This video highlights 15 exciting real-time strategy (RTS) games coming in 2025, covering diverse themes from sci-fi to medieval, and offering fresh takes on classic mechanics. It promises a treat for RTS fans with new ideas, unique settings, and epic battles.
Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War Definitive Edition #
- Classic RTS Polished for 2025: A remastered version of the 2004 game.
- Content: Includes all campaigns, expansions, nine factions, and over 200 maps.
- Modern Treatment: Features 4K support, improved lighting and textures (four times sharper), updated shadows, reflections, and unit glow-ups.
- Engine Upgrade: Runs on a 64-bit engine, increasing modding potential and supporting two decades of existing mods.
Eversiege Untold Ages #
- Genre Blend: Combines tower defense with action RPG and roguelike elements.
- Co-op Gameplay: Play with up to two friends to defend Bastion, humanity's last hope.
- Dynamic Runs: Randomized upgrades, enemy spawns, and loot ensure each playthrough is unique.
- Gameplay Loop: Real-time combat, defense repairs, and strategic decisions (e.g., upgrading walls vs. seeking legendary weapons).
Dwarf Realtime Strategic Conflict #
- Homage to Classics: Inspired by C&C and Tiberian Sun, built on OpenRA.
- Core Mechanics: Isometric RTS with land, air, and sea units, resource harvesting, base building, and large battles.
- Factions: Three distinct factions: The Empire, savage Barbarians, and the tech-driven New World Order.
- Features: Unique units (super tanks, zeppelins, mechs, airships), logistics, and supply chains.
- Visuals: Retro sprites combined with modern effects, featuring snow and desert map interactions.
Stronghold Crusader Definitive Edition #
- Classic Return: A remastered version of the medieval siege warfare game.
- Core Gameplay: Manage castles, gather resources, and use siege weapons (e.g., flinging cows with trebuchets).
- Visual Enhancements: Sharper and smoother visuals without losing original charm.
- Content: Includes all original campaigns, maps, scenarios, plus new missions and quality-of-life upgrades.
- Strategic Depth: Focuses on economic management, creative base building, and chaotic siege battles with many units.
Dustfront RTS #
- Unique Setting: Gritty dieselpunk post-apocalyptic wasteland.
- Resource Management: Fight over scarce resources in a unforgiving desert environment.
- Tactical Terrain: Maps feature choke points, elevation, and ambush spots crucial for strategy.
- Visuals & UI: Sharp visuals, clean UI, blending old-school RTS feel with modern quality-of-life.
Empire Eternal #
- Ambitious Scope: Combines elements of Empire Earth, Age of Empires, and Civilization.
- Evolutionary Progression: Starts in the prehistoric era and progresses through 20 ages to futuristic mechs and warships.
- Foundation: City building, resource management (food, stone, wood), and optimal building placement.
- Additional Systems: Politics, economics, deep tech tree, planned seasonal changes, global maps, and space combat.
- Cultural Diversity: Each culture offers unique units and playstyles.
Broken Arrow #
- Modern Warfare RTS: Real-time tactics game similar to World in Conflict and Wargame Red Dragon.
- Large-Scale Battles: Features real-world military units with extensive army composition control (tanks, jets, helicopters, infantry).
- Strategic Depth: Focus on tactical thinking, terrain usage, ambushes, supply lines, and combined arms coordination.
- Massive Maps: Detailed maps cover various environments like forests, cities, and coastlines.
Europa Universalis 5 #
- Grand Strategy: New installment in the historical strategy series by Paradox.
- Historical Scope: Guide nations through centuries of political maneuvering, war, exploration, and trade.
- Improvements: Promises quality-of-life upgrades, deeper systems, and a polished UI.
- Enhanced Systems: More depth to internal politics, religious movements, and global economy.
- Visuals: Cleaner and more detailed map than previous iterations.
The Scouring #
- Fantasy RTS: A modern twist on the classic Warcraft formula.
- Factions: Play as Humans or Orcs (with Goblins and Ogres).
- Gameplay Loop: Base building, resource gathering, and army creation.
- Unique Mechanic: Full day/night cycle; daytime for expansion and player combat, nighttime for defending against undead waves.
- Hybrid Modes: Action RPG mode allows direct hero control, leveling, and loot, with AI managing the base and army.
Leria Fantasy Kingdom Sim #
- City Builder/RTS Hybrid: Inspired by the Majesty series.
- Indirect Control: Influence heroes with gold and bounties rather than direct commands.
- Core Mechanics: Build guilds, offer rewards, and motivate adventurers to tackle threats.
- Unpredictable Gameplay: Relies on influencing autonomous heroes, leading to chaotic and dynamic situations.
- Economic Layer: Manage economy, construct buildings, and ensure resource stability.
Era 1 #
- Ambitious Mix: Combines RTS, space survival, and sci-fi base building with dramatic elements.
- Setting: Humanity's struggle for survival and resources in space after Earth's depletion.
- Conflicts: Involves conflicts, shady mining, pirates, and genetically engineered biominers.
- Customization: Total freedom to build and customize massive space stations and warships.
- Modular Design: Design ships with modular engines, weapons, and cargo holds to fit playstyles.
Sanctuary Shattered Sun #
- Massive Scale RTS: Inspired by Supreme Commander, set on a Dyson sphere.
- Battlefield Size: Features battlefields spanning 20x20 km with thousands of units (from fighters to skyscraper-sized war machines).
- Control & Depth: Allows zooming from individual missile views to full tactical overviews.
- Realistic Combat: Fully simulated combat where every shot (lasers, missiles, super weapons) impacts in real-time.
Immortal Gates of Py #
- Free-to-Play RTS: Blends classic base building with MOBA and Action RPG elements.
- Command System: Play as an immortal commander, leading armies without micromanagement.
- Setting: Sci-fi fantasy world with creatures, secrets, and magical energy.
- Gameplay Flow: Start with a small outpost, gather resources, scout, build armies, and control the map.
- Strategic Choices: Risky but rewarding expansion, and well-timed attacks are key.
Panzer Strike #
- Classic Wargame (1988): Focuses on small-scale combat with individual vehicles or infantry squads.
- Turn-Based Detail: Each turn represents one minute of battlefield action, with detailed order planning.
- Phased Gameplay: Plan movements and attacks in an "orders phase," then watch results in a "combat phase."
- Historical Accuracy: Over 250 weapon types, meticulous unit stats (morale, speed, armor).
- Advanced Features: Vehicle damage by hit location (innovative for its time).
- Content: Scenario editor and a lengthy campaign mode where losses carry over.
- Criticism: Praised for realism, but slow gameplay and clunky UI.
Becoming Saint #
- Roguelike Strategy: Play as a 14th-century preacher in medieval Italy.
- Goal: Convert people with sermons to become a saint, avoiding being burned at the stake.
- Religious Customization: Start with followers and customize beliefs to build a unique religion.
- Conversion Battles: Real-time strategy battles focused on convincing people rather than fighting.
- Recruitment: Recruit diverse characters (nuns, jesters, witches, courtesans) with unique quirks.
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