Abandonware DOS title

Real-time strategy (RTS)

Real-time strategy games (RTS for short) are strategy games in which actions do not happen in turns, but are free to happen continuously, thus players can issue commands, like moving or assembling combat units, at any time. Some of the most well-known RTS series are Warcraft, Starcraft, Command & Conquer, and Age of Empires.

Most popular real-time strategy games

age_of_empires-7

Age of Empires

Windows XP/98/951997protecteddemo4.2/5 Ensemble Studios
Age of Empires, published by Microsoft and developed by Ensemble Studios, is one of the most popular historical RTS and started a successful series. The player must guide a civilization from prehistory to the iron age, battling other civilizations, building and gathering resources.
age-of-empires-2-04

Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings

Windows XP/98/951999protecteddemo4.2/5 Ensemble Studios
ambush-at-sorinor-02

Ambush at Sorinor

DOS19933.8/5 Mindcraft Software
arrakis-05

Arrakis

DOS20003.8/5
blood-and-magic-04

Blood & Magic

DOS19963.9/5 Tachyon Studios
burntime-01

Burntime

DOS19933.9/5 Max Design
castles-5

Castles

DOS1991protected4.1/5 Quicksilver Software
castles2-3

Castles 2: Siege and Conquest

DOSMac OS1992protected4.2/5 Quicksilver Software
command-and-conquer-06

Command & Conquer

DOS1995freeware4.1/5 Westwood Studios
red-alert-6

Command & Conquer: Red Alert

DOS1996freeware4/5 Westwood Studios
Command & Conquer: Red Alert is a real-time strategy (RTS) video game developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive in 1996. It is part of the Command & Conquer series and is set in an alternate history where World War II never occurred, leading to a different global conflict.The success of Red Alert led to several seque...
command-conquer-sole-survivor-04

Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor

Windows XP/98/9519973.8/5 Westwood Studios
command-hq-04

Command HQ

DOS19904/5 Ozark Softscape
cossacks-european-03

Cossacks: European Wars

Windows XP/98/952000protected4.4/5 GSC Game World
Cossacks: European Wars is a real-time strategy game developed by GSC Game World and released in 2001. The game is set in the 17th and 18th centuries, a period marked by significant military, political, and social changes in Europe. Players can choose from 16 different European nations, each with unique units and buildings. The gamep...
cultures1-02

Cultures

Windows XP/98/952000protected4/5 Funatics Software
dark-reign-2-06

Dark Reign 2

Windows XP/98/952000protected4/5 Pandemic Studios
dark-reign-1-05

Dark Reign: The Future of War

Windows XP/98/951997protected4/5 Auran Games
dominium-02

Dominium

DOS19924.2/5 Microids
dominus-03

Dominus

DOS19943.9/5 Viacom New Media
dragon-lord-01

Dragon Lord

DOS19904.3/5 Spotlight Software
dune-4

Dune

DOS19924.1/5 Cryo Interactive Entertainment
Dune, released in 1992, is a game developed by Cryo Interactive and published by Virgin Games. It's based on the iconic science fiction novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. In Dune, players assume the role of Paul Atreides, the young scion of House Atreides, as he arrives on the desert planet Arrakis with his family to take control of spice pro...
dune2000-splash

Dune 2000

Windows XP/98/9519984.2/5 Westwood Studios
Dune 2000 is an abandoned science fiction classic real-time strategy game based on the popular Dune franchise. The Dune "universe" took form in the books of science fiction writer Frank Herbert and went on to include movies, TV series, comics, and of course video games. Dune 2000 is one of the finest RTS of its era; it was developed by We...
dune-generations-06

Dune Generations

Windows XP/98/952002canceled3.8/5 Cryo Interactive Entertainment
Dune Generations was a canceled 3D MMO strategy game set in the Dune universe that was never published. Dune Generations was in development by Cryo Interactive Entertainment, but it was canceled in 2002 when the company filed for bankruptcy. As of 2002 the game was still in the alpha stage; what's left are some screenshots ...
dune2-7

Dune II: The building of a dynasty

DOS19924.2/5 Westwood Studios
Dune II, released in 1992, is a pioneering real-time strategy game developed by Westwood Studios. Set in the world of Frank Herbert's Dune, players command noble houses in a battle for control over the planet Arrakis. With base-building, resource management, and tactical combat, the game introduced key elements of the genre and influenced future RT...
dungeon-keeper-02

Dungeon Keeper

DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protected4.1/5 Electronic Arts
dungeon-keeper-2-09

Dungeon Keeper 2

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protected4/5 Bullfrog
dungeon_keeper_3

Dungeon Keeper 3: War for the Overworld

Windows 10/112000canceled3.9/5 Bullfrog
Dungeon Keeper 3 was a cancelled dungeon management strategy game being developed by Bullfrog that was never released. Dungeon Keeper 3 was cancelled in 2000 and the Dungeon Keeper franchise ended without a third chapter.
empire-earth-06

Empire Earth

Windows XP/98/952001protected4.2/5 Stainless Steel Studios
Empire Earth is a real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by Stainless Steel Studios and released by Sierra Entertainment in 2001. It's often compared to the "Age of Empires" series due to its similar gameplay mechanics and historical setting. However, "Empire Earth" stands out with its unique concept of spanning the entire history of mankind, from...
final-frontier-03

Final Frontier

DOS19892.8/5 Bubble Bus Software
lords-of-the-realms-3-05

Lords of the Realm 3

Windows XP/98/952004protected3.8/5 Impressions Games
megalomania-4

Mega lo Mania

DOS19924.2/5 Sensible Software
Mega lo Mania, also known as Mega-Lo-Mania: The Battle for Elysium in some regions, is a real-time strategy (RTS) video game developed by Sensible Software and published by Image Works. It was originally released in 1991 for various platforms, including the Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, and later on other systems like the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive). The ...