What is the best game similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings?

The closest game to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is Medieval II: Total War, scoring 96/100 on our similarity scale. They share 8 gameplay attributes, including real-time strategy, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings?

The three closest games to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings are: 1. Medieval II: Total War (96/100, 8 shared attributes) 2. Rise of Nations (96/100, 8 shared attributes) 3. Rome: Total War (95/100, 7 shared attributes). All share Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 8 dimensions.

Is Rise of Nations similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings?

Yes, very much so — Rise of Nations scores 96/100 similarity to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. They share 8 attributes, including real-time strategy and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What RTS games are similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings?

The best RTS games similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings are Medieval II: Total War, Rise of Nations, Rome: Total War and World in Conflict. All share the RTS genre alongside other key Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings attributes like real-time strategy, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

How is similarity to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings calculated?

We compare Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings against every game in our catalog using 8 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: The Age of Kings experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings that you should try

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Looking for games like Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings? We analyzed its gameplay DNA — real-time strategy, combat tactical and historical setting — against over 6,700 titles. These 50 alternatives are ranked by real similarity, not marketing tags. Medieval II: Total War leads with 96/100, followed by the rest of the list.

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GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

Top games similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

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: The Age of Kings. Each one has been evaluated across 8 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.

#1Medieval 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, combat tactical and ranged combat

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

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

Details →

#3Rome: Total War

iRank94

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, combat tactical and ranged combat

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

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalIsometric

IGDB94· 2

Year 2007Dev Massive Entertainment · Sierra EntertainmentOn PC

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

≠ Missing: ranged combat.

Details →

#5Stronghold 2

iRank83

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedMedievalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 89%· 5.6KIGDB70· 3

Year 2005Dev Firefly Studios · 2K GamesOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

Details →

Steam

#6Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

iRank90

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerHistoricalIsometricFantasy

IGDB90· 1

Year 2000Dev Westwood Pacific · Electronic ArtsOn PC

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, historical setting and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world and setting scifi, while skipping combat tactical

Details →

#7Shogun: Total War

iRank89

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 setting medieval

Details →

Steam

#8Europa Universalis III

iRank79

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerHistoricalIsometricSandbox World

Steam👍 83%· 2.0KIGDB70· 1

Year 2007Dev Paradox InteractiveOn PC · Mac

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, historical setting and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, sandbox freedom and deep simulation, while skipping combat tactical

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerIsometricNarrativeSci-Fi

Steam👍 97%· 3.7K

Year 1997Dev Cavedog Entertainment · GT Interactive SoftwareOn PC · Mac

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus and setting scifi, while skipping combat tactical

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerMedievalIsometricFantasy

Steam👍 93%· 589RAWG👍 87%· 101IGDB65· 1

Year 2001Dev Cyberlore Studios · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, setting medieval and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, fantasy world and base building, while skipping combat tactical

Details →

Steam GOG

#11The Guild II Renaissance

iRank72

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerMedievalHistoricalCozy

Steam👍 83%· 4.0KRAWG👍 67%· 84MC56

Year 2010Dev Runeforge Games Studio · THQ NordicPlaytime ~2hOn PC

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

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

Details →

Steam GOG

#12Total War: Shogun 2

iRank91

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedHistoricalMedievalIsometric

Steam👍 92%· 67KIGDB88· 4

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

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

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, deep simulation and co op

Details →

Steam

#13Victoria II

iRank87

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalSandbox World

Steam👍 92%· 20KIGDB76· 1

Year 2010Dev Paradox InteractiveOn Linux · PC · Mac

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

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom, while skipping ranged combat

Details →

Steam

#14Stronghold 2: Steam Edition

iRank81

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalMedievalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 89%· 5.6KRAWG👍 68%· 40

Year 2005Dev FireFly Studios · 2K GamesOn PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping ranged combat

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerIsometric

IGDB90· 2

Year 1997Dev Bullfrog Productions · Electronic ArtsOn PC

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, while skipping combat tactical

Details →

GOG

Complete list of Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, 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: Definitive Edition

RTS · Simulation

The Guild II

RTS · Simulation

Napoleon: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Grand Ages: Rome

RTS · Simulation

Pikmin 3

RTS · Adventure

Dawn of Discovery

RTS · Simulation

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

RTS

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

RTS

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RTS · Simulation

Command & Conquer: Red Alert

RTS

Star Wars: Empire at War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Homeworld

RTS · Adventure

StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

RTS

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

RTS

Medieval: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Cossacks: European Wars

RTS

Command & Conquer: Generals

RTS

Football Club Simulator - FCS #21

RTS · Sports

Stellaris

RTS · Simulation

Europa Universalis IV

RTS · Simulation

Impossible Creatures Steam Edition

RTS · Simulation

Company of Heroes - Legacy Edition

RTS

Hearthlands

RTS · Simulation

Age of Mythology: Extended Edition

RTS · Simulation

Empire Earth

RTS

Knights and Merchants

RTS · Simulation

Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Stonehearth

RTS · Simulation

Pharaoh

RTS · Simulation

East India Company

RTS · Simulation

Anno 1602: Creation of a New World

RTS · Simulation

Total War: Attila

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition

RTS · Simulation

Command & Conquer

RTS

Commander: Conquest of the Americas

RTS · Simulation

Explore games similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings by category

Rankings in the same genre

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings?: The closest game to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is Medieval II: Total War, scoring 96/100 on our similarity scale. They share 8 gameplay attributes, including real-time strategy, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings?: The three closest games to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings are: 1. Medieval II: Total War (96/100, 8 shared attributes) 2. Rise of Nations (96/100, 8 shared attributes) 3. Rome: Total War (95/100, 7 shared attributes). All share Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 8 dimensions.
Is Rise of Nations similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings?: Yes, very much so — Rise of Nations scores 96/100 similarity to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. They share 8 attributes, including real-time strategy and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RTS games are similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings?: The best RTS games similar to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings are Medieval II: Total War, Rise of Nations, Rome: Total War and World in Conflict. All share the RTS genre alongside other key Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings attributes like real-time strategy, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.
How is similarity to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings calculated?: We compare Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings against every game in our catalog using 8 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: The Age of Kings experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.