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6 Best RTS Games 2024

Real-Time Strategy, or simply RTS for short, is a genre of video games that is unlike any other. Where other gaming genres have some predefined outcomes for a given narrative or environment, RTS games free players of any limitation and each match’s outcome is solely based on the player’s actions.

This is one of the top reasons why RTS games are popular among fans as they allow players to give their best in an environment that is not bound to yield a certain outcome. As such, in this article, we provide you with the list of the best RTS games in 2024 that you can play right now.


Table of Contents

1. The Touhou Empires
   
2. Star Maidens Chronicles: Definitive Edition
   
3. Cavalry Girls
   
4. The DioField Chronicle
   
5. GrimGrimoire OnceMore
   
6. Unconventional Warfare
   

The Touhou Empires

Figure 1-1. The Touhou Empires Cover Art

Developed by Neetpia, a Japanese indie game studio, The Touhou Empires is a real-time strategy game that is based on the Touhou Project. As of writing, the game is currently in development and scheduled to release in the first quarter of 2024. It will be available to play on PC via Steam.

The Touhou Empires takes place in the fictional land of Gensokyo, inhabited by humans and yokai, that is sealed from the outside world. In the game, you play as one of the Touhou characters from one of the different factions available, such as the Hakurei Shrine, the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the Youkai Clan, and more. Each of the factions in The Touhou Empires has unique spells and units that players make use of to conquer Gensokyo.

Figure 1-2. The Touhou Empires Gameplay

Speaking of which, the game follows the events of an incident that disrupted the balance of power in Gensokyo and it eventually resulted in the creation of various factions fighting for control over the land. As such, you join one of the factions with the ultimate aim of becoming the supreme ruler of Gensokyo.

While the game will support online multiplayer upon launch, know that The Touhou Empires also has a dedicated single-story mode, featuring over 30 Touhou characters in a 20-stage campaign.

For The Touhou Empires, You can visit the AEG Esports Tournaments to find out an esports tournament opportunity with a cash prize, or join the Discord to connect with multiplayer friends.

Star Maidens Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Figure 2-1. Star Maidens Chronicles: Definitive Edition Cover Art

Yet another classic title on our list of the best RTS games in 2024 is Star Maidens Chronicle: Definitive Edition. Developed by Project YNP, Star Maiden Chronicles is available to play on PC via Steam. The Definitive Edition of this game features improved visuals, new gameplay content, as well as support for the English language over the original game.

Star Maidens Chronicles’ gameplay revolves around the Star Maidens, the leaders of different factions in the game’s fantasy world. There are four factions in the game: the Star Maidens, the Dragon Knights, the Dark Elves, and the Lunar Empire. Each of these factions has unique skills and special abilities.

Figure 2-2. Star Maidens Chronicles: Definitive Edition Gameplay

You start the game by selecting one of the Star Maidens as your commander and work to destroy the enemy’s stronghold while managing your city and army. As such, Star Maidens Chronicles features an extensive level of real-time strategy. From a highly detailed city and army management to a deep-rooted commander and battle system, you get to have almost all the elements perfect for an RTS game.

In addition to a single-story campaign, Star Maidens Chronicles supports both online PvP and Co-op gameplay modes. There are several formats for online play where up to 6 players can play simultaneously, such as 3V3 and 4V2.

For Star Maidens Chronicle, You can visit the AEG Esports Tournaments to find out an esports tournament opportunity with a cash prize, or join the Discord to connect with multiplayer friends.

Cavalry Girls

Figure 3-1. Cavalry Girls Cover Art

While Cavalry Girls is at the bottom of our list, don’t let its place delude you into doubting its capabilities. The game by Neutronstar Studio takes a very different approach to typical anime-style RTS games. In that, Mechs play a key role in the overall gameplay mechanics that significantly ramp up the tension on any battlefield in the game.

To be more precise, Cavalry Girls is a light roguelike, top-down, mech-girl shooting indie game. As the protagonist, you lead a brave squad of girl soldiers and deploy troops with a diverse range of skills and weapon types at your disposal.

Figure 3-2. Cavalry Girls Gameplay

Cavalry Girls boasts cutting-edge visuals and is set in a futuristic world where ideologies lie at the core level of the game, one that influences outcomes based on your selected ideology. Speaking of which, there are 4 different ideologies in Cavalry Girls: Rebellion, Selflessness, Radicalism, and Rationality. All of these have unique perks as well as some downsides. The ultimate choice depends on a player’s preferred playstyle in Cavalry Girls.

The game also lets you take up to 5 different companions on the battlefield, dissemble enemy spoils, as well as decorate your very own in-game dormitory. As such, Cavalry Girls is a perfect RTS game for fans who prefers guns and mechs over swords and magic.

The DioField Chronicle

Figure 4-1. The DioField Chronicle Cover Art

Square Enix is a name that is known far and wide in the gaming landscape, for they are considered by many the founders of the JRPG genre and its multiple variations. And while for the majority of their time, they have been comfortable in putting out some of the best JRPGs on the market. In recent years they have started to branch off and one of the first genres they tackled was the RTS genre, due to it providing a canvas for the developers to weave an interactive story of twists and turns. A specialty of the developers and the result of this venture was The DioField Chronicles. A game that masterfully blends a somber narrative with real-time strategy combat, where players take control of multiple units and attempt to complete the mission parameters. Aside from the story which Square Enix nailed the game is an iteration of the RTS formula of old as it mixes micro and macro management components to deliver an experience like none other. While the game might lack the polish of the classic RTS games it makes up for it in sheer potential. So if you wish to see the newest innovation in the RTS genre then The DioField Chronicle is the game for you. It is also available on all the major platforms.

Figure 4-2. The DioField Chronicle Gameplay

GrimGrimoire OnceMore

Figure 5-1. GrimGrimoire OnceMore Cover Art

RTS is a genre that despite all of its flaws still managed to maintain a cult-like following, but one aspect it failed in was the diversity of games it offered. While it might seem a counterproductive point, we need only to look at the classic RTS games. Because all anyone talks about in the genre is the classics, which is why when the risky endeavor of Lancarse from the late 2000s made a comeback the fan’s contrasty was piqued, to say the least. This was none other than GrimGrimoire, or GrimGrimoire OnceMore to be exact. The developers have remastered it from the ground up and updated everything for a modern audience. It also involved touching up the old combat system which relied on a real-time strategy system that used mana of various kinds to command multiple units to achieve victory. Story-wise the game is like a trip down memory lane as it used all the tropes that were popular at the time of its creation. But rather than them being cringe, they come off as endearing. Either that or my nostalgia glasses are more tinted than I thought. But despite that, if you want an RTS game like no other then GrimGrimoire OnceMore is the game for you. It is also a PlayStation and Nintendo exclusive.

Figure 5-2. GrimGrimoire OnceMore Gameplay

Unconventional Warfare

Figure 6-1. Unconventional Warfare Cover Art

One aspect that RTS games have always managed to nail to perfection has been the war scenario. From games like Age of Empires to Hearts of Iron war has always been a subject that RTS games have managed to tackle with either glorification or historical insanity in the case of Hearts of Iron. But one game recently managed to use war as a backdrop to tell the tale of the nation falling, of people losing their humanity. This game in question is Unconventional Warfare, a game that like its name requires the players to engage in combat that from all perspectives is hopeless. But in the darkest times, the light shines the brightest. A fitting metaphor but alas the game is not a mere critique of war. As you will have to fight your way out of hostile territory and make countless sacrifices along the way. For in war, there is no victor, a fact the game manages to convey with gameplay alone as it will crush you with relentless foes until every win feels hollow and empty. So if you wish to experience an RTS game that portrays war in all of its ugly glory then Unconventional Warfare is the game for you. It can be found on the Steam online store where it is an exclusive.

Figure 6-2. Unconventional Warfare Gameplay