41 Tactical games like Empire of the Ants 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 Empire of the Ants down to the 41 that fit the “Tactical” category. Commander: Conquest of the Americas, East India Company and Europa Universalis IV top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Empire of the Ants.

iRank76/ 100

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The best tactical games like Empire of the Ants

41 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Empire of the Ants. Each one has been evaluated across 16 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.

#1Commander: Conquest of the AmericasClosest overall match

iRank57

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalFantasyManagementBase Building

Steam👍 52%· 188MC68

Year 2010Dev Nitro GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: historical setting, exploration and discovery and social trading, while skipping strong narrative focus

Combining elements from both trading and strategy games, Commander: Conquest of the Americas will appeal to a wide range of players. Players take charge of one of the many European powers aiming to conquer the New World.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: setting and game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Empire of the Ants.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression88Game mode47Setting32

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalFantasyManagementBase Building

Steam👍 52%· 205MC67

Year 2009Dev Nitro GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: historical setting, setting medieval and exploration and discovery, while skipping strong narrative focus

In East India Company, players will enjoy building the World's most powerful trading empire & engaging in vigorous battles in both single player & multiplayer modes, all within a breathtaking cinematic game environment.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: setting and game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Empire of the Ants.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression87Game mode48Setting23

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Steam

#3Europa Universalis IV

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalFantasyManagement

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 turn-based strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration, while skipping adventure storytelling

Europa Universalis IV is a global strategy game developed by Paradox Interactive. It is the fifth game in the series, not counting the add-ons. ###Gameplay The game can take place at any time starting from the late Middle Age to the Napolean Wars era.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals and setting.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode75Progression68Setting27Visuals0

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Steam GOG Epic

#4Age of Empires IV: Anniversary EditionClosest on progression

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opPvPTacticalBase BuildingManagement3D

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 historical setting, setting medieval and online features, while skipping turn-based strategy

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition completes the celebration of one of the most beloved real-time strategy franchises in definitive form with enhanced features and modernized gameplay.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: setting and visuals.

Genre100Combat100Progression100Game mode96Visuals44Setting0

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Steam Xbox

#5StellarisClosest on tone

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalNarrativeSci-FiManagement

Steam👍 86%· 194KRAWG👍 84%· 693MC78IGDB79· 11OC81· 42

Year 2016Dev Paradox Development Studio · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~10hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, sandbox world and procedural generation, while skipping adventure storytelling

Nova Edition Stellaris Nova Edition includes:Digital Original SoundtrackThe Stellaris soundtrack delivers two and a half hours of original music, including bonus tracks and alternate versions not included in the game.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals and setting.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Tone100Game mode49Progression45Setting41

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Steam GOG

#6Total War: WARHAMMER III

iRank78

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opPvPTacticalNarrativeFantasy

Steam👍 70%· 143KRAWG👍 79%· 68MC85IGDB78· 3OC86· 72

Year 2022Dev Creative Assembly · SEGAPlaytime ~17hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and historical setting, while skipping adventure storytelling

Far beyond the world and its petty wars there exists a dimension of pure, malevolent magic: The Realm of Chaos. It is a terrible place, incomprehensible to the mortal mind. It whispers promises of power, but to behold it is to be seduced by it. To relinquish your soul to it. To become it.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals and setting.

Genre100Game mode94Combat79Tone57Setting41Visuals0

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Steam Epic

#7The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth IIClosest on game mode

iRank81

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opPvPTacticalFantasy

IGDB81· 6

Year 2006Dev EA Los Angeles · Electronic ArtsOn PC

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

≠ Stands apart with combat magic, melee combat and ranged combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals and combat.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 18 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Setting53Combat49Visuals0

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#8Total War: Attila

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalNarrativeFantasy

Steam👍 82%· 37KIGDB77· 10OC79· 47

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

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, historical setting and setting medieval, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals and setting.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone100Combat92Game mode75Setting32Visuals0

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Steam GOG

#9Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalSci-FiFantasyBase Building

Steam👍 85%· 16KIGDB75· 4

Year 2008Dev EA Los Angeles · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

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

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, historical setting and online features, while skipping turn-based strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting75Progression75Game mode62Combat60Visuals0

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Steam

#10Halo Wars

iRank70

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opPvPTacticalSci-FiBase Building

IGDB70· 6

Year 2009Dev Ensemble Studios · Microsoft Game Studios

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, combat tactical and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: visual isometric, while skipping turn-based strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting74Progression67Visuals0

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#11Stronghold 3 Gold

iRank36

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalFantasyBase BuildingManagement

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, while skipping turn-based strategy

Stronghold 3: Gold is the long-awaited third installment in the award winning castle-building series. Set 10 years after the original, the Wolf it seems, has cheated death and during his painful recovery he’s become even more bitter and twisted. Now he seeks revenge.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: visuals and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly negative, against mostly positive for Empire of the Ants.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression95Combat72Game mode71Setting28Visuals0

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Steam

#12Total War: Shogun 2

iRank91

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalRanged

Steam👍 92%· 67KIGDB88· 4

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

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with ranged combat, historical setting and setting medieval, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: setting and visuals.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat76Game mode74Setting0Visuals0

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Steam

#13Ironclad TacticsClosest on setting

iRank68

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalSci-FiFantasy

Steam👍 69%· 625MC69IGDB65· 2

Year 2013Dev ZachtronicsPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Android

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with card game strategy, vibe casual and historical setting, while skipping adventure storytelling

Ironclad Tactics is a fast-paced, card-based tactics game set in an alternate history Civil War - with steam-powered military robots!Key Features:Includes the 'Rise of Dmitry' and 'Blood and Ironclads' add-on campaigns! No microtransactions!

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Empire of the Ants.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Setting78Game mode74Tone0

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Steam PS itch.io

#14Victoria II

iRank87

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalManagementSandbox World

Steam👍 92%· 20KIGDB76· 1

Year 2010Dev Paradox InteractiveOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, sandbox world and historical setting, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: setting and game mode.

It predates Empire of the Ants by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression63Game mode49Setting0

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Steam

#15Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

iRank88

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 95%· 178KRAWG👍 88%· 307MC85IGDB78· 3

Year 2019Dev Forgotten Empires · Microsoft StudiosPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox

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

≠ Stands apart with ranged combat, historical setting and setting medieval, while skipping turn-based strategy

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition celebrates the 20th anniversary of one of the most popular strategy games ever with stunning 4K Ultra HD graphics, a new and fully remastered soundtrack, and brand-new content, “The Last Khans” with 3 new campaigns and 4 new civilizations.

Where it drifts furthest from Empire of the Ants: setting and visuals.

Genre100Progression100Game mode75Combat74Setting0Visuals0

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Steam

Complete list of tactical games like Empire of the Ants

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Empire of the Ants, 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.