37 RTS games like Stronghold HD (2012) that you should try

Games like Stronghold HD (2012) · Find similar →

We filtered the 50 games similar to Stronghold HD (2012) down to the 37 that fit the “RTS” category. Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader and Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Stronghold HD (2012).

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

The best rTS games like Stronghold HD (2012)

37 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Stronghold HD (2012). Each one has been evaluated across 18 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.

#1Stronghold

iRank96

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldMedievalHistoricalFantasyBase BuildingManagementExplorationIsometric2D

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: melee combat and ranged combat

Details →

Steam

#2Stronghold Crusader

iRank92

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalSandbox WorldHistoricalMedievalFantasyBase BuildingManagementIsometric2D

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 and ranged combat, while skipping strong narrative focus

Details →

Steam

#3Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition

iRank83

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

MultiplayerNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldMedievalHistoricalBase BuildingManagementExplorationIsometric2D

Steam👍 86%· 10KRAWG👍 79%· 23

Year 2023Dev FireFly StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy.

≠ Missing: combat tactical.

Details →

Steam

#4Gratuitous Space Battles

iRank58

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalSandbox WorldIsometric2D

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, punishing difficulty and melee combat, while skipping strong narrative focus

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldOpen WorldHistoricalMedievalBase BuildingExplorationIsometric

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 survival mechanics, adventure storytelling and combat magic, while skipping strong narrative focus

Details →

Steam

#6Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalNarrativeHistoricalBase 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: melee combat, setting scifi and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping sandbox freedom

Details →

Steam Xbox

#7Defense 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 sandbox freedom

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldBase BuildingManagement2D

Steam👍 89%· 1.6KRAWG👍 30%· 20IGDB80· 1OC66· 10

Year 2013Dev Teyon · AGM PLAYISMPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Nintendo

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

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, turn-based strategy and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping sandbox freedom

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTactical2DDarkCasual

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, survival mechanics and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping sandbox freedom

Details →

Steam Xbox

#10AI War: Fleet Command

iRank69

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalOpen WorldExplorationIsometric

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, punishing difficulty and melee combat, while skipping sandbox freedom

Details →

Steam GOG

#11Atom Zombie Smasher

iRank70

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloMultiplayerTacticalSandbox WorldIsometric

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 dark, oppressive atmosphere, vibe casual and procedural generation, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam

#12Bad North

iRank81

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 adventure storytelling, while skipping sandbox freedom

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#13Stronghold 2: Steam Edition

iRank81

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalSandbox WorldOpen WorldMedievalHistoricalBase BuildingManagementExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 89%· 5.6KRAWG👍 68%· 40

Year 2005Dev FireFly Studios · 2K GamesOn PC

✓ Shared with Stronghold HD (2012): real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings visual topdown, while skipping tower defense planning

Details →

Steam

#14Crusader Kings III

iRank89

GenreStrategySubgenreGrand Strategy

SoloMultiplayerTacticalNarrativeSandbox WorldMedievalHistoricalManagementIsometric

Steam👍 90%· 140KRAWG👍 89%· 465MC86IGDB91· 3OC90· 94

Year 2020Dev Paradox Developement Studios · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~12hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Stronghold HD (2012), expect deep simulation, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping tower defense planning

Details →

Steam

#15Stellaris

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalNarrativeSandbox WorldHistoricalExplorationManagementIsometric

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

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

✓ Like Stronghold HD (2012), it's known for real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, procedural generation and setting space, while skipping tower defense planning

Details →

Steam GOG

Complete list of rTS games like Stronghold HD (2012)

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Stronghold HD (2012), 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.