11 RPG Games like Rise of Nations to Play RN! [2024]

Rise of Nations is a real-time strategy video game that is centered around the concept of territory. It features 18 civilizations spanning eight ages of world history.

If you've loved the genre of the rise of nations and want to play more real-time strategy or RTS Games Like Rise of Nations, then you've landed at the right place!

Here, we have curated a list of the best Rise of Nations alternatives you can enjoy playing. So, keep on reading the article.

List of Games like Rise of Nations:

1. Age of Empires 4

Age of Empires IV is an RTS (real-time strategy) video game, the fourth installment of the Age of Empire series.

This game is set from the Early Middle Ages to the Renaissance and currently has eight civilizations. In this, you have to build cities, manage resources, and lead your troops to battle on sea and at land in 4 different campaigns and with 35 missions.

Key Highlights

• Players have to compete against each other online and participate in real-time combats.
• As of now, it has eight new civilizations, each with exclusive technologies, strengths, and play styles.
• It has historically accurate civilizations, events, and technologies, thus providing players with authentic experience.
• Single-player campaign spans various civilizations.
• Players can create exclusive armies that mirror their play style.
• Offers various game modes with more strategic depth and replayability.

2. Empire Earth

Empire Earth is a series of real-time strategy video games that uses 3D graphics. Players need to collect resources to develop buildings, create citizens, and defeat opposing civilizations.

Like Rise of Nations, Empire Earth spans 500,000 years of human history and features 14 epochs, starting with the prehistoric age and finishing with the nano age.

Key Highlights

• Ability to play through a 500,000-year campaign, starting from the prehistoric age to the nano age.
• Technologies for improving farming and hospitals are available to enhance your civilization.
• You must construct and enhance structures, manage resources, and train armies to guard their empire and defeat other civilizations.
• Create your own maps and situations or play through the Empire Earth's built-in circumstances.
• It has dynamic weather and terrain that can affect your gameplay.

3. StarCraft 2

StarCarft II: Wings of Liberty is another real-time strategy video game that revolves around three species – the Zerg, the Terrans, and the Protoss. These three races have their own personalities and playstyle with specialized units and buildings.

All you need to do is to gather minerals and gas to construct structures and enhance your technology. Now, spend these minerals and gas to gather a powerful army to overcome your opponents.

Key Highlights

• It has a spectator mode that let you watch and learn from high-level matches and tournaments.
• Ability to choose among three races that have their own weaknesses and strengths.
• It requires advanced tactics and strategy to defeat your opponents.
• You can create your own custom maps and game modes.
• StarCraft II comprises new and returning characters and locations from the original game.

4. Zero-K

Just like all the games like Rise of Nations mentioned in this article, Zero-K is also an RTS video that aims to be dynamic and action-packed.

In this game, players have a ‘Commander' that act as their avatar, which they can use to build a base of operations from which they can conquer other bases. You can upgrade your commander with new modules and weapons as the game progresses.

Key Highlights

• Includes two resources – Energy and Metal, which can be used to construct and repair buildings and units.
• Has 100+ various units with unique abilities, units, and playstyles.
• It has advanced AI, which easily lets you create large armies and bases.
• Offers sophisticated strategies like ordering a constructor to develop several buildings, queuing up many units, or ordering a factory to build planes that automatically patrol a route.
• In Multiplayer mode, you can compete against each other in-real battles.

6. Northgard

Northgard is a real-time strategy game set in a fantasy Viking world where the Viking clan tries to control a wild continent. It is a story-based campaign that has missions of increasing difficulty and complication.

In this game, as a player, you play as Rig – a prince who wants to avenge his father's death. So, you sail to the island of Northgard to fulfill your mission. In this process, you'll meet other clans and creatures.

Key Highlights

• It comprises exploration, resource management, combat, and diplomacy.
• Has 11 campaign chapters for which you must master the specificities of the first six clans.
• You can choose from different Viking clans, which have their own bonuses and playstyle.
• You have to balance your clan's needs, like food and housing.
• It features different win conditions like building a great city, military domination, and exploring new lands.

7. World in Conflict

World in Conflict is another best game like Rise of Nation, whose story takes place in an alternative world. In this game, economic collapse and failure to get assistance diplomatically from the west caused the Soviet Union to invade Western Europe, which resulted in World War III.

So, it contains three factions – the Soviet Union, the United States, and NATO. You can play a single-player campaign as NATO and US forces, whereas all three factions can be used in Multiplayer gameplay.

Key Highlights

• You'll get a pre-determined number of reinforcement points along with which to buy units with variable costs.
• It has intense and fast-paced battles with players commanding various ground and air units.
• World in Conflict is mainly known for its incredible graphics, realistic unit animations, and detailed environments.
• You can participate in either a solo match of 20 missions or multiplayer scenario with up to 15 other players.

8. Age of Empires 3

Like Age of Empires IV, Age Empires III is also an RTS video game and is the third game of the Age of Empire series. It portrays the European colonization of the Americas between 1492 and 1876 AD.

Here, you, as a player, have to build town center or a vehicle that will build into an armed explorer. Then, explore the map and start gathering the resources to help develop extra units and research upgrades or technologies. 

Key Highlights

• Has incredible 4K ultra-HD graphics along with modernized gameplay.
• Features competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes like Deathmatch and Treaty.
• You can earn points by specific actions like creating buildings, training units, and killing enemy units.
• It has detailed graphics and large battle scenes with several units.

9. Warcraft 3

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos is another game like Rise of Nations, which lets the story of the Burning Legion's effort to conquer the fictional world of Azeroth with the assistance of an army of the Undead.

As a player, you have to train individual units and heroes, gather resources, and construct bases to achieve multiple goals and to defeat the enemy player.

Key Highlights

• In this game, the map is hidden from view and can only be visible through exploration.
• Offer over 62 single-player missions across beyond and Azeroth.
• Warcraft 3 combines real-time strategy games with role-playing games like the capability to level up hero units.
• Multiplayer mode supports up to 12 players in co-operative and competitive modes.
• It has incredible graphics and an immersive soundtrack that bring the game's world to life.

10. Knights of Honor

Knights of Honor is an RTS game that takes place in Medieval Europe comprising the early centuries of the second millennium in three historical time periods.

You can have the ability to play as one of over 100 playable kingdoms, from Scandinavia to Africa and from Ireland to the Caucasus. And the map is allocated into different parts of land called provinces.

Key Highlights

• Each province on the map is ruled by a city and includes multiple rural areas like farms, coast towns, monasteries, and towns.
• Gather three kinds of resources that you can spend on various upgrades.
• It features both military and diplomatic choices to expand your empire along with trade, alliances, and warfare.
• You must make decisions and execute actions in real time.

11. Crusader Kings 3

Crusader Kings III is another Rise of Nations alternative set in the Middle Ages. You, as a player, start the character in either 867 or 1066.

Overall, players developed a dynasty over the centuries, with the game ending in 1453. It has 3D-rendered character models with traits that affect their stats and behavior.

Key Highlights

• You can create and control your medieval dynasty with family members with unique personalities, traits, and relationships.
• Navigate complex political relationships, form alliances, make deals to achieve their goals, and secure their power.
• Religion and culture are the main aspects of the game.
• Engage in wars, build and upgrade your armies, and conquer new territories to increase your power and influence.

FAQs: Games like Rise of Nations

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