Best RTS Games on Steam
Steam currently has 2,251 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 4/25/2024.
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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 78,655 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 76,844 positive reviews and 1,811 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 | 1/20/2021 |
| Developer | Youthcat Studio |
| Publisher | Gamera Games |
| 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 35,699 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 34,844 positive reviews and 855 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 STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 5/25/2010 |
| Developer | Petroglyph |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 32470 |
3. Stronghold Crusader HD
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 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 17,722 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,289 positive reviews and 433 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 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 99,433 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 95,213 positive reviews and 4,220 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. 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 #5 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 35,620 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 34,242 positive reviews and 1,378 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 |
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 12,578 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,180 positive reviews and 398 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $12.99 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 | $12.99 |
| Release Date | 9/28/2011 |
| Developer | Gas Powered Games |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
| Steam App Id | 9420 |
7. 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 #7 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,164 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,735 positive reviews and 429 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. At the moment, it is possible to play Desperados III on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $39.99 |
| Release Date | 6/16/2020 |
| Franchise | Mimimi |
| Developer | Mimimi Games |
| Publisher | THQ Nordic |
| Steam App Id | 610370 |
8. 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 #8 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 82,925 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 78,996 positive reviews and 3,929 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 |
9. Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition
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.
Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition 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 30,697 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 29,381 positive reviews and 1,316 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 11/15/2006 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 4700 |
10. 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 #10 spot for the best RTS games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,084 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,821 positive reviews and 263 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 |
More RTS Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best RTS games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2,643 | 1/20/2021 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,206 | 5/25/2010 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 504 | 10/21/2013 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,959 | 4/9/2013 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 96 | 12/6/2016 | 94 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 465 | 9/28/2011 | 94 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 60 | 6/16/2020 | 94 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,737 | 12/6/2018 | 94 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,780 | 11/15/2006 | 94 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 121 | 7/25/2016 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 9,812 | 11/14/2019 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 148 | 8/7/2007 | 93 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,052 | 9/26/2019 | 93 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 97 | 7/14/2017 | 93 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 135 | 11/3/2020 | 93 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,309 | 12/8/2023 | 93 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 398 | 3/7/2008 | 93 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 103 | 3/27/2014 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 51 | 12/8/2008 | 93 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 59 | 10/21/2013 | 93 | $5.99 | 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. (2024, April 25). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 25). Dyson Sphere Program on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 6). STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 23). Stronghold Crusader HD on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 5). Age of Empires II (Retired) on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 2). Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 26). Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 10). Desperados III on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 20). Kenshi on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 2). Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 30). Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense on Steam. Steam Store.