RTS games are some of the most popular on the market, from retro games to more modern ones. There are many to choose from, with civilization-focused games as well as combat-based games available. Naval combat can often feel like an afterthought in the genre, though, with many titles focusing on land and air instead.

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Naval combat is exciting. There are so many factors to consider, and many of the most famous battles in history have taken place on the seas. For players seeking to recreate such events, there are plenty of naval-specific or naval-focused games to choose from. The question remains: which one is the very best?

Updated February 10, 2024, by Sam Carrick:The Naval RTS genre is still one of the most exciting and interesting in the wider strategy genre, as it combines the historical appeal of real naval fights and the opportunity to change how things went. Every move and attack has to be calculated to survive for a long time on the warring seas, and the intensity can be amplified by weather and other factors that are unique to a watery battlefield. With the late 2023 release of Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter, the genre keeps expanding and developing. Gamers can rest assured that they can still test out their strategy brains in both historical and modern scenarios on the open seas.

11 War On The Sea

A World War 2 Based & More Simplistic RTS Experience

War On The Sea offers players a chance to take control of either the Allied forces or Imperial Japan in this World War 2-based naval RTS game. Featuring a dynamic campaign with a wide variety of ships to choose from, this game takes inspiration from real naval entanglements of the era and offers players the opportunity to change how things end. Players can decide how they want to handle every situation. They can lure their enemy out for a more focused and easy experience, or they can cover the area with submarines and more stealth-based units for a challenge. This option to tailor the experience is just one of the things that make this game so great.

War On The Sea is a wonderful game that is easy to get into for beginners interested in the genre. There is less to control than in other games in the genre, making it less overwhelming.

10 Command And Conquer: Red Alert 3

An All-Time Classic in the RTS Genre

One of the most acclaimed games in the genre, Command And Conquer: Red Alert 3 took a winning formula from prior games in the series and introduced the world of naval combat. Almost everything in this game can be built offshore as a legitimate strategy to avoid massive and overpowered land armies. Naval strategy is one of the most important parts of gameplay, which is a bold choice for its first introduction into the series. However, this is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game. Ignoring the naval side of this game can spell disaster for players, as the strategy on the seas is just as important as every other aspect.

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Command And Conquer: Red Alert 3 may be showing its age by now, but it remains a good option for players looking for naval combat in an RTS arena.

9 Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter

Defend Allied Ships Against the Dangers of the U-Boats

• Platform: PC
• Release Date: 2023-12-09
• Developer: Iron Wolf Studio S.A.
• Steam User Rating: 77%

In Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter, players get to experience the struggles of defending Allied ships against the U-Boats trying to sink them. The experience can become frustrating as the combat is very faithful to reality, and therefore, the challenge is real. This is also a great option for players looking to begin expanding into more difficult RTS games, as it takes them through everything required to at least attempt to be successful. Veteran players will also find things to enjoy in this game due to the sheer difficulty of some of the situations.

Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter offers players a realistic and challenging anti-submarine naval RTS experience.

8 Wargame: Red Dragon

A Varied and Intense RTS Experience that Relies on Player Domination for Success

• Steam User Rating: 89%

Wargame: Red Dragon is not a game for those seeking a strictly naval experience, as players must manage tanks, planes, and helicopters as well as warships and amphibious units. Set in an alternate reality version of the Cold War, the units aren't varied in their history, but they vary in strength and suitability. The naval experience is still worth experimenting with here, though, as the battles are unique and intense, especially on the seas. Dominating the naval arena is key to success here.

For players seeking a varied experience that still focuses on the navy, Wargame: Red Dragon is one of the finest options available.

7 Atlantic Fleet

A World War 2-Themed RTS Game with Both Realistic Scenarios and Customization Options

Killerfish are often lauded for their brilliant naval strategy games, and Atlantic Fleet is no exception. Players control either the Allies or the German Navy as the stage is set for the longest naval battle of World War 2, the Battle of the Atlantic. In this game, there are 30 missions based on real ones from the era, and players have options to customize scenarios. Real-time strategy is meshed with quick tactical decisions to make for a challenging experience.

With limited resources, historical units, and simulated real-world weather to contend with, Atlantic Fleet is an in-depth and incredibly enjoyable option for gamers.

6 Rule The Waves 3

A More Complicated and Intense RTS Option

• Steam User Rating: 90%

Rule The Waves 3 covers eighty years of naval development and strategy, beginning from 1890 and carrying through until 1970. Players take on the role of Grand Admiral and must be in total control of their naval fleet to succeed. The naval combat here is incredibly tactical and in-depth, making it a joy for players who relish in thought-out strategy, but there is more to the game than that. Contending with budgets, ship design, and espionage, it looks complicated because it is.

Rule The Waves 3 is a brilliant option for players looking for something different within the naval RTS genre. It is no simple strategy simulator; it is an entire fleet management game.

5 Victory At Sea Pacific

An RTS Game that Relies on Recon Rather than Missions

Victory At Sea Pacific offers players an open-world sandbox to explore and battle through on the open ocean. Players must search for enemy units to attack, making it as much about the thrill of the search as it is about combat and strategy. Recon is key, as players can sneakily destroy enemy supply lines and weaken the opponent from the inside out. Of course, this is followed up by a large-scale attack using the full force of the navy that has been built up to annihilate the opposition.

Victory At Sea Pacific is an outlier in the genre, as there are no set missions or campaigns. This works in its favor as the game of cat and mouse players must engage in is another layer to the already detailed strategy required for success.

4 Battlestations Midway

Allows Players to See Both the Wider Impacts of their Strategy and the Individual Impacts

Battlestations Midway is another game that offers more to players than just naval warfare. There are land and air units to contend with as well. However, the naval aspect of the game is arguably the most developed. With sixty varied warships to choose from and the option to jump between a large-scale traditional RTS perspective and control individual units, there is a lot that makes this game unique. The single-player campaign focuses on Pearl Harbor, and players have the ability to change how things happen if they feel so inclined. In the online multiplayer, players are encouraged to work together for success, making it different from the usual PvP experience that these games tend to go for.

Battlestations Midway has a lot to explore. There is a wide range of missions and units to take charge of in this thrilling RTS game.

3 Anno 1800

An All-Time Great RTS Game with an Extremely In-Depth Naval Experience

• Steam User Rating: 81%

Anno 1800 is a mesh of many different genres all contained in one brilliant package. The RTS elements really shine here, though, as players must defend the city they build and manage their fleet with ships of varying strength. Building the city that needs defending is a unique twist, as the combat becomes more personal. The only type of combat included here is naval, which means it is extremely in-depth and focused, and when players are tired of the RTS elements, they will still find a lot to enjoy.

Anno 1800 has a little bit of everything, and everything is done incredibly well, especially the naval combat and battle strategy.

2 Empire: Total War

A Game that Shows the Importance of the Aftermath of a Battle

Empire: Total War is another fantastic installment in the top-tier RTS franchise that is Total War.Empire is the first in the series to include naval combat in real-time, though, and it implements the concept incredibly well. Set in the 18th century, there are no missiles or any modern conveniences available for players here. Like other games in the franchise, there is a geopolitical element to be managed, too, but the battles are often where the game is won or lost.

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Empire: Total War is one of the defining games in naval RTS combat, and it includes a lot of background gameplay for players to think about after the battles are won.

1 Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts

The Most In-Depth Game for Naval Strategy Currently Available

The best RTS naval combat game available for players today is Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts. Covering sixty years of naval history and ship design, players can become the architects of their fleet. Every detail of the ships can change how effective they are in combat. The combat is truly immersive, with the AI being sophisticated enough to figure out the ideal combat distance and with ten empires to choose from, there is always more to discover in this game.

Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts represents the very best of naval warfare games. With an ever-expanding database of warships and a lot of strategic elements to consider, this title is challenging but very rewarding.

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