10 Best Beginner-Friendly RTS Games (2024)

There are plenty of video game genres out there for you to try. In the overarching umbrella of strategy games, one genre that has plenty of acclaim is that of real-time strategy games. Set apart from other strategy games by all your and your enemy movements being live, it can be quite a challenge.

If you want to get into RTS games, but you're a little put off by the added challenge of the time frame, don't worry; there are games out there that are perfect for newcomers. Whether you like interstellar combat, feudal conflicts, or a mix of economic and political strategy, you don't have to be a master tactician to get into these RTS games.

10 Hearts Of Iron 4

Grand Scale, With Easy Options

It's not hard to find an expansive RTS game with plenty of replayability, and Hearts of Iron 4 is definitely one such game. It puts a big focus on historical accuracy, but you don't need to be a history buff to enjoy the game.

As part WW2 battle simulator and part political sim, there is a lot to balance, but the game doesn't leave you high and dry thanks to a fair amount of info available through menus and training. Also, you get to pick your country to play as, with some easier than others, so it helps to play as a 'stronger' country early on to get the feel of things.

9 Starcraft 2

Take The Fight To The Zerg

This may not be the newest game, but Starcraft 2 has an excellent range for both new and veteran players of the genre. Plus, it's aged surprisingly well. The lore is also pretty friendly for new players, which can be hard to find for some of the more in-depth RTS games out there.

It has some similar tropes to the Warhammer and Halo universes, so if you're looking at something that will get you some experience to branch out into other sci-fi RTS games, then this should be a good choice for you. You get to master the infamous zerg rush, too.

8 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

Which Side Are You On?

The Command And Conquer series falls solidly in the middle where age is concerned. That lends it the ability to have learned from those that came before it, but also the ability to have run alongside some of the more modern series too.

is great for those new to the RTS genre for the added benefit of not always taking itself too seriously. It will do plenty to challenge you, but it also wants you to enjoy being the leader of a military that can use Psychic Mind Control just as easily as field infantry and tanks.

It has some fairly retro graphics, but surprisingly, doesn't feel aged. It may not be the go-to for die-hard fans of the genre, but it has enough of a cult following that people won't harp on you for it being one of the first ones you've played either.

7 Company Of Heroes 3

WW2 In The Mediterranean

Company of Heroes 3 may not be the only WW2 strategy game out there, but it has learned from its competitors how to make a game fun and easy for all types of players. It's set in the Mediterranean, and you'll have plenty of different units across different armies to learn on some well-detailed maps.

What should be a stressful time is mitigated by well-thought-out maps with sizes that allow for open-ended approaches but not being overwhelming. Updates have also allowed for balancing reworks and the addition of the Full Tactical Pause.

This system means you can open up a menu that stops all movement and allows you to make a series of decisions on what your units should do, and they'll continue with those plans after the pause is over. It allows for the RTS challenge to still be there, but you'll feel more in control as a commander as well.

6 The Lord Of The Rings: The Battle For Middle-earth

Become An Elven General

When entering into a new genre, sometimes it helps to hold on to something you're familiar with. The Lord of the Rings fans will be delighted that there is a series for them in the RTS genre as well. You don't have to know the entirety of the LotR lore to understand Battle For Middle Earth, or be an RTS grand master either.

It's a bit more simple look at the genre, with just two campaigns to focus on. Your choice between good and evil is up to you, but there's a solid host of LotR units available to you that you should be able to find your key path to victory regardless of the challenge.

The addition of unlimited building across the map and multiplayer modes means more avenues towards victory, and the ability to bring in friends to play with you and guide you along your RTS gaming journey.

5 Total War: Shogun 2

The Shogunate Awaits

Few RTS games have been around as long as Total War. They go from historical battles of various areas across the globe, all the way to leading fantasy armies with a wide array of fictional units. But, of all the series, the one that is arguably the easiest is Shogun 2.

It mixes a bit of real-time strategy with turn-based, but there is enough of both to allow for a challenge without becoming overwhelming, or lackluster. Leading a feudal Japanese army may not sound easy, but the AI is well-balanced to keep you on your toes without being a mastermind.

The addition of political and economic ventures means you'll easily find what you're good at and be able to branch out from there.

4 Halo Wars

The UNSC Needs You!

Halo Wars was a big jump in content from the FPS genre that the Halo series usually focuses on. The lore of the Halo universe lends it plenty of options for being a commander of a sci-fi army, but with the big jump being new for the universe, the developers were lenient on difficulty for new players too.

True, Halo Wars 2 is also available, but since difficulty is a major part of your decision-making process, Halo Wars should be your first choice in the series. The first game has a great prologue that not only shows off some of the lore, but gets you plenty familiar with units, traversal, and the RTS genre as a whole.

3 Age Of Empires 4

A Classic Series

The Age of Empires series has been around for decades now, and with that, the developers have become quite good at balancing difficulty and making sure it's not just the diehards that find their games accessible. Age of Empires 4 marks the pinnacle of their work in the genre.

This is definitely one of the more combat-heavy RTS games out there, with plenty of different unit and building types to craft and upgrade. The game thankfully allows you to pick your AI's difficulty level, with the lower ends being a little more on the passive side.

Still, due to the varying unit types, each with skills, strengths, and weaknesses of their own, it can take time to get truly comfortable fielding an army of your own.

2 Rise Of Nations

Retro Feel And Great For All Levels

If you're looking for a more modern-ish RTS that still has a retro feel, and is also good for new players of course, Rise of Nations should be one to look out for. It focuses quite a bit on the political side of power as well as the militaristic side, so you won't get bored just moving troops around the battlefield.

Like with some other nation-building RTS games, you have a pretty well-sized roster of different countries to choose from. Each has its pros and cons, but regardless, it lends you plenty of replayability and room to get comfortable with the system and the genre as a whole without mercilessly beating you down.

1 Homeworld

3D Combat?

At first look, Homeworld may not seem like the easiest RTS out there, and true there are some that are easier, but it does surprisingly well at welcoming new players. The remastered collection is the best in the series at this; plus, playing it first allows for the rest of the series to be available for you as you get more comfortable.

As the leader of an interstellar group of travelers, you must find a home among the stars. The problem is the other factions that don't want to share the void of space. It's 3D fleet-based combat, but it's surprisingly not as intimidating as it would seem thanks to it starting off slowly and only ramping up once you get a handle on things.