Rise of Nations

Rise of Nations (2003)

by Big Huge Games, Microsoft Game Studios
Genres:Strategy, Real Time Strategy (RTS), Quiz/Trivia
Themes:Fantasy, Historical, Warfare
Game modes:Single player, Multiplayer
Story:Combining the deep tactical elements of turn-based strategy games with the rapid gameplay of real-time strategy, Rise of Nations puts you in command of one of 18 civilizations over the course of thousands of years of history.
user avatarAdded by @DukeNukemForever
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.
12 568
Trailers and screenshots
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Stories about this game (6)
What’s your memory of Rise of Nations?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
user avatar@placeholder

Make sure to follow our Guidelines when adding new Stories.

If not sure what to write:
  • What made this game unforgettable?
  • Who did you play this game with?
  • What made it fun or challenging?
  • Why do you want this game on GOG?
user avatar@Mortarahuser avatar@Mortarah
January 10, 2025
When I was a kid I was really into RTS games (like AoE or C&C series). And trying this game out had me immediately go and introduce it to my brother. The sheer enjoyment of seeing your nation (which one can choose from a plethora of options) grow from a small Bronze Age settlement to a modern superpower, and being able to use units from all these different eras really stuck with me. This one is a true gem in history that deserves to be preserved on GOG.
user avatar@Jonnasuser avatar@Jonnas
January 31, 2025
Rise of Nations feels like a true successor to Age of Empires II. It's simple to get into, it's complex to master, and it features some cool ideas and mechanics for the genre: there's a diplomacy component, the attrition mechanic is pretty clever, there's espionage, and even the Scout component of the game makes it easy and fun to get into. That said, the reason I look so fondly to this game, is because of the hours I spent playing with this really good friend of mine. Those were very fun times, and newer generations deserve to play a really solid, really fun, really well designed RTS.
user avatar@zubnutuser avatar@zubnut
January 29, 2025
This is a criminally underrated RTS, I've played many RTS games after this one and none of them have scratched that itch that Rise of Nations has. I'd love to see this game be preserved on GOG for countless others to play.
I agree that this game is extremely good, but guess what? It's already available on Steam! Having said that, it has many unique features that set it apart from its fellow RTS games, like Age of Empires. As well as the usual technologies and upgrades that you can use to upgrade your civilization through the ages, you can also vote what kind of civilization it should be: a monarchy or a republic? A tyranny or a democracy? Etc. Each of your choices gives you bonuses. You can obviously build wonders of the world (which take a long time but give you dramatic bonuses), and you can take your civilization into the future and win the game. This game is available on Steam, as I said, but it would be awesome to see it on GOG too.
The best, most fun and addictive hybrid real time strategy game that nobody talks about. With AI smarter than Age of Empires II and deeper strategy and progression than StarCraft. This game is the RTS GOAT.
I remember watching my dad playing it and playing with friends when they came over. The fact that it was an RTS that began with slingshots and ended with stralh bombers made it very unique when compared to other games where the tech tree was limited to a narrower time frame.
Those games also need your vote!
Black & White
Black & WhitePlay the role of a deity in a land where the surroundings are yours to shape and its people are yours to lord over. Be an evil, malevolent god and the natives will worship you with fear in their eyes. Play as a kind, benevolent god and they will worship you with love in their hearts. Your actions decide whether you create a heaven or hell for your worshipers. Then select a creature from the land to act as your representative in the world. Raise it to gigantic proportions and teach it to do your bidding--whether the animal grows into an evil colossus of mass destruction or a kind and gentle giant is up to you. Progress through the game's rich storyline performing powerful miracles to battle other deities and become the world's supreme god.
Top
Open world
Sandbox
Top
Open world
Sandbox
90 452
207
Tremulous
TremulousTremulous is a free, open source game that blends a team based FPS with elements of an RTS. Players can choose from 2 unique races, aliens and humans. Players on both teams are able to build working structures in-game like an RTS. These structures provide many functions, the most important being spawning. The designated builders must ensure there are spawn structures or other players will not be able to rejoin the game after death. Other structures provide automated base defense (to some degree), healing functions and much more...
Action
Science fiction
Action
Science fiction
5
1
TrackMania Nations
TrackMania NationsTrackmania Nations ESWC is a version of Trackmania that was released for free in 2006 to be featured in the upcoming Electronic Sports World Cup of that year.
93
Tempest Rising
Tempest RisingClassic RTS action meets modern production and performance in Tempest Rising. Inspired by RTS greats of the 90s and 2000s, Tempest Rising is a classic, base-building real time strategy game set in a modern day alternative history war scenario. It features 3 unique factions, each with its own approach to combat and economy and offering a variety of strategies for players of all stripes, deep and rewarding gameplay that keeps a focus on strategy while rewarding skill, and built-in customization options that allow players to approach the game their way in both single player and multiplayer game modes.
Action
Warfare
Science fiction
Action
Warfare
Science fiction
236
2
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
Dune II: The Building of a DynastyDune II is often considered the first mainstream modern real-time strategy game and established many conventions of the genre. Even though set in Frank Herbert's famous Dune universe, the game is only loosely connected to the plot of any of the books or the films based from them. Controlling either of the three Houses, the player must fight a number of battles against the other Houses. In the early levels, the goal is simply to earn a certain number of credits, while in the later missions, all enemies must be destroyed. The single resource in the game is the Spice, which must be collected by harvesters. The spice is converted to credits in a refinery, which are then spent to construct additional buildings and units. There are two terrain types: buildings can only be constructed on stone, while the Spice is only found on sand. However, units moving on sand attract the large sandworms of Dune, who are virtually indestructible and can swallow even large units whole. As levels progress, new and more advanced buildings and units are made available, including structures like a radar station, a repair facility or defense turrets and, for units, various ground troops, light vehicles and tanks. Each House can construct one unique special unit, and, after building a palace improvement, can unleash a unique palace effect.
Science fiction
Science fiction
34 209
29
The Jak and Daxter Bundle
The Jak and Daxter BundleThe Jak and Daxter Bundle is a compilation of the first four main instalments in the Jak and Daxter series: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II: Renegade, Jak 3, and Jak X: Combat Racing.
Open world
Action
Comedy
Open world
Action
Comedy
575
1
Black & White 2
Black & White 2In the game, the player takes the role of a god called from the void (nothingness) to help those who invoked them. However, the player is not an omnipotent style god, but rather a god who rises and falls with his believers and the player must help develop their nature according to their good or evil desires. The player also has a creature, their physical representation in the world, which takes the form of an anthropomorphic ape, lion, wolf, turtle, cow, or tiger. Its physical manifestation can grow to an immense size, and adopt a good or evil persona separate of the player's. They develop their character as the player rewards or punishes their actions. In addition to the god simulation and city-building elements introduced in the original Black & White, Black & White 2 also features elements of real-time strategy gameplay, with the addition of controllable warfare and fighting units.
Top
Action
Fantasy
Comedy
Sandbox
Top
Action
Fantasy
Comedy
Sandbox
75 638
68
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earthThe players control the heroes or villians from the famous Lord of The Rings movies. With a hero characters similar to the Warcraft series you control both the armies and all the unique heroes. The game follows the movies very closely and even got scenes from the films appear in game. Not only does the game contain a giant campaign where you play through the journey of the ring as the good side, the game also features an evil campaign where as the players play as the evil forces of Middle Earth. With multiple diffrent races from all over Middle Earth, a giant spell tree to customize your game and a unique basebuilding layout the game was great for its time.
Top
Fantasy
Warfare
Top
Fantasy
Warfare
52 339
172
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Essentials
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: EssentialsTom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Essentials is an action-adventure video game with heavy emphasis on stealth. It is part of the Splinter Cell series and was released for the PlayStation Portable handheld system. It was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft on March 21, 2006 in North America. It is the fourth entry in the series and was powered by Unreal Engine 2.
Action
Science fiction
Stealth
Action
Science fiction
Stealth
381
Banjo-Tooie
Banjo-TooieColossal, immense, and gigantic; beautiful, gorgeous, and grandiose -- these are the words one thinks of when describing Rare's follow-up adventure to Banjo-Kazooie. Keeping consistent with the attitude found in this title, Rare has wittily named it Banjo-Tooie. Banjo-Tooie, simply put, is incredibly unimaginable. The worlds are ludicrous in size, the gameplay is polished and deep, and the soundtrack proves to be an immaculate compliment. When it comes to defining platform-based entertainment, Banjo-Tooie is filled with chapter after chapter of standards. Explore eight giant worlds, solve puzzles and help game characters to unearth jiggys, play as Mumbo, a T-Rex, Submarine, Money-Van, Washing Machine, and more, and learn more than 40 new moves on the way.
Action
Fantasy
Comedy
Action
Fantasy
Comedy
647