Best RTS Games on Steam
Steam currently has 3,358 RTS games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. RTS game rankings were last updated on 1/26/2026.
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1. Dyson Sphere Program
Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire.
Dyson Sphere Program holds the #1 spot for "best RTS game on Steam" with a Player Score of 96. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 88,991 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 86,814 positive reviews and 2,177 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Dyson Sphere Program on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 1/21/2021 |
| Developer | Youthcat Studio |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1366540 |
2. STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack
Command or corrupt an entire galaxy in the definitive Star Wars strategy collection. It is a time of galactic civil war. Will you take up the reins of the Rebellion, assume control of the Empire, or rule the Star Wars Underworld?
STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 41,337 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 40,374 positive reviews and 963 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $6.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $6.99 |
| Release Date | 5/25/2010 |
| Developer | Petroglyph |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 32470 |
3. Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)
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.
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 20,601 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,095 positive reviews and 506 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 10/21/2013 |
| Franchise | Firefly Studios |
| Developer | FireFly Studios |
| Publisher | FireFly Studios |
| Steam App Id | 40970 |
4. Age of Empires II (Retired)
Age of Empires II has been re-imagined in high definition. With the release of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, this product will not be updated further.
Age of Empires II (Retired) has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #4 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 102,173 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 97,894 positive reviews and 4,279 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 4/9/2013 |
| Franchise | Age of Empires Franchise |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Xbox Game Studios |
| Steam App Id | 221380 |
5. Kenshi
A free-roaming squad based RPG. Focusing on open-ended sandbox gameplay features rather than a linear story. Be a trader, a thief, a rebel, a warlord, an adventurer, a farmer, a slave, or just food for the cannibals. Train your men up from puny victims to master warriors.
Kenshi has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 108,133 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 103,331 positive reviews and 4,802 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Kenshi on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $29.99 |
| Release Date | 12/6/2018 |
| Developer | Lo-Fi Games |
| Publisher | Lo-Fi Games |
| Steam App Id | 233860 |
6. Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
The last days of man are at hand.. Two years after the Infinite War the once great warring nations now lie in ruins, and humanity’s hope for a brighter future is nothing but a bitter memory. A new, seemingly unstoppable enemy, supported by the zealots of The Order, now seeks to eradicate mankind: UEF, Aeon Loyalist, and Cybran alike.
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,928 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,481 positive reviews and 447 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $2.59 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $2.59 |
| Release Date | 9/28/2011 |
| Developer | Gas Powered Games |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
| Steam App Id | 9420 |
7. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Shadow Tactics is a hardcore tactical stealth game set in Japan around the Edo period. A new Shogun seizes power over Japan and enforces nationwide peace. In his battle against conspiracy and rebellion, he recruits five specialists with extraordinary skills for assassination, sabotage and espionage.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #7 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 37,945 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 36,435 positive reviews and 1,510 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $39.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $39.99 |
| Release Date | 12/6/2016 |
| Franchise | Mimimi |
| Developer | Mimimi Games |
| Publisher | Daedalic Entertainment |
| Steam App Id | 418240 |
8. Desperados III
Desperados III is a story-driven, hardcore tactical stealth game, set in a ruthless Wild West scenario. Play smart if you want to succeed. A good plan can make the difference between survival and finding yourself at the business end of a pistol.
Desperados III has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #8 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,000 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,444 positive reviews and 556 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Desperados III on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 6/16/2020 |
| Franchise | Mimimi |
| Developer | Mimimi Games |
| Publisher | THQ Nordic |
| Steam App Id | 610370 |
9. Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense
Command your troops through an epic (mis)adventure as you defend exotic lands from dragons, man-eating plants, and ghastly denizens of the underworld -all with flashy new towers, levels, heroes, and more goodies to help you crush your foes in this Fantasy Action Tower Defense game!
Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #9 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,993 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,669 positive reviews and 324 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 7/25/2016 |
| Franchise | Ironhide Game Studio |
| Developer | Ironhide Game Studio |
| Publisher | Ironhide Game Studio |
| Steam App Id | 458710 |
10. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
42 Civilizations, 229 Campaign Missions, Singleplayer, Co-Op, Multiplayer, In-Game Editor, Mods, Cross-play...It is good to be the king.
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 173,342 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 164,573 positive reviews and 8,769 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $34.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $34.99 |
| Release Date | 11/14/2019 |
| Franchise | Age of Empires Franchise |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Xbox Game Studios |
| Steam App Id | 813780 |
More RTS Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best RTS games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,188 | 1/21/2021 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,761 | 5/25/2010 | 96 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 375 | 10/21/2013 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 2,334 | 4/9/2013 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 4,392 | 12/6/2018 | 94 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 596 | 9/28/2011 | 94 | $2.59 | Steam Charts | |
| 84 | 12/6/2016 | 94 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 132 | 6/16/2020 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 103 | 7/25/2016 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 15,938 | 11/14/2019 | 94 | $34.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,735 | 11/15/2006 | 94 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 353 | 9/26/2019 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 539 | 2/10/2025 | 93 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 182 | 8/7/2007 | 93 | ??? | Steam Charts | |
 | 179 | 7/14/2017 | 93 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 98 | 6/25/2024 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,465 | 12/8/2023 | 93 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 140 | 3/27/2014 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 100 | 10/21/2013 | 93 | $5.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 286 | 3/5/2008 | 93 | ??? | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 26). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 26). Dyson Sphere Program on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 30). STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 8). Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, November 26). Age of Empires II (Retired) on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 4). Kenshi on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 22). Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 10). Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 8). Desperados III on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 11). Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 29). Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on Steam. Steam Store.