Real-time strategy

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Real-time strategy (RTS) is a subgenre of strategy video games where the game does not progress incrementally in turns. This genre is distinguished by its continuous gameplay, where players must make decisions and execute actions in real-time.

Gameplay[edit | edit source]

In real-time strategy games, players typically control multiple units and structures, managing resources, building bases, and commanding armies to defeat opponents. The core elements of RTS games include:

**Resource Management**: Players gather resources such as gold, wood, and food to build units and structures.
**Base Building**: Players construct buildings that produce units, provide upgrades, and offer defensive capabilities.
**Unit Control**: Players command individual units or groups of units to explore, attack, and defend.
**Technology Trees**: Players research technologies to unlock new units, structures, and abilities.

History[edit | edit source]

The real-time strategy genre emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some of the earliest examples include:

Herzog Zwei (1989) - Often considered one of the first RTS games.
Dune II (1992) - Popularized many conventions of the genre, such as resource gathering and base building.
Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994) - Introduced multiplayer capabilities and further refined the genre.

Popular Real-time Strategy Games[edit | edit source]

Several RTS games have become iconic within the genre, including:

StarCraft series - Known for its deep strategic gameplay and competitive multiplayer scene.
Age of Empires series - Focuses on historical settings and large-scale battles.
Command & Conquer series - Features a modern military theme and fast-paced gameplay.
Warcraft series - Combines fantasy elements with traditional RTS mechanics.

Subgenres and Variants[edit | edit source]

Real-time strategy games have inspired various subgenres and hybrids, including:

**Real-time tactics (RTT)**: Focuses on tactical combat without resource management or base building (e.g., Company of Heroes).
**Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)**: Derived from RTS games, focusing on controlling a single hero unit in team-based combat (e.g., Dota 2).

Impact and Legacy[edit | edit source]

RTS games have had a significant impact on the video game industry, influencing other genres and leading to the development of competitive gaming and esports. The genre has also inspired numerous mods and custom maps, contributing to its longevity and community engagement.