As opposed to the turn-based strategy genre which has been thriving in recent years, especially on the Nintendo Switch with massive releases like Unicorn Overlord and Tactics Ogre: Reborn, the real-time strategy genre of videogames is, sadly, not nearly as popular as it used to be - on any platform. This is especially true on the Nintendo Switch, where there aren't too many traditional, massive-scale RTS games. Due to the overall size of the Switch's game library and the success of the console as a whole, there are still tons of great RTS games to feature here.
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Fortunately, through some developer creativity, as well as the occurrence of some genre stalwarts, there's still a respectable library of RTS games on the Nintendo Switch, with the best of them being creative games toeing the line between a classic RTS game and a more modern take on it with influences from other genres. In this regard, the Nintendo Switch does have a decent catalog of games that fit in the genre and players should definitely give them a shot.
5 Herzog Zwei
Metascore: N/A
Herzog Zwei
- Platform(s)
- Genesis , Switch
- Released
- January 11, 1990
- Developer(s)
- TechnoSoft
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
Herzog Zwei is one of the all-time classic games in the RTS genre, considered by many to inspire how the development of RTS games as a whole has been shaped, including influencing some classics. The game features players controlling an airship with finite resources, and deploying a variety of grounded units through said ship. Players have to micromanage the fuel and repair levels of both their ship and the troops they actually deploy, thus having to be careful when considering every battle.
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Herzog Zwei has had a recent port to the Nintendo Switch and can be a solid choice for anyone interested in the RTS genre, with the added benefit of its traditional 16-bit art style, and the classic gameplay elements that aren't as common anymore. Overall, this is a great RTS game, though a little dated. The game still stands out as extremely innovative and has some great features and the influence it has had on the likes of Starcraft and Command & Conquer is apparent.
4 Bad North
Metascore: 72
Bad North is an RTS game featuring some rogue-like elements as well. The game's basic premise revolves around protecting a player's island from Viking raiders while building up an army. The premise is simple, but the game ramps up in difficulty quickly and can be quite unforgiving. Players only have access to limited checkpoints and a defeat can set them back multiple islands.
While the game is very small in scale, using the island terrain and positioning different classes of troops to try and repel the onslaught of raiders can be quite difficult. The game also has a unique art style, somewhat similar in aesthetic to the Banner Saga, and it works very well given the setting of the game. While Bad North isn't a classic large-scale RTS game, it's very enjoyable and can get addictive pretty quickly.
3 Ancestors Legacy
Metascore: 77
While this game is far from being historically accurate, Ancestors Legacy is a solid RTS game set in medieval times focused around a multitude of warring factions including Vikings and Teutonics. The game features multiple small bands of warriors in a similar vein to Company of Heroes. But it has decent unit variety with multiple classes of units, as well as different niches in each faction. Beyond the core gameplay loop, which is polished, albeit a little vanilla, the game also features important position techniques.
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Players have the leeway to be clever about using their ranged units, complimenting them with more traditional pikemen/axeman and positioning their cavalry in ways to flank and destroy enemy armies. The campaign is dense and content-heavy, and it has one of the better multiplayer modes in the genre too. All of this is extremely satisfying and makes for an engaging game that stands out as one of the best recent RTS releases.
2 Northgard
Metascore: 81
The most important aspect to note regarding Northgard is how incredible its visuals are. The game has a fantastic art style and mesmerizing visuals, complimented by a smooth, dynamic weather system that works perfectly in Northard's setting. The game stands out in that it is one of the few large-scale classic RTS games on the Nintendo Switch. The game features a variety of different modes, including singleplayer, a more traditional story mode as well as multiplayer aspects.
Northgard has a solid RTS gameplay loop, featuring the classic tropes including building up resources, managing territories, and gathering troops for conquest. Players have to focus on the satisfaction of their citizens, deal with resource management, and fight not only other Vikings but also beasts such as wolves. Overall, while the game isn't groundbreaking in any respect, it's a traditional RTS game done quite well, it's fairly addictive and easy to get into.
1 Pikmin 4
Metascore: 87
Pikmin is one of the most underrated RTS franchises out there, largely due to its Nintendo exclusivity and cartoon-esque setting. Pikmin 4 has gotten its flowers though, and stands out as one of the best modern RTS games out there. It's also a perfect entry point for newcomers to the genre and isn't nearly as time-consuming as most other RTS games.
Pikmin 4 has a lot to offer, be it the puzzles, varied objectives, rewarding treasure collection system, and, of course, the combat. There are a ton of different damage types players can optimize, and the customization is the best in the series. Overall, while it might not be considered a traditional RTS game, it might be the future of the genre, with a solid balance between challenging tactical gameplay, varied and unique enemy types, and a variety of side objectives.
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