36 RTS games like Diplomacy is Not an Option that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Diplomacy is Not an Option down to the 36 that fit the “RTS” category. Castle Story, Bad North and Stronghold Crusader top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Diplomacy is Not an Option.

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

The best rTS games like Diplomacy is Not an Option

36 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Diplomacy is Not an Option. Each one has been evaluated across 19 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.

#1Castle StoryClosest overall match

iRank63

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCo-opSandbox WorldHistoricalMedievalBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 65%· 11KRAWG👍 59%· 27

Year 2012Dev Sauropod StudioPlaytime ~3hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy

≠ Stands apart with open world exploration, combat magic and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping vibe casual

An epic adventure awaits you in Castle Story, a strategy game where you command friendly creatures called Bricktrons. Have them explore, carve, dig and gather resources from vast, spectacular floating islands, reshaping the voxel-based world to your desire!

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: combat.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against very positive for Diplomacy is Not an Option.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals100Setting83World83Game mode78Progression55

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalHistoricalIsometricMelee

Steam👍 93%· 14KIGDB67· 2OC71· 29

Year 2018Dev Plausible Concept · Raw FuryOn PS4 · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of tower defense games: deep simulation, real-time strategy and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, puzzle design and roguelike runs, while skipping sandbox freedom

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: tone and world.

Genre100Visuals100Combat81Game mode51Setting51Tone0

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Steam GOG Epic

#3Stronghold CrusaderClosest on world

iRank92

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalSandbox WorldHistoricalMedievalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 98%· 21KIGDB80· 1

Year 2002Dev Firefly Studios · Take-Two InteractiveOn PC

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy

≠ Its own twist: melee combat, ranged combat and fantasy world, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: game mode.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 22 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Progression100Setting80Visuals80Combat74

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Steam

#4Stronghold HD (2012)Closest on combat

iRank88

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalSandbox WorldMedievalHistoricalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 10KRAWG👍 82%· 310MC81

Year 2012Dev FireFly StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of tower defense games: deep simulation, real-time strategy and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, open world exploration and fantasy world, while skipping adventure storytelling

Stronghold is a real-time strategy game, the first installment in Firefly Studio’s Stronghold series. Gameplay### The game takes place in Medieval Brittan of XI century.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: tone and game mode.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression93World81Setting79Visuals77

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalSandbox WorldMedievalHistoricalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 10K

Year 2001Dev Firefly Studios · Take-Two InteractiveOn PC · Mac

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, real-time strategy and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: tone and game mode.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 23 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression93World81Setting79Visuals77Combat69

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalDarkCasualHorror

Steam👍 98%· 152KRAWG👍 93%· 733MC87IGDB80· 1

Year 2010Dev PopCap Games · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, deep simulation and real-time strategy

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, cozy, relaxing feel and visual 2d, while skipping adventure storytelling

This is a casual tower defense game from the PopCap Games studio. The main characters are homeowners who, with the help of plants, protect their garden from the invasion of zombies. The game was ported to all kinds of consoles, including mobile platforms. In Plants vs.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: visuals and setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Tone71Game mode52Setting42Visuals0

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Steam Xbox

#7Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalDarkHorrorHistorical

IGDB80· 1

Year 2013Dev PopCap Games · Electronic ArtsOn Android · iOS

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with real-time strategy, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi, multiplayer gameplay and visual 2d, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: visuals and game mode.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Setting61Game mode36Tone36Visuals0

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#8Gratuitous Space Battles

iRank58

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalHardcoreSandbox WorldIsometric

Steam👍 70%· 877RAWG👍 24%· 42MC72IGDB65· 2

Year 2009Dev Positech GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of tower defense games: deep simulation, real-time strategy and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping adventure storytelling

Gratuitous Space Battles is a mix of real-time strategy and tactics of Tower Defense, altogether featuring a science-fiction setting of space warfare.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: setting and game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Diplomacy is Not an Option.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Combat83Tone48Visuals43Game mode36

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Steam

#9Plague Inc: Evolved

iRank87

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloCo-opTacticalCasualDarkSandbox WorldHorrorIsometric

Steam👍 94%· 62KRAWG👍 86%· 667MC80IGDB80· 3

Year 2015Dev Ndemic CreationsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Diplomacy is Not an Option, expect real-time strategy, deep simulation and survival mechanics

≠ Where it differs: brings post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping adventure storytelling

Plague Inc: Evolved is a biological simulation/strategy game developed by Ndemic Creations. In Plague Inc: Evolved the player controls a disease, that infects patient zero in a selected country.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Combat100World100Visuals100Game mode77Tone75Genre50

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Steam Xbox PS

#10Stronghold Legends: Steam EditionClosest on setting

iRank83

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

Sandbox WorldMedievalHistoricalBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 86%· 10KRAWG👍 79%· 23

Year 2023Dev FireFly StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, open world exploration and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping adventure storytelling

Relive the glory of Stronghold, the original BAFTA-nominated real-time strategy game, with this new definitive edition of the classic 'castle sim'.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: game mode and tone.

Genre100Progression91Setting86World74Visuals70Game mode0

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Steam

#11Atom Zombie Smasher

iRank70

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloCo-opTacticalDarkCasualSandbox WorldHorrorIsometric

Steam👍 90%· 2.1KRAWG👍 36%· 101MC75

Year 2011Dev Blendo GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing tower defense planning, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings procedural generation, melee combat and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping deep simulation

The game is a real-time strategy from the independent studio Blendo Games. The main task is to save as many people as possible from the advancing horde of zombies.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat78Tone73Game mode59World57Visuals51

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Steam

#12Defense Grid: The Awakening

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalIsometricSci-Fi

Steam👍 96%· 5.3KRAWG👍 59%· 106MC81IGDB86· 2

Year 2008Dev Hidden Path EntertainmentPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, deep simulation and real-time strategy

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi, while skipping adventure storytelling

###Microsoft’s tower defence The game is one in the genre of tower defense, developed by Hidden Path Entertainment for PC and Xbox 360. Later it was ported to the Mac, and for other consoles in 2013.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode52Setting0

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Steam Epic

#13Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalHistoricalBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 90%· 9.2KRAWG👍 83%· 225MC85IGDB85· 4

Year 2007Dev Electronic Arts Los Angeles · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Xbox

✓ Same family of tower defense games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and tower defense planning

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping adventure storytelling

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is a real-time strategy game developed by EA Los Angeles. It is the third game in the Tiberium sub-series and continues the plot of Tiberian Sun. ###Plot The year is 2047, 17 years after the events of the Firestorm Expansion pack.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: tone and setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 17 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals100Combat70Progression62Game mode36Setting33

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Steam Xbox

#14Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

iRank90

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloHardcoreCasualIsometricMagic

Steam👍 97%· 10KRAWG👍 88%· 92IGDB80· 1

Year 2013Dev Ironhide Game StudioPlaytime ~5hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, real-time strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, combat magic and melee combat, while skipping deep simulation

The world's most devilishly addictive defense game is back - welcome to Kingdom Rush: Frontiers! Bigger and badder than ever before, Kingdom Rush: Frontiers is a whole new level of the furiously fast, enchantingly charming gameplay that made the original title an award-winning hit.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: combat and setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone74Visuals60Game mode52Combat0Setting0

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Steam GOG Nintendo

#15AI War: Fleet Command

iRank69

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

Co-opSoloTacticalHardcoreIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 1.6KRAWG👍 26%· 50MC80IGDB90· 1

Year 2009Dev Arcen GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of tower defense games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and tower defense planning

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy, open world exploration and melee combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

###Impulse A real-time strategy developed by independent developers from Arcen Games. The game first appeared on the public in 2009 on the developer's site and the Impulse site, and later appeared on Steam in version 2.0.

Where it drifts furthest from Diplomacy is Not an Option: world and setting.

It predates Diplomacy is Not an Option by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals100Combat86Game mode79Tone51Setting0

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Steam GOG

Complete list of rTS games like Diplomacy is Not an Option

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Diplomacy is Not an Option, 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.

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