StarCraft

35 RTS games like StarCraft that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to StarCraft down to the 35 that fit the “RTS” category. Oil Rush, Gratuitous Space Battles and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to StarCraft.

iRank88/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

Tags

SoloMultiplayer

Year 1998Dev Blizzard Entertainment

Quick answer

Within the “RTS” category, the closest game to StarCraft is Oil Rush — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Gratuitous Space Battles and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars follow close behind.

#1Oil Rush95 #2Gratuitous Space Battles94 #3Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars94 #4Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time92 #5Cubemen92

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The best rTS games like StarCraft

35 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to StarCraft. Each one has been evaluated across 10 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.

95

Oil Rush

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerSci-FiIsometricPost-Apocalyptic

Steam👍 58%· 535RAWG👍 13%· 54MC67IGDB50· 2

Year 2012Dev UniginePlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with real-time strategy, tower defense planning and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: post-apocalyptic world, while skipping combat tactical

#2Gratuitous Space Battles

94

Gratuitous Space Battles

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerMeleeTacticalSci-FiIsometric

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

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

✓ Same family of tower defense games: real-time strategy, tower defense planning and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, turn-based strategy and sandbox freedom, while skipping loot and gear systems

#3Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

94

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerMeleeTacticalSci-FiIsometric

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, tower defense planning and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, strong narrative focus and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping loot and gear systems

#4Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

92

Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalSci-FiDark

IGDB80· 1

Year 2013Dev PopCap Games · Electronic ArtsOn Android · iOS

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with real-time strategy, tower defense planning and combat tactical

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

92

Cubemen

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerIsometric

Steam👍 71%· 509RAWG👍 18%· 28MC74

Year 2012Dev 3 SprocketsPlaytime ~1hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Nearly identical: tower defense planning, real-time strategy and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: combat tactical.

#6Infested Planet

89

Infested Planet

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalMeleeSci-FiIsometric

Steam👍 94%· 3.0KRAWG👍 59%· 44MC75OC77· 10

Year 2013Dev Rocket Bear GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with real-time strategy, tower defense planning and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with visual topdown and visual 2d, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

#7AI War: Fleet Command

89

AI War: Fleet Command

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeSci-FiIsometric

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, tower defense planning and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, turn-based strategy and punishing difficulty, while skipping loot and gear systems

#8Stronghold Crusader

88

Stronghold Crusader

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeIsometric

Steam👍 98%· 21KIGDB80· 1

Year 2002Dev Firefly Studios · Take-Two InteractiveOn PC

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing real-time strategy, tower defense planning and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping setting scifi

#9Stronghold HD (2012)

88

Stronghold HD (2012)

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalIsometricNarrative

Steam👍 96%· 10KRAWG👍 82%· 310MC81

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

✓ Same family of tower defense games: real-time strategy, tower defense planning and combat tactical

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

88

Stronghold

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 10K

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

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing real-time strategy, tower defense planning and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus, while skipping setting scifi

#11Defense Grid: The Awakening

88

Defense Grid: The Awakening

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalSci-FiIsometric

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, real-time strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, while skipping melee combat

#12Harvest: Massive Encounter

87

Harvest: Massive Encounter

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloSci-FiBase Building

Steam👍 79%· 162

Year 2008Dev Oxeye Game StudioPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of tower defense games: tower defense planning, real-time strategy and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: base building, while skipping combat tactical

#13Clash Royale

86

Clash Royale

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

MultiplayerTacticalIsometricFantasyMedieval

Year 2016Dev SupercellOn Android · iOS

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with real-time strategy, tower defense planning and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: card game strategy, fantasy world and setting medieval, while skipping melee combat

#14Clash of Clans

85

Clash of Clans

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerIsometricCo-opFantasy

Year 2012Dev SupercellOn Android · iOS

✓ Same family of tower defense games: real-time strategy, tower defense planning and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world, co op and free to play, while skipping combat tactical

#15Swords and Soldiers HD

84

Swords and Soldiers HD

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerOfflineCasual2D

Steam👍 78%· 1.1KRAWG👍 27%· 138IGDB85· 2

Year 2010Dev Ronimo GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Nintendo

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing real-time strategy, tower defense planning and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: vibe casual, offline and visual 2d, while skipping combat tactical

Complete list of rTS games like StarCraft

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with StarCraft, 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.

Bad North

Bad North

Turn-Based Strat · Simulation

Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition

Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition

Simulation · Sandbox

iBomber Defense Pacific

iBomber Defense Pacific

Tower Defense · RTS

Atom Zombie Smasher

Atom Zombie Smasher

Tower Defense · Sandbox

Revenge of the Titans

Revenge of the Titans

Tower Defense · RTS

Unholy Heights

Unholy Heights

Simulation · RTS

Robowars

Robowars

Tower Defense · RTS

iBomber Defense

iBomber Defense

Tower Defense · RTS

Plants vs. Zombies

Plants vs. Zombies

Tower Defense · Puzzle

Anomaly: Warzone Earth

Anomaly: Warzone Earth

RTS · Tower Defense

Defenders of Ardania

Defenders of Ardania

Tower Defense · RTS

Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense

Tower Defense · RTS

Castle Story

Castle Story

Simulation · Sandbox

StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

RTS

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

RTS

Homeworld

Homeworld

RTS · Adventure

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

RTS

Star Wars: Empire at War

Star Wars: Empire at War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Command & Conquer: Generals

Command & Conquer: Generals

RTS

Command & Conquer

Command & Conquer

RTS

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