10 PC Real Time Strategy Games You Should Play Before You Die

Rome: Total War

For Sparta!

The Total War series seems to just keep giving and giving, but it was Rome: Total War that introduced many to the long running franchise. With its unique blend of population management and military tactics, Rome still offers some of the deepest strategy available on any system. Throw in historical accuracy and a dedicated modding community and you can’t go wrong with Rome.

Company of Heroes

So much strategy on so many levels

Company of Heroes is one of those RTS games that, rather than adding new elements to the formula, refined the RTS mould to perfection. Company of Heroes simply offers one of the most enjoyable strategy experiences on PC and, unlike many other titles in the genre, its campaign is intensely enjoyable the whole way through. It’s the highest rated RTS title of all time on metacritic, and that alone is reason enough for you to play Company of Heroes.

StarCraft

The legend itself

Few games become a national sport. Even Counter Strike couldn’t be considered as big a game as StarCraft. It is a title so well balanced, so deep and so easily accessible, that professional StarCraft players were earning more money than the average joe could make in a lifetime. Though it is showing signs of age these days, StarCraft is a game of indescribable historical significance. If you play games, make sure StarCraft is in your collection.