The launch of RTS giants likeAge of Empires 4brought a wave of excitement for fans of the genre. And the best games to get the first Real-time Strategy experience are numerous.RTS games(or real-time strategy Games) are a very fast-paced version of their progenitors, strategy games. RTS games force the players to adjust and respond in a real-time scenario, unlike normal strategy games. This makes each game very fast-paced and dynamic.
With the genre producing a few mainstream releases, newcomers might be interested in taking the plunge, but the difficulty of learning in a competitive culture can deter many. Thankfully, there are plenty ofRTS games for beginnersto jump into.
Updated on July 05, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:The ability to lead a group of soldiers or people toward victory gives anyone a joyful sense of power, and Real-Time Strategy games are pretty good at implying that feeling to their players. Making the right decision at critical moments when the player doesn’t have much time to think is one of the major challenges in any RTS game.
Based on the complexity of the game, there are multiple factors to consider when playing an RTS game, which could be quite overwhelming, especially for newcomers to the genre. However, there are indeed some classic RTS experiences where the developers keep mechanics simple and let the players enjoy the flow without putting a lot of pressure on them.
Rise of Nations is one of the greatest RTS games that unfortunately never received a sequel or a remake. The game allows players to choose from a span of 18 nations at the beginning of the game, then start progressing from the ancient ages to the modern times.
Players start an empire barebones with all the ancient tools, but as time passes, they expand their knowledge and invest in science, allowing them to enter new ages and feel the true sense of progression. From the Ancient Age to the Copper Age, and from the Copper Age to the Internet Age, players start to build an army with blades and swords, but in the end, they unlock missiles and ships when enough time has passed.
While progressing through the ages might seem a bit complicated, the gameplay mechanics in Rise of Nations are quite simple, which makes it a fascinating game for RTS rookies.
For those who value combat in RTS games more than anything else, Wargame titles could bring a lot of joy. While the Total War series nails it in simulating gigantic wars with old weaponry like swords and arrows, Wargame almost does the same with modern wars where tanks, missiles, and long-range guns dictate the fate of the battles.
While Wargame might seem a little bit complicated in the beginning, it is a good starting point for players who want an all-out warfare simulation without the need to care about people’s happiness or any similar side factors. The depth of combat in Wargame titles is magnificent and it will reward players who pay attention to the details.
Age of Empires is a classic franchise in the RTS genre and fans of the series were elated to hear news of a fourth entry. Some people feel like it emulatesAge of Empires 2a bit too much for their liking, but this was a small gripe for what was otherwise a brilliant title in every way.
Age of Empiresis one of the rare franchises in gaming that delivers top-notch experiences with every single iteration. The game always depicts medieval-era battles with quire simplistic mechanics and controls that feels easy to learn for every newcomer, as there are not too many factors to deal with.
The gameplay loop ofAge of Empiresis pretty by-the-numbers and easy to understand.Empire Earthemulates this for the most part, making it easy to see why beginners will find it quite easy to jump into this legendary RTS.
What helps this title stand out is the sheer number of ages players can progress through in the game. People start in the prehistoric age before moving on to medieval times, but that’s not it. Players can progress to modern times before progressing to the future too.
Despite labeling itself as an RTS,Pikmindoesn’t feature a gameplay loop that most people would expect from this genre. Still, despite its unique presentation, it’s one of the easier strategy games to get into.
The release ofPikmin 4was a source of great celebration for fans of the series. The combination of platforming, puzzle-solving, and strategy makes for a great time as players gather more of these adorable critters to do their bidding across a series of levels.
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2is a particularly great choice for RTS newcomers if they’re already fans of theLord of the Ringsfranchise, as the familiarity that they’ll have with units, maps, and movesets will come in handy.
However,Battle for Middle-Earthis also a good pickfor those not previously interested in Tolkien’s universe, as the game is accommodating to beginners with tutorials that impressively manage to be detailed without being overwhelming for those who have never even tried a real-time strategy game before.
Sins of a Solar Empireis one of the best-named sci-fi games of the last decade, and despite its hard-sounding title, it’s actually one of thebest RTS for beginners. Its gameplay is straightforward and reminiscent ofCivilization. It’s well-balanced and built with easy-to-grasp progression systems, though it might take some getting used to all the technobabble.
It’s an older game, too, having been released nearly a decade and a half ago in 2008, and it is likely to run perfectly on just about any modern system.
Northgardis a beginner-friendly but hard-to-master recent entry in the RTS genre. It puts the player in control of a clan of Vikings looking to secure their dominance in a newfound world. The colorful (and almost cartoony) graphics make it stand out amongst similar fantasy strategy games.
MostRTS gameshave a basic campaign mode, like inStarcraft 2andHalo Wars, and Northgard is no exception. However, there’s a lot more to the game than the narrative, and it’s as replayable as it is a feast for the eyes.
Stellarisis an incredibly deep sci-fi RTS that centers around building a galactic empire from the very beginning. Like manyRTS games,Stellarisfeatures a progression system that changes over time,offering players new technologies, powers, and attributesas they continue to expand.
As complex as the game is, it features great tutorials and a variety of difficulties to get to know how the mechanics ofStellariswork. It’s by no means a difficult game to grasp, but there are a lot of things going on that can take a little while to properly learn.
TheWarhammerfranchise is one of the biggest expanded game verses that spans many genres and forms of media. Thus, it is only fair for newer players to be wary of this title. But players can rest assured that Creative Assembly and Sega’s brainchild,Total War: Warhammer 2,is one of the easiest titles for the first RTS experience.
Not to forget the easy entry it gives players into the extensiveWarhammerfandom. This series isperfect for all RTS beginners, especiallyWarhammerfans. The third installment, however, adds a bit more complexity to the gameplay by introducing hero-style leaders that can be upgraded throughout the campaign. So, it might be best to begin with the first iteration.
