RTS games are often judged by their multiplayer scene, but let’s be real - not every RTS is made for competitive play. Some of the best RTS experiences come from single-player campaigns that deliver great missions, memorable moments, and sometimes even decent storytelling (or at least the right kind of cheesy fun).
We talked about this in Episode 20: Singleplayer vs. Multiplayer in Strategy Games. Singleplayer and multiplayer scratch very different itches, and not every RTS needs to be an esports-ready APM fest. Some people just want a good campaign with solid AI, interesting mission design, and a reason to keep going beyond skirmish mode.
So which RTS campaigns actually nailed it?
We talked about this in Episode 20: Singleplayer vs. Multiplayer in Strategy Games. Singleplayer and multiplayer scratch very different itches, and not every RTS needs to be an esports-ready APM fest. Some people just want a good campaign with solid AI, interesting mission design, and a reason to keep going beyond skirmish mode.
So which RTS campaigns actually nailed it?
- Red Alert 2 kept things ridiculous in the best way possible, with over-the-top cutscenes and pure ‘90s fun.
- StarCraft and Brood War told one of the best sci-fi stories in gaming, with rock-solid mission design to back it up.
- Battle for Middle-earth gave us an RTS take on Lord of the Rings, and somehow, it worked.
- Warcraft III blurred the line between RTS and RPG, creating a campaign that’s still talked about today.