Games Like Age of Empires II (Retired)

42 Civilizations, 229 Campaign Missions, Singleplayer, Co-Op, Multiplayer, In-Game Editor, Mods, Cross-play...It is good to be the king.

Why similar: RTS 29.3%, Strategy 15.2%, Classic 10.3% ★, City Builder 8.7%, Medieval 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: The modern, fully supported version preserves AoE II's civilization design, economic management, campaigns, and competitive multiplayer almost exactly.

Celebrating its first year of delighting millions of global players, the award-winning and best-selling strategy franchise continues with Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, putting you at the center of even more epic historical battles that shaped the world.

Why similar: RTS 36%, Strategy 16.4%, Medieval 9.8%, Base Building 9.7%, City Builder 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: This is the closest modern successor, combining medieval factions, landmark-driven progression, resource economies, and large real-time battles.

Rise of Nations is back! Play the updated classic with full Steamworks integration and enhanced features!

Why similar: RTS 35.6%, Classic 25.4% ★, Strategy 16.7%, Historical 7.6%, Multiplayer 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: It expands the AoE formula across all of history with city economies, research, territory control, wonders, and huge strategic-scale wars.

Lead powerful civilizations across the globe, master strategies and tactics, and relive history in co op battles—now remastered in stunning 4K and modernized gameplay.

Why similar: RTS 35.1%, Strategy 17.5%, Base Building 12.3%, City Builder 9.6%, Historical 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: It retains the series' core loop of gathering resources, erecting bases, advancing ages, and commanding faction-specific historical armies.

Lead the great armies of the Star Wars™ Episode II: Attack of the Clones saga in intense real-time strategy clashes. Enter the fray as the Galactic Empire, Rebel Alliance, Wookies, Trade Federation, Gungans or Royal Naboo to determine the course of the Galactic Civil War.

Why similar: RTS 44.4%, Classic 19.1% ★, Strategy 19%, Multiplayer 7.4%, Base Building 5%

Why You'll Like It: Built on an AoE-style foundation, it uses familiar worker economies, tech ages, base construction, and mass-unit warfare in a Star Wars setting.

Age of Empires, the pivotal real-time strategy game that launched a 20-year legacy returns with modernized gameplay, all-new 4K visuals, 8-person multiplayer battles and a host of other new features. Welcome back to history.

Why similar: RTS 30.5%, Strategy 16.2%, Classic 15.5% ★, Historical 8.1%, City Builder 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: The first Age of Empires delivers the same foundational gather-build-advance-conquer structure in an ancient-world setting.

With dozens of hours of gameplay set across a rich tapestry of time, Empire Earth: Gold Edition offers real-time strategy for the ages. Choose any point in time - from the discovery of fire to the laser battles of the future - and command your civilization with one goal: make Earth your Empire.

Why similar: RTS 62.4%, Strategy 36.6%, Singleplayer 1.1%

Why You'll Like It: Its civilization-building loop spans prehistoric times to the future, with workers, ages, technologies, wonders, and broad RTS warfare.

Cossacks 3 is the return of RTS classics. Obtain resources, build cities and research technologies while taking command of great armies, crushing enemies in grand historical warfares on land and sea!

Why similar: RTS 34.2%, Strategy 16.4%, Historical 11.6%, Base Building 8.8%, City Builder 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: This historical RTS emphasizes resource production, sprawling settlements, formation-based warfare, and exceptionally large early-modern armies.

Gird your loins and sharpen your steel! Besiege 20 unique enemy lords and battle friends online, in this expanded remaster of the classic 'castle sim'. Relive history with new units, opponents, visuals, audio, campaigns, skirmish trails, co-op and larger maps.

Why similar: RTS 29%, Strategy 15.7%, Medieval 15.5%, City Builder 14.4%, Historical 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: It combines castle construction and detailed food economies with real-time medieval siege warfare against AI lords or other players.

An exciting free-to-play Real Time Strategy game set in medieval times. Uniquely designed factions, customization options, singleplayer and multiplayer gameplay. Gather resources, raise an army and lead your civilization to victory in a classic RTS, brought to the modern age.

Why similar: RTS 41.4%, Strategy 17.9%, Real-Time 10.1% ★, Historical 8.9%, Multiplayer 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: This streamlined historical RTS deliberately evokes classic Age-style base building, resource collection, distinct factions, and multiplayer skirmishes.

Greetings sire! Your stronghold awaits you. Build a castle economy, besiege unforgettable villains and return to the 'castle sim' that started it all. Experience this classic RTS with upgraded visuals, modernised gameplay, Steam multiplayer and a new campaign.

Why similar: RTS 28.7%, Medieval 14.3%, City Builder 13.9%, Strategy 12.6%, Historical 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: This remade castle sim offers a more detailed civilian economy and defensive siege gameplay while retaining classic real-time strategy pacing.

Play as mythological Gods and smite your enemies in this award-winning, mythological Real-Time Strategy classic given new life. Wage war across timeless campaigns, fierce skirmishes, and god-powered multiplayer modes.

Why similar: RTS 46.3%, Strategy 15.8%, Base Building 14.1%, Multiplayer 9.6%, Resource Management 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: AoE-style gathering, building, age advancement, and faction asymmetry are enhanced with mythological units, heroes, and god powers.

The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader HD throws you into historic battles and castle sieges from the Crusades with fiendish AI opponents, new units, 4 historical campaigns and over 100 unique skirmish missions.

Why similar: RTS 19.6%, Medieval 17.3%, City Builder 14.4%, Strategy 13%, Base Building 12.1%

Why You'll Like It: Its desert castle battles, peasant economy, defensive building, and siege focus make it an excellent complementary medieval RTS.

The original castle sim, Stronghold HD allows you to design, build and destroy historical castles. Engage in medieval warfare against the AI in one of two single player campaigns or online with up to 8 players.

Why similar: RTS 34.1%, Medieval 15.8%, City Builder 13.7%, Strategy 11.7%, Base Building 11%

Why You'll Like It: A foundational medieval castle-builder where production chains, popular support, fortifications, and armies are all managed in real time.

Age of Mythology is back! Choose your god and take to the battlefield in this classic, upgraded with full Steamworks integration and enhanced features.

Why similar: RTS 39.2%, Classic 27.6% ★, Strategy 18.6%, Multiplayer 6.5%, Real-Time 3% ★

Why You'll Like It: This classic Ensemble RTS uses the same accessible economy-and-army framework as AoE II, with a fantasy mythology twist.

Command & Conquer and Red Alert are both remastered in 4K by the former Westwood Studios team members. Includes all 3 expansions, rebuilt multiplayer, a modernized UI, Map Editor, bonus footage gallery, and over 7 hours of remastered music.

Why similar: RTS 42.5%, Classic 22.5% ★, Strategy 16.2%, Base Building 11.1%, Multiplayer 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: Although set in modern warfare, it provides exceptionally clear classic RTS base construction, harvesting, tech progression, and multiplayer combat.

Build vibrant cities in a medieval world with this modernized version of The Settlers – Rise of an Empire. Each character leads their individual lives and can be observed by you at any time. Will you go down in history as a legendary king?

Why similar: Strategy 30.4%, RTS 25.5%, City Builder 19.3%, Medieval 16.5%, Multiplayer 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: It shares AoE II's medieval setting and settlement growth but puts greater emphasis on interconnected workers, production, and town development.

Northgard: Definitive Edition is a critically acclaimed real-time strategy game based on Norse mythology. Lead your clan, uncover the secrets of a mysterious newfound continent and defeat your enemies to conquer the Throne!

Why similar: RTS 42.2%, City Builder 16.2%, Strategy 15.8%, Base Building 8%, Multiplayer 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a more compact RTS economy focused on workers, territory expansion, survival, and faction-specific military strategies.

KNIGHTS and MERCHANTS recreates the era of the Middle Ages. Apart from the purely fictitious geography of our world, all game elements and scenes are based on the Anglo-Saxon period, 1200 A.D. And we haven't used imaginary elements like fabled creatures, either. The player takes on the role of an ordinary captain in the Palace Guard.

Why similar: Strategy 55%, RTS 14.3%, Classic 11.7% ★, Medieval 7.6%, City Builder 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its medieval settlement management revolves around laborers, supply chains, resource extraction, and raising armies for real-time combat.

Spanning the most turbulent era in Western history, your quest for territory and power takes you through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and even onto the shores of the New World.

Why similar: RTS 24.5%, Strategy 21.4%, Medieval 20%, Historical 14.1%, Classic 10.8% ★

Why You'll Like It: It trades real-time base building for a turn-based empire layer but strongly delivers on medieval factions, conquest, diplomacy, and massive battles.

Cossacks: Back to War contains all of the gameplay features of Cossacks: European Wars and Cossacks: The Art of War, this is a complete care package for all current and future Cossacks fans. This add-on contains two new nations: Switzerland and Hungary.

Why similar: RTS 32.5%, Classic 31% ★, Strategy 22%, Historical 7.2%, Multiplayer 7%

Why You'll Like It: A classic historical RTS centered on immense armies, resource economies, naval warfare, and the formation-heavy battles AoE fans appreciate.

Relive the captivating gameplay of a true city-building classic with Anno® 1404 History Edition.

Why similar: Strategy 29.1%, City Builder 27.9%, Multiplayer 13.3%, Medieval 9.5%, RTS 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: For players especially drawn to AoE II's economy, it provides rich medieval production chains, island expansion, trade, and city growth.

Diplomacy is Not an Option is a strategy game set in a medieval fantasy world. Build your town and defenses, raise huge armies and fight against massive hordes of enemies. How long can you survive?

Why similar: RTS 24.7%, Medieval 19.6%, Historical 18.1%, Base Building 13.2%, Resource Management 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: Its demanding real-time settlement economy and large defensive battles capture the satisfaction of building a thriving medieval stronghold under pressure.

Godsworn is a classic RTS with single-player & co-op focus. Experience an epic fantasy retelling of the Baltic Crusades set in a world inspired by pagan mythology. Choose a divine hero, rally worshippers alongside mythical creatures, and smite the unworthy!

Why similar: RTS 40.1%, Real-Time 17.7% ★, Medieval 15.3%, Base Building 11.9%, Multiplayer 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: A modern fantasy RTS with traditional base building, resource harvesting, hero units, technology upgrades, and large skirmish battles.

Get ready for an exciting real-time strategy game experience like no other with Seven Kingdoms 2! Say goodbye to the monotony of resource gathering and army building, its unique gameplay offers a thrilling blend of city management, trade, industry, espionage, diplomacy, and conquest!

Why similar: RTS 39.6%, Strategy 14.7%, Historical 14.5%, Classic 12.4% ★, Resource Management 8%

Why You'll Like It: This classic strategy game blends town economies, recruitment, diplomacy, espionage, and warfare across competing historical-style kingdoms.

Relive the celebrated real-time strategy classic Praetorians, re-imagined in high definition. Praetorians is set amidst the political machinations of an emerging Roman Empire.

Why similar: Strategy 49.8%, RTS 42.2%, Multiplayer 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: This historical Roman RTS substitutes traditional construction for terrain-focused tactical command, but keeps the period warfare and factional feel.

War Selection is a compelling RTS game featuring base building, resource extraction and warfare. Evolve from a stone age tribe to a distinct industrial nation with unique game mechanics and battle for supremacy with dozens of players on a unique procedurally generated map.

Why similar: RTS 43.4%, Strategy 20.1%, Base Building 16.6%, Multiplayer 10.8%, Historical 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: This free-to-play RTS lets civilizations progress across eras while expanding settlements, managing resources, researching upgrades, and fielding huge armies.

This game is devoted to the key events of the XVII–XVIII centuries.

Why similar: Strategy 49.2%, RTS 36.2%, Historical 14%, Singleplayer 0.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its early-modern nations, resource collection, settlement building, and enormous real-time engagements closely suit historical RTS enthusiasts.

Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is an enhanced version of the real-time strategy classic, Halo Wars, updated to run natively on PC. Halo Wars: Definitive Edition includes improved graphics, new achievements and all of the DLC created for the landmark real-time strategy game.

Why similar: RTS 50.8%, Strategy 18.6%, Base Building 12.4%, Classic 7.1% ★, Multiplayer 6.7%

Stronghold Crusader 2 is the long awaited sequel to the original castle sim. After 12 years Stronghold returns to the desert with a new 3D engine and powerful Havok Physics. Crusader 2 recaptures the original game’s addictive, fast-paced gameplay and authentic castle simulation.

Why similar: RTS 26.6%, Strategy 20.3%, Medieval 13.7%, Classic 10.6% ★, City Builder 10.2%

Immerse yourself in Ancient Egypt from the age of the great pyramids to the final years of the New Kingdom.

Why similar: Classic 28.6% ★, City Builder 27.2%, Strategy 23.3%, Historical 20.3%, Singleplayer 0.7%

Return of the Classic, now remastered! Battle Realms is a fantasy RTS inspired by the stories told in martial- arts movies and oriental mythology. Develop your peasants into a highly trained and deadly efficient clan of warriors who are ready to die with your name on their lips.

Why similar: RTS 44.7%, Classic 25.8% ★, Strategy 23%, Multiplayer 5.6%, Action 0.7%

Experience the ultimate WWII RTS platform with COH2 and its standalone expansions. This package includes the base game, which you can then upgrade by purchasing The Western Front Armies, Ardennes Assault and/or The British Forces. More info in the "About This Game" section below.

Why similar: Strategy 52.1%, RTS 29.6%, Historical 5.3%, Multiplayer 4.2%, Real-Time 2.7% ★

Lead the battles that forged the greatest Empire of all time. Seven civilizations fighting for glory or freedom: Rome, Aegyptus, Britannia, Germania, Gallia, Hispania, and Carthago. Enjoy the fast-paced RTC “Real-Time Conquest” gameplay, an Old School RTS oriented to military conquest.

Why similar: RTS 47.6%, Strategy 27.2%, Historical 17.4%, Multiplayer 6.4%, 2D 0.8%

Delivering a visceral WWII gaming experience, Company of Heroes redefines RTS by bringing the sacrifice of heroic soldiers, war-ravaged environments, and dynamic battlefields to life. This legacy version also grants access to the latest version of COH, just called "Company of Heroes".

Why similar: RTS 48.3%, Strategy 20.4%, Multiplayer 7.5%, Historical 6.6%, Base Building 6.2%

Gather resources, build your base, and lead your people to victory in this captivating reimagining of classic RTS, set in the Bronze Age. Secure fertile land, fend off raids, and stockpile food to generate knowledge and unlock powerful village advancements.

Why similar: RTS 29.1%, City Builder 11.7%, Strategy 10.8%, Real-Time 10.6% ★, Historical 10.1%

Delivering a visceral WWII gaming experience, Company of Heroes redefines RTS by bringing the sacrifice of heroic soldiers, war-ravaged environments, and dynamic battlefields to life. Please visit the "Company of Heroes - Legacy Edition" page for additional user reviews.

Why similar: RTS 50.8%, Strategy 21.1%, Classic 7.4% ★, Multiplayer 7.3%, Historical 4.7%

Sid Meier's Civilization III: Complete, the latest offering in the Sid Meier's Civilization III franchise, provides gaming fans with Sid Meier's Civilization III, the highly-addictive journey of discovery.

Why similar: Classic 40.2% ★, Strategy 33.3%, Historical 15.2%, Multiplayer 6.4%, City Builder 3.7%

Tax, torture or treat your peasants! Rehabilitate criminals or sentence them to death? Decide as you enjoy jousting over a lavish banquet, all while under siege from the warmongering Lord Barclay.

Why similar: RTS 28.3%, Medieval 14.7%, Real-Time 13.1% ★, City Builder 13.1%, Strategy 10.2%

Total War: ROME REMASTERED lets you relive the legacy that defined the award-winning strategy game series. Remastered to 4K with multiple improvements to visuals as well as refinements to gameplay, it’s time to revisit a true classic. Not everyone gets a second chance to conquer the Roman Empire.

Why similar: RTS 46.6%, Strategy 24.2%, Historical 16.5%, Multiplayer 6.1%, Tactical 5.4%

The world erupts in conflict as Soviet forces invade American soil in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. You are the Supreme Commander. Arm yourself to the teeth with top-secret technologies and lead the Soviet or Allied troops to victory.

Why similar: RTS 46.3%, Classic 18.5% ★, Strategy 16.8%, Multiplayer 9.6%, Base Building 7.1%

In American Conquest, Players set sail from Europe to discover new world and conquer its innumerable riches.

Why similar: RTS 48%, Strategy 29.8%, Historical 16.5%, Multiplayer 5%, Singleplayer 0.6%

The legendary city-builder returns! Lead the creation of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever seen in this HD remake with modernized UI. Build monuments, manage your population and explore 4,000 years of history through over a hundred hours of gameplay.

Why similar: City Builder 31.7%, Historical 25.1%, Strategy 17.2%, Resource Management 11.6%, Base Building 10.2%

Commandos 2: Men of Courage is a tactical action/strategy game set against the backdrop of World War II. Take control of an elite group of commandos who must venture deep into enemy territory and utilize their combined expertise to complete a series of mission-based objectives.

Why similar: Strategy 30.4%, Classic 30.1% ★, RTS 21.1%, Tactical 9.3%, Multiplayer 3.4%

Catapult werewolves over castle walls, incinerate troops with dragon fire and command the Knights of the Round Table! This remaster of the mythical ‘castle sim’ features Steam multiplayer, Workshop support, new maps, achievements and DLC campaigns.

Why similar: RTS 26.3%, Medieval 13.4%, City Builder 13.4%, Real-Time 12.4% ★, Historical 9.6%

Command & Conquer Generals puts your trigger finger on the pulse of modern warfare. Prepare your forces General... it's time to engage in the next generation of real-time strategy.

Why similar: RTS 42.1%, Strategy 28.5%, Multiplayer 12.8%, Base Building 7.6%, Classic 7% ★

As King, it is your duty to lead your people in their struggle to raise your kingdom from its humble beginnings to a position of power and prestige. War, diplomacy and a burgeoning economy are the means by which you increase your power and expand your influence.

Why similar: RTS 27.9%, Strategy 24.1%, Medieval 19.7%, Classic 13.4% ★, Historical 9.1%

Rome: Total War - Alexander is the second official expansion pack to Rome: Total War. An entirely new campaign map that stretches from Macedonia to Greece and into the heart of the ancient Persian Empire New campaign game that tasks players with matching the exploits of Alexander the Great as he swept across Central Asia and dominated...

Why similar: RTS 37.9%, Strategy 34.4%, Historical 15.2%, Classic 8.1% ★, Multiplayer 4.1%

Build empires, forge alliances and conquer hundreds of players in real time.

Why similar: Historical 19.9%, Base Building 16.1%, City Builder 15.9%, Multiplayer 15.6%, Strategy 14.6%

Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour brings you closer to the enemy than ever before. Engage opposing forces at hot spots around the globe as you match strategies and arsenals against the new masterminds of modern war.

Why similar: RTS 48.2%, Strategy 14.7%, Multiplayer 13%, Classic 8.8% ★, Base Building 7.8%

Cossacks II: Battle for Europe is a standalone add-on for "Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars" presenting new nations with the possibility to wage multiplayer battles.

Why similar: Strategy 43%, RTS 40.4%, Historical 16.6%

Empire Earth II: Gold Edition refines the series’ time-spanning gameplay with a host of new features. With advanced AI, picture-in-picture control, dynamic weather and many other additions, this RTS doesn’t just stand the test of time – it annihilates it.

Why similar: RTS 51.2%, Strategy 47.3%, Singleplayer 1.5%

Create, discover, and download new player-created maps, scenarios, interfaces, and more!

Why similar: Strategy 40%, Historical 23.9%, Multiplayer 16.8%, Classic 12% ★, Tactical 3.4%

Relive the real-time tactics masterpiece that defined the genre like no other: Commandos 2 - HD Remaster is a true homage to one of gaming’s most celebrated masterpieces.

Why similar: Strategy 70.4%, Classic 21.4% ★, Tactical 4.4%, Isometric 2.7%, Singleplayer 1.1%

The High Definition edition of Majesty Gold contains main game, the Northern Expansion Pack as well as 2 new quests and several other graphics and gameplay updates.Majesty is a Real-time strategy game with indirect control – your heroes have a will of their own!

Why similar: Strategy 36.4%, RTS 27.3%, Classic 12.1% ★, Base Building 10.5%, Medieval 4.9%

The most popular Heroes® title of all time is back in HD! Fifteen years later, rediscover the epic tale of Queen Catherine Ironfist, as she re-embarks on her critically acclaimed quest to unite her ravaged homeland and re-conquer the kingdom of Erathia.

Why similar: Classic 56.2% ★, Strategy 29.2%, Multiplayer 11.2%, Co-op 2.4%, Singleplayer 0.7%

Relive the beginnings of the Anno® series with Anno® 1602 History Edition, updated and optimized for current computers.

Why similar: RTS 39.6%, Strategy 17.7%, City Builder 16.4%, Historical 11.2%, Medieval 9.2%

Besiege Great Khans, Imperial warlords and Shōgun commanders in Stronghold: Warlords, the latest 'castle sim' from Firefly Studios. Command AI warlords across the battlefield as you build a castle economy and new gunpowder-fuelled siege engines!

Why similar: RTS 26.9%, Medieval 13.5%, City Builder 13.3%, Real-Time 12% ★, Strategy 9.7%