9 Best Games Like Age Of Empires: Recommended Alternatives

The echoes of “Wololo” still ring in our ears, don’t they? Age of Empires holds a special place in the hearts of RTS fans, a benchmark for historical strategy and engaging gameplay. But the desire for new conquests and fresh strategic challenges is a powerful one. If you’ve exhausted the ancient battlefields and medieval sieges, you’re in for a treat.

The realm of real-time strategy extends far beyond the epochs we know so well. From fantastical realms to futuristic landscapes, numerous titles capture that core essence of empire building, resource management, and commanding armies.

Ready to expand your strategic horizons? Join us as we delve into a compelling collection of games like Age Of Empires that promise to deliver countless hours of immersive gameplay and the thrill of leading your civilization to glory!

Quick Look: Top Games Like Age of Empires

If you have conquered the ancient world and are looking for a new strategic challenge, these are the best Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games to play next.

• Age of Mythology: The best direct alternative; uses the AoE engine but adds gods, myth units, and divine powers.
• Rise of Nations: Top choice for players who want to guide a civilization from ancient times all the way to the modern information age.
• StarCraft II: The gold standard for fast-paced, competitive sci-fi RTS with three completely unique factions.
• Northgard: Best for fans of Norse mythology who enjoy a blend of clan management and environmental survival.
• Empire Earth: An epic-scale historical RTS covering 14 epochs—from prehistory to a futuristic nano age.
• Iron Harvest: A tactical dieselpunk RTS focused on mech combat and positional warfare in an alternate 1920s Europe.
• Civilization VI: While turn-based, it’s the ultimate alternative for those who love deep, long-term empire building.
• Company of Heroes 2: Best for players who prefer tactical WWII combat and squad management over base building.

Comparison: Strategic Alternatives at a Glance

The “Age of Empires” DNA: Core Gameplay Pillars

1. Historical Progression: The thrill of “aging up” is core to AoE. Games like Rise of Nations and Empire Earth take this further, letting you evolve from spears to stealth bombers.
2. Economic Management: Balancing wood, food, and gold is essential. Northgard and Age of Mythology maintain this focus, requiring you to build a thriving economy to support your war machine.
3. Commanding Diverse Armies: Whether it’s unique civilization bonuses or asymmetrical factions like in StarCraft II, these games demand tactical unit management to overcome your opponents.

Common Questions About Games Like Age of Empires

What is the best game like Age of Empires for free?

0 A.D. is a fantastic, open-source historical RTS that is completely free. StarCraft II also offers its entire first campaign and multiplayer mode for free, making it a high-quality entry point into the genre.

Are there any games like Age of Empires on mobile?

Yes. Northgard offers an excellent mobile experience, and The Battle for Polytopia is a great, simplified 4X alternative. You can also play Civilization VI on mobile if you prefer turn-based strategy.

Which game has the longest timeline?

Empire Earth is unmatched in its scope, covering millions of years of human history across 14 distinct epochs, including a futuristic “Space Age.”

Is Age of Mythology exactly like Age of Empires?

Mostly, yes. It was built by the same developers using a modified AoE engine. The biggest difference is the inclusion of “God Powers” and mythological creatures, which add a layer of fantasy to the historical strategy.

1. StarCraft II: A Sci-Fi Symphony of Strategy

While trading historical empires for interstellar conflict, StarCraft II undeniably resonates with the strategic core that makes games like Age Of Empires so captivating. Instead of managing ancient civilizations, you command one of three distinct, futuristic races: the adaptable Terrans, the hive-minded Zerg, or the technologically advanced Protoss.

Each race boasts unique units, buildings, and tech trees, demanding entirely different strategic approaches – a level of asymmetry that adds incredible depth and replayability, much like the diverse civilizations in Age of Empires.

The gameplay hinges on a familiar yet refined RTS formula. You’ll establish bases, gather resources (minerals and vespene gas), construct a thriving economy, and build armies to outmaneuver and overwhelm your opponents. The fog of war adds a crucial element of scouting and information control, demanding constant vigilance and strategic positioning. Where StarCraft II truly shines is in its fast-paced, dynamic combat and the sheer depth of its strategic possibilities.

The intricate dance of unit compositions, tactical micro-management during battles, and the constant evolution of strategies make each match a thrilling test of intellect and reflexes. While the setting is light-years away from historical empires, the fundamental joy of building a powerful force and outsmarting your opponent remains a powerful similarity to the Age of Empires experience.

2. Civilization VI: Turn-Based Empire Building Through the Ages

Although turn-based, Civilization VI strongly resonates with the empire-building heart of games like Age Of Empires. You guide a civilization from ancient times, making pivotal decisions in research, exploration, diplomacy, and warfare across a vast world.

A key innovation is the “unstacked cities” system, where specialized districts are strategically placed on the map, adding depth to city planning and resource management. The “civics” system, a parallel cultural and political development tree, offers diverse paths to victory.

Like Age Of Empires, the core lies in building a powerful civilization, managing resources (food, production, etc.), advancing through technological and cultural eras, interacting with other powers, and striving for various victory conditions.

While the pace differs due to its turn-based nature, the fundamental satisfaction of leading a civilization’s growth and shaping its destiny provides a similar grand strategic experience to Age of Empires.

3. Company of Heroes 2: Intense Tactical WWII Combat

While focusing on real-time tactical battles rather than empire building, Company of Heroes 2 retains the strategic command familiar to fans of games like Age Of Empires. Set on the Eastern Front, you lead squads, utilizing cover and combined arms to achieve objectives.

Key features include the “TrueSight” line-of-sight system and dynamic weather, like the harsh Russian winter, adding layers of tactical realism. Resource management revolves around capturing strategic points for manpower, fuel, and munitions to reinforce units and deploy support.

Though base-building is absent, the strategic capture of territory for resources creates a similar sense of control. Emphasizing unit preservation, unique abilities, and adapting to the battlefield demands careful tactical thinking akin to managing armies in Age of Empires. Its visceral, historical combat offers a distinct yet satisfying strategic experience for those who enjoy commanding units in games like Age Of Empires.

4. Rise of Nations: Epic History, Streamlined Empire Building

Rise of Nations captures the historical empire-building essence of games like Age Of Empires on a grander scale, guiding your nation from ancient times to modernity.

It streamlines economy and territory with city networks and resource control within your borders. National borders provide strategic advantages. The extensive tech tree offers a clear progression through historical ages, unlocking new possibilities, similar to Age of Empires’ advancements but across a wider timeline.

Like Age Of Empires, you build your economy, advance through eras, develop armies, and wage war to expand. Rise of Nations often features larger maps and more simultaneous action. Diverse nations with unique powers enhance replayability, echoing the varied civilizations in Age of Empires. For fans of historical sweep and empire building in games like Age Of Empires seeking a more expansive yet streamlined experience, Rise of Nations delivers.

5. Iron Harvest: Dieselpunk Tactics in Alternate History

Iron Harvest blends alternate history with RTS mechanics similar to games like Age Of Empires, emphasizing tactical mech combat. Set in post-WWI Europe with giant war machines, it focuses on positional warfare and managing iron and oil resources to control the map.

Its unique dieselpunk art style and powerful mechs define the battlefield, requiring specific counters. Base-building is limited to key resource points and defenses. However, strategically capturing and defending these points, alongside infantry and mech management, offers a similar sense of territorial control.

Like games like Age Of Empires, it involves resource gathering, building a force, and combat. Despite the fictional setting and unit types, strategic planning, unit strengths, and economic management resonate with Age Of Empires’ core gameplay. Its methodical pace and tactical positioning provide a different yet appealing strategic depth.

6. Northgard: Norse Clan Strategy and Survival

Northgard blends city-building, resource management, and RTS in a Norse mythology setting, sharing resource gathering and territorial expansion with games like Age Of Empires, but with a clan focus. You lead Vikings settling a harsh new land.

Unique elements include managing villager happiness, surviving harsh winters, and balancing various professions. Territorial expansion is vital, with each tile offering resources. While military conflict exists, victory can also be achieved through lore, trade, or area control.

Similar to games like Age Of Empires, you explore, settle, manage resources, and compete. However, Northgard emphasizes smaller clan management, environmental survival, and diverse victory paths, offering a distinct yet appealing strategic experience for fans of empire-building.

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7. Age of Mythology: Myth and Empire Collide

As an Age of Empires spin-off, Age of Mythology shares its core gameplay but adds a mythological twist to games like Age Of Empires. You gather resources, build bases, and advance through ages with Greek, Egyptian, or Norse cultures, each with unique units, techs, and powerful gods.

The key difference is the integration of mythology. Gaining favor with your gods lets you summon myth units and cast game-changing god powers, adding strategic depth beyond historical warfare. While the economy is familiar, god powers and myth units offer unique advantages and require specific counters.

The similarities to games like Age Of Empires are clear in the RTS basics and progression. However, Age of Mythology’s mythology creates a faster, more dynamic experience with epic clashes of human and mythical forces, enhanced by divine intervention. It’s a natural and highly recommended evolution for Age of Empires fans seeking a fantastical strategic experience.

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8. Empire Earth: Epic Historical Span and Evolution

Empire Earth expands on the historical progression of games like Age Of Empires, covering an immense timeline from prehistoric to nano ages, showcasing a vast evolution of warfare and technology.

Its key feature is the sheer number of epochs, each unlocking new units, buildings, and strategies. “Hero” units with special abilities and territorial control through strategic buildings are also emphasized. While resource management is familiar, the long tech tree and diverse units across eras offer great strategic depth. You’ll progress from cavemen to futuristic forces within a single game.

Like games like Age Of Empires, it involves resource gathering, base building, tech advancement, and conquest. However, Empire Earth’s incredibly broad historical scope and unit variety provide an epic and comprehensive historical journey, appealing to those who enjoy the historical sweep and long-term strategy of Age Of Empires but want an even more expansive experience.

9. Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak: Ground Tactics in a Desert War

Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, a prequel to the space RTS, brings strategic resource management and tactical unit control to a ground battlefield, offering a familiar feel for fans of games like Age Of Empires. Set on desert planet Kharak, you command land and air vehicles in a story-driven campaign of exploration and survival.

Its unique mobile command center serves as your base, requiring strategic positioning. Resource gathering involves capturing and holding map points for territorial control. The game emphasizes unit positioning, terrain use, and combined arms tactics. Your persistent fleet adds strategic weight to decisions.

Similar to games like Age Of Empires, it features RTS mechanics like resource acquisition, base development (mobile), unit production, and combat. While lacking static bases, the mobile command center’s importance and resource zone control echo Age Of Empires’ management. Commanding diverse units and strategic maneuvers provides a familiar strategic engagement in a unique desert setting.

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