What is the best game similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?

The closest game to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is Total War: Shogun 2, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 10 gameplay attributes, including real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?

The three closest games to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition are: 1. Total War: Shogun 2 (97/100, 10 shared attributes) 2. Europa Universalis IV (93/100, 10 shared attributes) 3. Medieval II: Total War (91/100, 9 shared attributes). All share Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 12 dimensions.

Is Europa Universalis IV similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?

Yes, very much so — Europa Universalis IV scores 93/100 similarity to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. They share 10 attributes, including real-time strategy and deep simulation. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What RTS games are similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?

The best RTS games similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition are Total War: Shogun 2, Europa Universalis IV, Medieval II: Total War and Age of Mythology: Extended Edition. All share the RTS genre alongside other key Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition attributes like real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus.

How is similarity to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition calculated?

We compare Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition against every game in our catalog using 12 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition that you should try

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If Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition left you wanting more, this list of 50 similar games is for you. Each one shares part of its essence — real-time strategy, combat tactical and historical setting — and is ranked by a similarity score computed across 12 attributes. Total War: Shogun 2 comes closest (97/100).

iRank88/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

Top games similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

50 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Total War: Shogun 2

iRank91

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalRangedHistoricalMedievalIsometric

Steam👍 92%· 67KIGDB88· 4

Year 2011Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, while skipping base building

Details →

Steam

#2Europa Universalis IV

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalMedievalManagementIsometric

Steam👍 88%· 136KRAWG👍 83%· 396MC87IGDB85· 2

Year 2013Dev Paradox Development Studio · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping ranged combat

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#3Medieval II: Total War

iRank94

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedMedievalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 36KIGDB90· 3

Year 2006Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy and melee combat, while skipping co op

Details →

Steam

#4Age of Mythology: Extended Edition

iRank85

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 93%· 36KIGDB69· 2

Year 2014Dev Ensemble Studios · Microsoft StudiosOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and historical setting

≠ Stands apart with setting mythology and fantasy world, while skipping combat tactical

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 88%· 29KIGDB77· 8OC79· 85

Year 2019Dev Limbic Entertainment · Kalypso MediaOn Xbox · PS4 · Linux

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom, strong narrative focus and sandbox world, while skipping combat tactical

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedHistoricalMedievalIsometric

IGDB92· 3

Year 2003Dev Big Huge Games · Microsoft Game StudiosOn PC · Mac

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, combat tactical and ranged combat

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

#7Empire: Total War

iRank91

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 91%· 38KIGDB90· 6

Year 2009Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, combat tactical and historical setting

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, melee combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam

#8Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 93KRAWG👍 78%· 169MC85IGDB82· 6OC85· 70

Year 2019Dev Feral Interactive · SEGAPlaytime ~10hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, combat tactical and historical setting

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, while skipping deep simulation

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opHistoricalMedievalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 75%· 13KRAWG👍 60%· 30

Year 2015Dev Radiant EntertainmentPlaytime ~6hOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and historical setting

≠ Where it differs: brings sandbox freedom, survival mechanics and deep RPG systems, while skipping combat tactical

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 95%· 17KIGDB91· 3

Year 2004Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy and melee combat, while skipping setting medieval

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalMedievalIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 37KIGDB77· 10OC79· 47

Year 2015Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, combat tactical and historical setting

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, strong narrative focus and melee combat, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam GOG

#12Total War: WARHAMMER II

iRank89

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 93%· 121KRAWG👍 90%· 251MC86IGDB88· 8OC86· 64

Year 2017Dev Creative Assembly · SEGAPlaytime ~14hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, combat tactical and historical setting

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam Epic

#13Men of War

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistorical

Steam👍 90%· 3.8KRAWG👍 74%· 70MC80IGDB80· 2

Year 2009Dev Best Way · 1C CompanyPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with melee combat and visual third person, while skipping ranged combat

Details →

Steam GOG

#14Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalMedievalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 85%· 53KRAWG👍 74%· 106MC75IGDB81· 4OC83· 100

Year 2020Dev Forgotten Empires · Xbox Game StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with PvP competition, online features and visual 3d, while skipping ranged combat

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalIsometric

IGDB94· 2

Year 2007Dev Massive Entertainment · Sierra EntertainmentOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: real-time strategy, combat tactical and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: deep simulation.

Details →

Complete list of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

RTS

Supreme Commander

RTS · Simulation

Pikmin 2

RTS · Adventure

Stronghold 2

RTS · Simulation

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

RTS

Shogun: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Plague Inc: Evolved

RTS · Simulation

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

RTS

Company of Heroes 2

RTS · Simulation

Europa Universalis III

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth

RTS

Total Annihilation

RTS

Stronghold 2: Steam Edition

RTS · Simulation

Majesty Gold HD

RTS · Simulation

The Guild II Renaissance

RTS · Simulation

Victoria II

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Napoleon: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Ironclad Tactics

RTS · Deck Builder

Anno 2070

RTS · Simulation

Theme Hospital

RTS · Simulation

The Guild II

RTS · Simulation

Total War: WARHAMMER III

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Dawn of Discovery

RTS · Simulation

Grand Ages: Rome

RTS · Simulation

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Command & Conquer: Red Alert

RTS

Pikmin 3

RTS · Adventure

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising

RTS

Halo Wars 2

RTS

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RTS · Simulation

Medieval: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Cossacks: European Wars

RTS

Stronghold 3 Gold

RTS · Simulation

Football Club Simulator - FCS #21

RTS · Sports

Halo Wars

RTS

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Rankings in the same genre

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?: The closest game to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is Total War: Shogun 2, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 10 gameplay attributes, including real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?: The three closest games to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition are: 1. Total War: Shogun 2 (97/100, 10 shared attributes) 2. Europa Universalis IV (93/100, 10 shared attributes) 3. Medieval II: Total War (91/100, 9 shared attributes). All share Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 12 dimensions.
Is Europa Universalis IV similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?: Yes, very much so — Europa Universalis IV scores 93/100 similarity to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. They share 10 attributes, including real-time strategy and deep simulation. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RTS games are similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?: The best RTS games similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition are Total War: Shogun 2, Europa Universalis IV, Medieval II: Total War and Age of Mythology: Extended Edition. All share the RTS genre alongside other key Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition attributes like real-time strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus.
How is similarity to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition calculated?: We compare Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition against every game in our catalog using 12 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.