The RTS genre, once a titan in the gaming world, has seen a tragic decline in recent years. If you aren’t a fan of Starcraft 2, there’s a notable lack of alternatives with a vast and massive online community. This decline can be attributed to a few factors, such as the lack of compatibility with gaming consoles and the rise of the MOBA. The unfortunate outcome is that not enough companies are willing to invest in the genre, resulting in a shortage of RTS games being produced.
Personally, I have a deep passion for RTS games. I grew up with them during their golden era and have stuck with them ever since. I’ve played a number of them at a competitive level and even do shoutcasting for a variety of different games on my channel. As RTS becomes more of a niche, it has resulted in the genre being misunderstood. This has inspired me to create a series of videos where I break down RTS game design philosophy and explore what makes them fun, compelling, and successful.
So, why are RTS games so enjoyable to play, especially compared to other types of games? There are numerous reasons why different individuals enjoy them, but here are some reasons that resonate with me. The main overarching theme is how satisfying and rewarding RTS games are to play. This satisfaction comes from the complexity and depth of these games and the demands they place on the players to fight their way to victory.
Success in an RTS game requires learning and mastering all of its intricacies. You need to create and devise strategies on the fly, backing them up with the execution of delicate micro and finesse tactics. RTS games make you feel empowered and almighty. When you win, it’s because you’ve outwitted your opponent through a superior economy, a counter strategy, or crushed their army through better micromanagement and synergy of your units and abilities.
Apart from the competitive side, RTS games also appeal to our creative side. You start off with almost nothing and build up from there. Whether it’s creating a self-sustaining base of production filled with strategically placed defensive turrets, or an empire of intertwined cities with hundreds of villages fueling your economy, RTS games allow you to feel good about your digital creations.
Lastly, the visual component of RTS games adds to their allure. Being from a bird’s-eye perspective, they can be quite grand in scale. Witnessing two massive armies clash can be epic and intense. As a player, you are connected to these armies; they represent and manifest the entire game’s worth of strategic, economic, and production investment, shaped by all of the previous battles.
In conclusion, the enjoyment derived from RTS games can be hard to quantify and express. Yet, these are some examples of why I relish playing RTS games. In future videos, I’ll be exploring certain components of RTS, such as pacing, economy, and micro. Stay tuned for more insights into this incredible genre.
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