Rise of Nations is a real-time strategy game developed by Big Huge Games.
The game was released in 2003 by Microsoft Studios. It’s difficult to shake the impression that the game was inspired by hits among strategy games like Age of Empires and Civilization, which helped Rise of Nations gain a large fan base.
Since this is a pure strategy game, it lacks a traditional storyline, as the best part is that players completely decide the fate of their chosen nation. The gameplay begins in prehistoric times, where the player takes on the role of a nation’s leader, and spans through eight epochs.
Criteria of Selection
Rise of Nations offers gameplay from primitive prehistory to advanced technologies. Eighteen nations, hundreds of land, sea, and air units, economic, scientific, and diplomatic decisions—all in one game.
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | World War III Black Gold | 2001-10-16 | Strategy | Reality Pump |
 | Act Of War Direct Action | 2005-03-14 | Strategy | Eugen Systems |
 | Age Of Empires III Definitive Edition | 2020-10-15 | RTS | Tantalus Media |
 | Stronghold 3 Gold Edition | 2001-10-19 | Simulation | FireFly Studios |
 | Age Of Empires Ii Definitive Edition | 2019-11-14 | Strategy | Forgotten Empires LLC |
 | Ancestors Legacy | 2018-05-22 | Strategy | Destructive Creations |
 | Act Of Aggression | 2015-09-02 | Strategy | Eugen Systems |
 | Cossacks European Wars | 2001-04-24 | Strategy | GSC Game World |
 | Empire Earth 3 | 2007-11-06 | Strategy | Mad Doc Software |
 | Empire Earth Gold Edition | 2001-11-13 | Strategy | Stainless Steel Studios |
 | Empire Earth 2 Gold Edition | 2005-04-26 | Strategy | Mad Doc Software |
 | Supreme Commander Forged Alliance | 2011-09-28 | Strategy | Gas Powered Games |
 | Starcraft II Campaign Collection Standard Edition | 2017-08-14 | Strategy | Blizzard |
 | Northgard | 2017-02-22 | Indie | Shiro Games |
 | The Great War Western Front | 2023-03-30 | Strategy | Petroglyph Games |
 | Iron Harvest | 2020-09-01 | Strategy | KING Art Games |
Age of Empires III
| Release date: | 2020-10-15 |
| Genre: | RTS |
| Developer: | Tantalus Media |
Age of Empires III is the third installment in the Age of Empires RTS series, which has been developed since 1997, but only in this installment did it feature 3D graphics.
The third part focuses on the colonization of the Americas. You start the game as the leader of a small village, and your task is to develop the settlement and conquer surrounding territories.
Already at the outset, we mentioned the visible influence of Age of Empires on the creation of Rise of Nations, so it is logical that this game was a mandatory inclusion on our list. Age of Empires III is an excellent real-time strategy game, where the emphasis on historical accuracy makes it a must-play for strategy enthusiasts, with Rise of Nations at the forefront.
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Empire Earth series
| Release date: | 2007-11-06 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | Mad Doc Software |
Empire Earth is a series of historical RTS games, with the first part released in 2001. Interestingly, the first two parts were designed by Rick Goodman, who was also one of the main designers of Age of Empires.
In the Empire Earth series, players delve into the history of humanity, starting from the most distant past (prehistory) to the nanotechnology era. The gameplay is based on a well-known system where resource acquisition, city development, and creating advanced military units are crucial.
Perhaps it is the designer’s name that has led to frequent comparisons between the Empire Earth series and Age of Empires. Among critics and players, it has gained many positive reviews, especially for its in-depth gameplay, which is why we believe it is another game worth noting.
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Cossacks: European Wars
| Release date: | 2001-04-24 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | GSC Game World |
Cossacks: European Wars is an RTS developed by the Ukrainian studio GSC Game World. The game is based on the historical events of Europe in the 16th-18th centuries. These were dark times of wars and much bloodshed.
In Cossacks: European Wars, developers have provided players with 16 nations, including France, Spain, England, Russia, and Poland, each with different strengths and weaknesses in economic development and military power.
Cossacks: European Wars, like Rise of Nations, is a historical real-time strategy game. Its creators focused on war campaigns, which are plentiful— perfect if you are a fan of such themes.
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Age of Mythology
| Release date: | 2014-05-08 |
| Genre: | Economy |
| Developer: | Ensemble Studios |
Age of Mythology is another real-time strategy game on our list, created by Ensemble Studios, the same studio behind the iconic Age of Empires series.
This time, the gameplay takes us to ancient times and classical mythology. Players can choose from three civilizations: Norse, Egyptian, or Greek, each with different buildings, gods, and military units (including mythical ones).
Like Rise of Nations, Age of Mythology is a classic RTS, though not entirely historical. Given its mythological character, our opponents may not always be human — they could be one-eyed cyclops, for example, which makes it a great candidate for our list.
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StarCraft 2
| Release date: | 2013-03-12 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | Blizzard Entertainment |
StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is the long-awaited sequel to the award-winning 1998 game StarCraft. Initially, the developers planned to release the game simply as StarCraft 2, but those plans changed, and it was ultimately divided into three parts: the base game StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty, and two expansions — Heart of the Swarm (2013) and Legacy of the Void (2015).
Set in a sci-fi atmosphere, the game takes us to a distant galaxy called the Koprulu sector. The action of StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty takes place four years after the events of the StarCraft: Brood War expansion. Players once again step into the shoes of Jim Raynor, who, along with a group of rebels, seeks to overthrow the Terran Dominion.
StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is a cosmic gem among real-time strategies — its high ratings speak for themselves. If you are looking for an RTS similar to Rise of Nations, although not necessarily with a historical background, this game was made for you!
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Northgard
| Release date: | 2017-02-22 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | Shiro Games |
Northgard is a real-time strategy game inspired by Norse mythology, developed and published by Shiro Games.
The protagonist of the story is Prince Rig, who, along with his faithful companion Brand, ventures into Northgard in pursuit of Hagen, his father’s murderer. Along the way, they unite various clans and gain allies.
The mechanics in Northgard are similar to those in Rise of Nations. However, the game is enriched with innovations such as survival elements, making this title worthy of your attention.
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The Great War: Western Front
| Release date: | 2023-03-30 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | Petroglyph Games |
The Great War: Western Front is a real-time strategy game based on the theme of war (specifically World War I). In addition to RTS elements, the game also includes turn-based strategy elements.
The game transports players to the Western Front between 1914 and 1919. Players decide which side to join (Triple Alliance or Triple Entente) and how the war will unfold.
Another strategy game similar to Rise of Nations takes us back to World War I. If you want to dive into a strictly war-themed RTS, this title is for you.
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Iron Harvest
| Release date: | 2020-09-01 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | KING Art Games |
Set in a dieselpunk universe, Iron Harvest showcases an alternate history in Europe after 1920. The game’s world was designed by Polish artist Jakub Różalski, attracting many fans of the RTS genre.
The concluded World War I has left Europe in a new reality. Three major empires have emerged: Saxony, the Republic of Polania, and Rusviet, each with different goals. The greatest challenges are faced by the ruler of the last empire, Tsar Nikolai, whose throne is threatened by the treacherous Grigori Rasputin, posing the risk of another armed conflict.
To wrap our list up, a classic RTS in a dieselpunk setting filled to the brim with mechs — what more could you want?
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Summary
Our list of alternative games for Rise of Nations is rich in real-time strategies. You won’t be bored! History, mythology, sci-fi… these are just a few of the many possibilities we’ve presented to you. You decide which one you choose — of course, you can choose them all!