What is the best game similar to Rise of Nations?

The closest game to Rise of Nations is Medieval II: Total War, scoring 95/100 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 Rise of Nations?

The three closest games to Rise of Nations are: 1. Medieval II: Total War (95/100, 8 shared attributes) 2. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 (95/100, 6 shared attributes) 3. World in Conflict (94/100, 5 shared attributes). All share Rise of Nations's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 9 dimensions.

Is Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 similar to Rise of Nations?

Yes, very much so — Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 scores 95/100 similarity to Rise of Nations. They share 6 attributes, including real-time strategy and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What RTS games are similar to Rise of Nations?

The best RTS games similar to Rise of Nations are Medieval II: Total War, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, World in Conflict and Rome: Total War. All share the RTS genre alongside other key Rise of Nations attributes like real-time strategy, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

How is similarity to Rise of Nations calculated?

We compare Rise of Nations against every game in our catalog using 9 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 Rise of Nations experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like Rise of Nations that you should try

Games like Rise of Nations · Find similar →

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Few titles capture what makes Rise of Nations unique: real-time strategy, combat tactical and fantasy world. After measuring 9 attributes across over 6,700 games, these are the 50 most faithful alternatives. Medieval II: Total War, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and World in Conflict top the ranking, with Medieval II: Total War at number one (95/100).

iRank87/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

Top games similar to Rise of Nations

50 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Rise of Nations. Each one has been evaluated across 9 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, while skipping fantasy world

Details →

Steam

#2Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

iRank90

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerFantasyHistoricalIsometric

IGDB90· 1

Year 2000Dev Westwood Pacific · Electronic ArtsOn PC

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

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

Details →

#3World in Conflict

iRank94

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 →

#4Rome: 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 fantasy world

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerFantasyMedievalIsometric

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, fantasy world and setting medieval

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, base building and resource management, while skipping combat tactical

Details →

Steam GOG

#6Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalRangedHistoricalMedievalIsometric

IGDB80· 3

Year 1999Dev Ensemble Studios · KonamiOn PC · Mac

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

≠ Missing: fantasy world.

Details →

#7Stronghold 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, while skipping fantasy world

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

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 fantasy world

Details →

Steam

#10Napoleon: Total War

iRank89

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalFantasyIsometric

Steam👍 92%· 27KIGDB83· 3

Year 2010Dev The Creative Assembly · Feral InteractiveOn PC · Mac

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

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy and melee combat, while skipping ranged combat

Details →

Steam

#11Europa 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

Details →

Steam

#12The 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

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

#14Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

iRank93

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalFantasyIsometric

IGDB93· 4

Year 2002Dev Blizzard Entertainment · Sierra EntertainmentOn PC · Mac

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

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, loot and gear systems and skill tree progression, while skipping ranged combat

Details →

#15Total 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, while skipping fantasy world

Details →

Steam

Complete list of Rise of Nations alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Rise of Nations, 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.

Dawn of Discovery

RTS · Simulation

Grand Ages: Rome

RTS · Simulation

Stronghold 2: Steam Edition

RTS · Simulation

Victoria II

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

RTS · Simulation

The Guild II

RTS · Simulation

Pikmin 3

RTS · Adventure

Cossacks: European Wars

RTS

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RTS · Simulation

Medieval: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

RTS

Homeworld

RTS · Adventure

Star Wars: Empire at War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

RTS

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

RTS

Command & Conquer: Red Alert

RTS

Impossible Creatures Steam Edition

RTS · Simulation

Europa Universalis IV

RTS · Simulation

Command & Conquer: Generals

RTS

Football Club Simulator - FCS #21

RTS · Sports

Empire: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Age of Mythology: Extended Edition

RTS · Simulation

Stellaris

RTS · Simulation

Total War: WARHAMMER II

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Stonehearth

RTS · Simulation

Total War: Attila

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

East India Company

RTS · Simulation

Knights and Merchants

RTS · Simulation

Company of Heroes - Legacy Edition

RTS

Empire Earth

RTS

Hearthlands

RTS · Simulation

Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Commander: Conquest of the Americas

RTS · Simulation

Age of Mythology

RTS

Anno 1602: Creation of a New World

RTS · Simulation

Explore games similar to Rise of Nations by category

Rankings in the same genre

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Rise of Nations?: The closest game to Rise of Nations is Medieval II: Total War, scoring 95/100 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 Rise of Nations?: The three closest games to Rise of Nations are: 1. Medieval II: Total War (95/100, 8 shared attributes) 2. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 (95/100, 6 shared attributes) 3. World in Conflict (94/100, 5 shared attributes). All share Rise of Nations's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 9 dimensions.
Is Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 similar to Rise of Nations?: Yes, very much so — Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 scores 95/100 similarity to Rise of Nations. They share 6 attributes, including real-time strategy and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RTS games are similar to Rise of Nations?: The best RTS games similar to Rise of Nations are Medieval II: Total War, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, World in Conflict and Rome: Total War. All share the RTS genre alongside other key Rise of Nations attributes like real-time strategy, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.
How is similarity to Rise of Nations calculated?: We compare Rise of Nations against every game in our catalog using 9 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 Rise of Nations experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.