sure the quality though: http://store.steampowered.com/bundle/2148/ http://store.steampowered.com/bundle/2148/ To quote a review: I grew up on AoE2, and these expansions have really brought life into the game as a whole.

coldpie 10y ago
The AOE2HD port is reasonably well done, and they've even released new content for it. It holds up.
- oneweekwonder 10y ago
  Maybe the single player campaign but 3vPC multiplayer just sucks and will dc/hang easily. Unfortunately the same holds true for 0AD as recommend by someone else. But both still wonderful games.
pilom 10y ago
AoE2 has been a staple of my entire family gamers and non-gamers alike for 20 years now. My ~50 year old parents played with my wife an I in a big 4 person game over Christmas. The updates have definitely improved the balance. Huns cav archers are a little more expensive, fire ships beat galleys beat demo ships beat fire ships, better AI. All great improvements imo.

jstanley 10y ago

0ad: https://play0ad.com/ https://play0ad.com/ Is an open source game very similar to AoE, I've enjoyed playing it.

Alupis 10y ago

Maybe take a peek at the Wargame series. The latest is Red Dragon, but my personal favorite is AirLand Battle. http://store.steampowered.com/app/251060/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/251060/ If you're looking for something more sci-fi, Sins of a Solar Empire is pretty good: http://store.steampowered.com/app/204880/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/204880/

bminor13 10y ago

It may be only tangentially related to the genre, but Factorio has stolen far too many of my hours and is definitely worth the $20. It is engaging and challenging like no other game I've played in the past couple of years.

lisivka 10y ago
Factorio is good, but drones are cheat.
- craigds 10y ago
  The drones are only available after a certain tech level and require a lot of power to operate on a large scale. They have pros and cons like all the other tech. You need a balance of drones with well planned conveyer belt layouts to do really well. +1 for factorio, biggest non-baby timesink I've had in years
  - lisivka 10y ago
    Create very compact base, with 3 drone towers around it, so drones will be in fly for much less time. Automate everything, up to drones. Profit. Solar power solves problem with energy. Only mining is left, which is easy to layout with drones. Most of the time after drones I'm watching or laying out solar panels and batteries just for fun, until launch.
rl3 10y ago
>...and is definitely worth the $20 One thing I love about Factorio (aside from everything else), is the pricing model. It never goes on sale, and never will. That means the usual agonizing over "should I buy it or wait until a sale?" is non-existent. More developers should adopt that model.
- criddell 10y ago
  > It never goes on sale I'm betting it will one day. I'm waiting.

lisivka 10y ago

Try Cossacks 3. It can simulate 10 000 units in one battle.

ungzd 10y ago

I recommend relatively obscure game Magic & Mayhem. Although not 100% strategy, it has controllable units and isometric view and that feel. Also Majesty and Dungeon Keeper.

agent86 10y ago

Maybe try Planetary Annihilation: Titans? The original Planetary Annihilation was developed by the people that made the classic Total Annihilation RTS. After delivering the Kickstarted game, they further revised it into the "Titans" verison, and gifted the upgrade to the initial backers. http://www.uberent.com/pa/ http://www.uberent.com/pa/ Currently on sale for $6 on Steam too! http://store.steampowered.com/app/386070/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/386070/

rl3 10y ago
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance[0] is, IMHO far superior. I've put far too many hours into both. Only play the community-maintained version[1], Forged Alliance Forever. Over the years it's improved upon and polished the Steam version in virtually every respect. PA: Titans is still a good game, different enough to be fun, and a great deal for the money. It's just not quite in the same league as games like SC:FA, Age of Empires II: HD or Factorio. [0] http://store.steampowered.com/app/9420/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/9420/ [1] http://www.faforever.com http://www.faforever.com

Pica_soO 10y ago

Zero-k? www.zero-k.info

cvs268 10y ago

Most of this year, i have been busy being a benevolent ruler of my tropical islands in Tropico 4. Got it for free on some sale (i think Humble Bundle). Planning to finish the campaign by the end of this year and then will probably proceed onto "Tropico 5 - Complete Collection" on Steam.

BuuQu9hu 10y ago

http://wz2100.net/ http://wz2100.net/

erikj 10y ago

Check out Empire Earth and its sequels.

drdrey 10y ago

The Civilization and Anno games let me scratch that same itch