Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

36 Tactical games like Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition down to the 36 that fit the “Tactical” category. Total War: Shogun 2, Stronghold 3 Gold and Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.

iRank88/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

Tags

SoloMultiplayer

Year 2019Dev Forgotten Empires

Stores

Quick answer

Within the “Tactical” category, the closest game to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is Total War: Shogun 2 — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. Stronghold 3 Gold and Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings follow close behind.

#1Total War: Shogun 297 #2Stronghold 3 Gold96 #3Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings92 #4Rise of Nations91 #5Medieval II: Total War91

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The best tactical games like Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

36 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

97

Total War: Shogun 2

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

#2Stronghold 3 Gold

96

Stronghold 3 Gold

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalRangedHistoricalMedievalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 33%· 4.8KRAWG👍 28%· 50IGDB52· 3

Year 2012Dev FireFly StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

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

≠ Where it differs: brings sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration

#3Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

92

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedHistoricalMedievalIsometric

IGDB80· 3

Year 1999Dev Ensemble Studios · KonamiOn PC · Mac

✓ Nearly identical: real-time strategy, combat tactical and ranged combat.

≠ Missing: deep simulation.

#4Rise of Nations

91

Rise of Nations

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

#5Medieval II: Total War

91

Medieval II: Total War

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

91

Empire Earth

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedHistoricalMedievalIsometric

Year 2001Dev Stainless Steel Studios · Sierra EntertainmentOn PC

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

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

91

Stronghold 2

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedMedievalHistoricalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 89%· 5.6KIGDB70· 3

Year 2005Dev Firefly Studios · 2K GamesOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration, while skipping co op

#8Rome: Total War

90

Rome: Total War

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

#9Shogun: Total War

89

Shogun: Total War

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 89%· 1.2KIGDB90· 1

Year 2000Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn PC

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

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

#10The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth

89

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

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalRangedBase BuildingIsometric

IGDB84· 4

Year 2004Dev EA Los Angeles · Electronic ArtsOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: combat magic, melee combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

#11The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II

87

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

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalRangedIsometric

IGDB81· 6

Year 2006Dev EA Los Angeles · Electronic ArtsOn PC

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

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

#12Europa Universalis IV

93

Europa Universalis IV

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

#13Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

93

Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

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

#14Total War: Attila

93

Total War: Attila

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

#15Company of Heroes 2

93

Company of Heroes 2

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 79%· 113KRAWG👍 50%· 872MC80IGDB78· 11

Year 2013Dev Feral Interactive · SEGAPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Nearly identical: real-time strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical.

≠ Missing: ranged combat.

Complete list of tactical games like Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

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