Highlights
- Relic Entertainment has a history of uncertainty and buyouts, but they are considered experts in RTS game development.
- The Outfit was a WWII shooter that incorporated RTS elements, but critics felt it lacked variety.
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine was a gory and well-received third-person shooter/hack-n-slash game that resonated with fans of the IP.
Canadian video game developer Relic Entertainment, practically speaking, has had a history fraught with uncertainty and buyouts across its 26-year existence. Still, despite business and company politics, Relic Entertainment has managed to cement itself as an expert in the development of real-time strategy (RTS) games, being considered royalty in the creation of the genre.
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From original IPs to RTS games based in the worlds of existing franchises, no one can deny that Relic Entertainment has left there mark on the gaming sphere and, despite mixed reception to its output over the years, continues to make video game experiences to this day.
12 The Outfit
The Xbox 360 exclusive The Outfit is predominantly a third-person shooter that throws elements of RTS into the mix to varying levels of effectiveness. Released in 2006, this WW2 shooter attempted to separate itself from the others in its genre by throwing realism out of the window and gunning hard into the absurd.
Whilst not panned by any means, critical reaction to the game was lukewarm, with critics suggesting that the game lacked variety but praising the RTS elements. It seems that, with The Outfit, Relic Entertainment should have stuck to what they do best.
11 Impossible Creatures
Inspired in part by the weird and wonderful H.G Wells novel The Island of Doctor Moreau, 2003's Impossible Creatures casts the player as Rex Chance, who grieved at his scientist father's death, vows revenge on his murderers by defeating them using amalgamations of different animals.
A pure RTS game, Impossible Creatures is absurdity at its finest, taking a ridiculous concept and running with it. In fact, the game gives players a lot to work with in the form of 51 different animals to choose from in the base game. Although criticized for not being particularly innovative, players need not consider this as they smash together animal hybrids that make Mother Nature shudder.
10 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Every fan of the tabletop game Warhammer 40,000 has, at some point, imagined what it would be like to hack and slash their way through hordes of Xenos as a Space Marine. They got their wish in 2011 with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. Put in the power armor of Captain Titus as his squad descends onto the forge world Graia to deal with an Ork invasion; this game is a delightful steer away from the RTS genre into a third-person shooter/hack-n-slash.
Although noted by numerous critics to not live up to its clear influences, such as the Gears of War series, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine was a brilliantly gory experience that resonated with fans of the IP, so much so that a sequel is slated for release in 2023.
9 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War 3
The Warhammer 40,000 IP has been intrinsically linked with Relic Entertainment for many years, with the developer creating many games set within the universe. The Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War franchise has been a staple in this relationship, with the third numbered entry, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3, being released in 2017.
Despite being the least well-received of any entry in the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series, this entry still acts as a solid RTS with elements that allow players to enact strategically deep tactics.
8 Company Of Heroes 3
Relic Entertainment has taken a number of franchises into multiple numbered entries, including the Company of Heroes series. Company of Heroes 3 was released in 2023 and set players up in both the Italian and North African theaters of WW2 while additionally adding features unseen in previous entries.
The game was received quite positively, with critics lauding the setting and new features. Despite some feeling that Company of Heroes 3 did not live up to its predecessors, the game seems to have sated the fans' appetite for a WW2 RTS.
7 Company Of Heroes 2
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Company of Heroes 2 was released in 2013 and focuses on the battles of the Eastern Front during WW2. Players predominantly control the Red Army as they battle the Germans in various historical skirmishes.
On launch, the game was criticized for the accuracy with which it depicted the Eastern Front during WW2. Despite this accusation of dramatic license, Company of Heroes 2 was praised for its building upon the foundations of the original game and the amount of content available to players.
6 Age Of Empires 4
Taking over from developer Ensemble Studios, Relic Entertainment released its effort in the Age of Empires franchise Age of Empires 4 in 2021, allowing players to take control of a plethora of civilizations, including the Mongols and the Holy Roman Empire, with many more added in the form of expansions.
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Age of Empires 4 was received well by critics and fans alike, with a main point of praise being the way in which each playable civilization differed in gameplay and aesthetics. With this, Relic Entertainment strengthened its claim to the RTS throne, even when entering an already-established franchise.
5 Homeworld 2
The sequel to 1999's Homeworld, the space battle RTSHomeworld 2 took what the first game set up and built on it, with improved graphics and audio as well as some significant changes to staple units in its predecessor. Story-wise, Homeworld 2 continues the protagonist race's search for the technology of the mysterious Progenitors.
Received very well critically, the visually impressive sequel won accolades and is most definitely a fan-favorite of Relic Entertainment's output. Indeed, developer Gearbox Software is planning on releasing a further sequel, slated for release in 2024.
4 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War 2
A landmark entry in both Relic Entertainment's output and the Warhammer 40,000 franchise, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 broke barriers when it was released in 2009. Taking the role of a Force Commander sent to deal with the Xenos threats of Orks, Aeldari, and Tyranids, players battle through different planets with varying biomes and cleanse the alien for the Emperor.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War was met with high praise as an RTS-RPG hybrid with impressive gameplay and graphics. The game only continued this positive reception with its numerous expansions, including Chaos Rising and Retribution, cementing it as one of the greatest Warhammer 40,000 video games ever made.
3 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
The original outing of the Warhammer 40,000 IP into the RTS genre, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is considered by many as the definitive Warhammer 40,000 RTS game. In the base game, players can choose between four races (Space Marines, Aeldari, Orks, and Chaos Space Marines) with the multiple expansions after release, bringing the playable race count up to nine.
Universally praised, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War set the foundations for the entries that came after it and provided Warhammer 40,000 fans with an intricate and enjoyable RTS that allowed them to play as their favorite races as they clash with Xenos and humans alike.
2 Company Of Heroes
A plethora of awards and universal acclaim came swiftly after the release of the original Company of Heroes in 2006, with fans seemingly not being able to get enough of the WW2 RTS. Controlling American soldiers on D-Day and subsequently during the liberation of France, players are given all the goodies that RTS games are expected to have, from base-building to resource management.
The title of a staple of the RTS genre and a near-perfect critical reception makes Company of Heroes one of the best-received games ever released by Relic Entertainment who, seeing the potential in the game, released two expansion packs titled Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor, which were just as well-received as the base game.
1 Homeworld
It is hard to argue for anything else but 1999's Homefront when discussing the best output from Relic Entertainment, which is impressive considering it was the developer's first game ever. Stunning visuals that represent space like never before, requirement for intricate tactics to overcome challenges, and an average score of 93% on Metacritic put Homeworld squarely on top of the RTS pile.
Whilst Relic Entertainment has indeed made some brilliant and critically praised games over time, it is its first effort that truly cemented its place as one of the most influential RTS video game developers there is.