Best Strategy Games Forgotten by Time

The Strategy genre has been dormant for quite some time. In the 2020s, we've seen a resurrection of genres of old, from the JRPG to the CRPG and tons of genres in between. However, one genre has been left in the cold. The Strategy genre. It's had an amazing history, and so many of the games are still played today.

But there are games within the genre that haven't gotten the love they really deserve. We're talking about the games that had followings, but never really got on the level of the big boys, like Starcraft, for example.

We're going to check out a bunch of strategy games that have been forgotten, but definitely deserve your attention.

8 Grey Goo

An Original in a Sea of Copies

Grey Goo came out in 2015, and really should've been the flag-waver for the next generation of strategy games. Despite the weird name, this is as faithful a tribute to classic RTS games as you can find. You've got three factions: the humans, the Beta, and the Goo. The Goo in particular is the most interesting faction here, as it's literally a self-replicating race where your main base can move and create an army from itself.

It gives you gameplay that you just can't find in other RTS games, and while the humans and the Beta are definitely more standard in the strategy game world, the Goo is the star of the show. Aside from that, the graphics are great, and the unit types for each faction are numerous, too. There are some amazing effects at play, too, and it looks like what you'd imagine the next evolution of Starcraft to look like.

In 2015, the genre was in a really rough place, and I feel l if this one had a better name and some better promotion, it could've made a much bigger impact than it did. Still, for those looking to deep dive into the genre, this is one you shouldn't ignore.

7 Battle Realms

Mortal Combat From Above

Battle Realms was made by one of the developers of Command and Conquer, Ed Del Castillo, and the result was a game that was so impactful, it had Blizzard delay their much-anticipated Warcraft 3 because they played Battle Realms first.

If that alone doesn't get you hyped to play it, maybe this will. It's an RTS game that is heavily inspired by Wuxia culture, so heroes, over-the-top martial arts, and mythology are on display here, along with a lot of magic. You've got 4 different clans to play with, and the best part of the gameplay is how you start with lowly peasants and watch them evolve into battle-hardened warriors. It makes you a bit more attached than you'd expect for a game of this nature.

The battles are bloody and filled with tons of effects from arrows being launched to dark spells being performed. One of my favorite things about the game is that each clan will acknowledge you as their ruler, and say things like "we need more water," which personalizes the game in a way that you don't see too often in the genre. There is also a pretty solid campaign about an exiled heir to the throne fighting to get back his spot.

It's one of those games that was released during the golden age of the genre and was overshadowed because of it. There was a re-release in 2019, though, so there is a renewed appreciation for it if you want to check it out.

6 Earth 2150

The Near Future War

Earth 2150 was a game I was desperate to see make a big splash. It was released in 2000, which was right in the midst of Starcraft and Command and Conquer dominance, and it felt like something so fresh and different. It was a classic RTS in many ways, but it was striking to look at, had some of the best explosion effects in the genre, and felt like the most grounded of the games in the genre at the time.

Unfortunately, it never hit the big time despite great reviews. It just didn't have that one factor that games like Warcraft and others in the genre had. Maybe it was the fact that it was grounded that kept it from getting to that level. It looked like a near-future Earth at war with itself, and it was compelling both in its gameplay and story premise.

Funnily enough, RTS games are still trying to do what Earth 2150 was doing over 20 years ago.

5 Empire Earth

The Battle Through the Ages

Empire Earth has one of the easiest-to-love ideas for any strategy game out there. There are 21 nations available to play as, and also 14 epochs, representing different ages that you go through with each battle. As you progress through the ages, you get more and more technology to play with.

This isn't really a novel idea, especially for 2007, which had already seen Age of Empires do this several times. However, the big difference is that instead of getting some slightly more evolved medieval weaponry, here, we go deep into the future. You get access to everything from planes and tanks to more futuristic fare like robot armies and the like.

Graphically, it still stands up today, and the gameplay is endless with its variety. With 21 different nations to play with, you get a ton of variety in the gameplay here. The basic gameplay is standard RTS fare; however, the staggering amount of different nations you can play with changes it up considerably. It plays like what you'd imagine a modern Age of Empires to look and play like, and tons of upcoming strategy games are trying to do exactly what Empire Earth did nearly 20 years ago.

4 Emperor: Battle for Dune

The Spice War Begins

Emperor: Battle for Dune is a game that would fit perfectly today, but it came out 24 years ago. I think it was a little bit random in terms of the usage of the property, though, as the Dune movie was back in the mid-80s, and the early 2000s were full of Star Wars again, and this super serious take on a Space Opera didn't find traction until years later.

It's too bad because Emperor: Battle for Dune kicks ass. You play as either House Harkonnen, House Atreus, or House Ordos. Each house has its own campaign with a unique story inspired by the lore of the Dune series, and it gives you plenty of incentive to play through each one.

The gameplay is also fantastic, with each house having a bunch of unique units that fit them perfectly. For example, Harkonnen gets the over-the-top military stuff like tanks, while House Atreides has access to more unique units like the Fremen to join them in battle. It's an awesome Dune experience, and a must-play for any fan of the series or RTS games in general.

3 World in Conflict

An Alternate World War

World in Conflict poses the idea of what if World War 3 actually broke out in the late 80s as a result of the Cold War. It's one of the most underrated strategy games ever made, and despite coming out in 2007, it's got some excellent graphics that stand the test of time and three different factions of the United States, NATO, or the Soviet Union.

The campaign is one-sided, from the United States' standpoint, and the game actually has Alec Baldwin voice the main character. For an RTS campaign, this is pretty high-octane stuff, with a deadly serious tone and unique objectives from mission to mission. It's a great time and one that feels cohesive all the way through.

There is an interesting multiplayer here, as you are asked to choose a role in each game, from infantry, air, support, or armor, and how it works is whichever role dominates the other, so each role has a different goal to fulfill, and it's much different than your typical strategy game.

For a 2007 game, though, this stands up tremendously well and is one of the few incredibly realistic styled RTS games that feel this level of quality.

2 The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring

The Battle for Middle-earth

The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring is a little-talked-about chapter of The Lord of the Rings video game world, and it's one of the more interesting ones out there.

You've got two campaigns, one on the side of good and the other for the forces of Sauron. The campaigns are unique and definitely require two playthroughs to get a full experience.

There are only two factions to play, which, to be fair, is a small amount for a full-priced RTS game, but within those factions are a ton of different units. The Free People of Middle-earth have everything from Elves to Ents and tons of variety in between, and seeing things like the forces of Gondor marching alongside the Riders of Rohan and the Dwarves is just epic in action. Of course, you've got plenty of variety on the side of The Minions of Sauron, too, with Wargs, giant spiders, Uruk-Hai, and creatures you don't even see in the movies.

It's just an awesome time and one of the best 1v1 RTS experiences out there, so if you prefer two perfectly balanced factions vs a variety of options, here is a great strategy experience.

1 Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds

A Shift to the Stars

Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds has the easiest pitch in the world to sell you on it. Age of Empires, but make it with Star Wars. That was enough to sell me, but somehow, it didn't do the same to everyone else. In fact, this is made by Ensemble Studios, the developers behind the wildly successful Age of Empires, so this is actually the same engine in motion here.

For strategy and Star Wars fans alike, it's a phenomenal game, with multiple campaigns that let you take on the role of the Galactic Empire, the Rebels, or even the Gungans. You'll be taking part in scenarios ripped right out of the movies and others that expand upon those in some unique ways.

You've got Lucas Arts and Disney backing this one, so expect everything from dialogue to sounds and effects all being ripped right from the big screen. Along with that, you've got the classic Age of Empires gameplay wearing a Star Wars skin, and it works incredibly well. You're able to have up to 200 units per side, and those will range from basic droid armies to bounty hunters and even Jedi take to the battlefield here as one of the most powerful units.

If you're up for a nostalgia run in the strategy genre, this is my top pick for a strategy game forgotten by time.