Hey guys, I've really been craving some RTT/RTB games lately.

I loved Gorky 17, JA series, etc.. but I still consider myself new to the genre. It was only until recently that I became somewhat smart enough to actually play these games.

I was wondering if you guys could recommend some games I would enjoy.

A few things, though...I hate time limits, ie if there is a mission or two that is timed its okay, but if every mission is "do this before this happens NOW!!!" and you can't sit and think about your next move that game would be at the bottom of my list.

The release of Battle Isle spurred me to ask.

I'm in the library writing a paper, so if I don't respond immediately it is because I am trying to sqeeze some words out of my dense head.

Basically just list some games and why you like them. Thanks.

Give a try if you don't mind playing with other people. Check out the [url=http://www.gog.com/en/forum/general/darkwind/]GOG thread for more information.

If you want a good, free clone of UFO ET, check out UFO Alien Invasion.

From GOG, I highly recommend Panzer General 2 and Lords of the Realm, which are crazily addictive.

Any UFO type game is always welcome. Forgot to mention I have the originals and the spiritual successor here on GOG. So, yeah, right up my alley.

Darkwind also seems promising, though because it is with a community I will most likely wait until school is out, as I hate making promises then having something come up (such as saying you'll be online, then realizing you have a paper do...much like today)

So thanks, and keep 'em coming guys!

- Age of Empires 1 and 2: great RTS games. 4 resources, 4 ages to achieve, dozen of civilizations, nice maps, high res graphics (first one supports even 1024x768), ancient (aoe) or medieval (aoe2) theme, good multiplayer

- Heroes 3 - no comment

- Settlers 2 - My personal favourite of Settlers series. It has quite deep economic layer, with simple but entertaining combat system. It's real time strategy. Graphics are very nice, it is possible to set up high res in options.

- Starcraft

- Company of Heroes

- Stronghold and Stronghold: Crusader (nice looking castle building/siege/defense strategy with nice economic layer)

- Chess

Not sure what RTB stands for, but here are some games worth considering:
Commandos 2
King's Bounty (inc Crossworlds GotY)
Jagged Alliance 2

I don't wish to offend anyone with this blasphemy, but I have never actually played any HoMM Games...ever. I will definitly change this, though.

thanks for the recommendz. RTB stands for I am returdded and caint spel. I meant Turn Based Tactics TBT. I haven't slept well the past 3 weeks.

Totally forgot about Commandos. Now there is one game I did try to play back in the day. Maybe I can actually beat it this time.

Commandos 2 is a bit easier. Enough to make it possible at least. That's one of the reasons I recommended if over the first. The fact that all your commandos can do fairly common tasks like swim and drive does help. You can also loot Nazis for some better firepower.

Not that you should need it. The cigarettes are as lethal as ever.

Are you looking for games more like C&C or is this strictly about squad based games? Either way Original War is worth a look.

I'm thinking more squad based, such as commandos, but also hexed based or similar.
"If a unit has x weapon they must be x spaces away to hit" sort of games. Like Gorky 17.
There was one game I was interested in that was made by the same people who made Fantasy Wars and Elven Legacy, but it was set in a Sci Fi setting. For the life of me I cannot remember the name, though it is on Gamersgate somewhere.


I am no stranger to RTS's and original war was worth it. Awesome game.

Oh yeah, Elven Legacy. I forgot to mention that one.

Dawn of War 2 might be worth considering. Despite Relic calling it an RTS it's plainly a squad based real time tactical game. It also has vaguely action RPG leanings with levelling up and loot.

Definitely Fallout Tactics, if you have not played it yet.
Also, battles in Fallout 1 and 2 and Arcanum can be played as squad based TBS, if you go for a high charisma/lots of followers build.
Icewind Dale 1&2 can also be viewed as a kind of squad-based tactical games, considering how fighting-heavy they are.
If you like Panzer General type games, check Battle for Wesnoth - it is an open source free game, but IMO it has the polish of a well developed paid title.

If you can find any of the Close Combat series*, those were good squad-level RTT games. Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far was one of my favorites. I think you can still find copies on amazon of the series - they're all old games though, not GOGified, so no guarantee that it would work on newer systems.

*I should add that these are the old Atomic/MS games from the mid-90's to 2000 - it appears there is a new series calling itself Close Combat, but these are by a different dev/pub team.

Consider giving Dawn of War (along with it's 3 expansions) a go. Bear in mind, however, that DoW plays nothing like DoW 2 (which, I'm guessing, you are more likely to be familiar with) - it's a fast-paced tactical game, and it's damn unforgiving; losing a match in the first five minutes is nothing out of the ordinary here. Every unit has a purpose and you need to be on your toes from the very beginning, because DoW promotes an aggressive play style and as the old saying goes: "map control is everything".

In sharp contrast to it's successor, DoW doesn't go easy on the player - no "retreat buttons", AI generals and all those lame-ass features for sunday gamers only. Here, you need to micromanage your every unit and do the thinking for yourself. DoW is easy to learn, yet difficult to master, but let me assure you - once you get into it, there's no escape.

As an aside (should you decide to give DoW a go), visit this page -> http://wh40k.ei8ht.net/ (and be sure to check out the forums as well, tons of downloadable goodies in there): it's a huge archive of DoW banners and badges, which you can freely customize all by yourself, just to give your troops a distinct feel. :)

I didn't care much for Dawn of War. The story didn't interest me all that much. All I remember is that I beat the original, then moved onto winter assualt and couldn't get past the first mission.

Thanks for the recommendation, however.

I don't know if my computer could run the second one.

Genre1 - Genre2 - Genre3 - Game
Strategy - Real-Time - Tactical - Commandos 2+3
Strategy - Real-Time - Tactical - Commandos Ammo Pack
Strategy - Real-Time - Tactical - Soldiers: Heroes of World War II
Strategy - Turn Based - Chess - Battle Chess Special Edition
Strategy - Turn Based - Chess - Chessmaster 9000
Strategy - Turn Based - Chess - Combat Chess
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Age Of Wonders
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Age of Wonders II : The Wizards Throne
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Disciples 2 Gold
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Disciples: Sacred Lands Gold
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Fantasy Wars
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Heroes of Might and Magic
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Heroes of Might and Magic 2: Gold Edition
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Heroes of Might and Magic 3: Complete Edition
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Heroes Of Might And Magic 4 Complete Edition
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Lords of Magic: Special Edition
Strategy - Turn Based - Fantasy - Master of Magic
Strategy - Turn Based - Historical - Call to Power 2
Strategy - Turn Based - Historical - Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord
Strategy - Turn Based - Historical - Conquest of the New World
Strategy - Turn Based - Historical - Panzer General 2
Strategy - Turn Based - Historical - Strategic Command: European Theater
Strategy - Turn Based - Modern - Jagged Alliance
Strategy - Turn Based - Modern - Jagged Alliance 2
Strategy - Turn Based - Modern - Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business
Strategy - Turn Based - Modern - Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire
Strategy - Turn Based - Modern - Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games
Strategy - Turn Based - Sci-Fi - Battle Isle Platinum
Strategy - Turn Based - Sci-Fi - M.A.X. + M.A.X. 2
Strategy - Turn Based - Sci-Fi - Master of Orion 3

I just had my mind blown...