10 MMORTS Games That Let You Conquer the World in Real Time
Imagine an immersive game that pits your quick thinking and strategy not only against one or two other players but hundreds. Massively multiplayer online real-time strategy (MMORTS) games do just this, taking traditional real-time strategy (RTS) mechanics and placing them in servers where you can play with a massive player base.
Below, we’ve curated a list of the best MMORTS titles you can play today, whether with friends or strangers worldwide. These games will force you to think on your feet, with every second counting in action-packed gameplay that occurs in real time.
How we came up with this list
To compile our game roundups, we evaluate critic ratings and audience research, leveraging our expertise as gamers and developers to bring you the most accurate and helpful information.
Top 10 MMORTS Games at a Glance
| Games | Best for | Platform | Metacritic Rating |
| Vikings: War of Clans | Players who enjoy cooperative games between dozens of players at once, with domination-style gameplay | Browser, Android, iOS | 4.4/5 on Google Play |
| Clash of Clans | Players who want a mobile MMORTS with a heavy focus on resource management and defensive city-building | Android, iOS | 4.5/5 on Google Play |
| Conflict of Nations: WW3 | Those interested in strategic global warfare against other players | Browsers, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS | 4.4/5 on Google Play |
| Sparta: War of Empires | Players interested in diplomacy and strategic warfare set in Ancient Greece | Browser | 2.45/5 on MMOSs |
| Romans: Age of Caesar | Those interested in cooperative city-building with up to 16 players, with options for PvE or PvP combat | Windows | 3.9/5 on Google Play |
| Anvil Empires | Players who want to truly experience the massively multiplayer aspect of MMORTS with a medieval-style game | Windows | TBD |
| Rise of Kingdoms | Players who want a classic MMORTS game that they can take on the go | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | 4.5/5 on Google Play |
| Conqueror’s Blade | Those interested in a blend of real-time and turn-based gameplay while maintaining the key features of MMORTS | Windows | 6/10 on Steam |
| Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming | Fans of Game of Thrones that are interested in MMORTS set in the same universe | Browser, Windows, Android, iOS | 6/10 on Steam |
| Grepolis | MMORTS fans who want a city-building and military strategy game with elements of Ancient Greece | Browser, Android, iOS | 4.2/5 on Google Play |
1. Vikings: War of Clans
- Release date: August 10, 2015
- Platforms: Browser, Android, iOS
- Rating: 4.4/5 on Google Play
- Gameplay features: Cooperative clan-based gameplay, resource management, PvP among clans, medieval Scandinavia themes
- Developer: Plarium
- Best for: Players who enjoy cooperative games between dozens of players at once, with domination-style gameplay
Do you want to dive into a competitive MMORTS that balances medieval Scandinavia themes with strategic gameplay that requires you to think several steps ahead? Then look no further than Vikings: War of Clans, a 2015 MMORTS revolving around domination-style gameplay.
You can form a cooperative clan with other players, build up your city through resource management and acquisition, and then battle other clans and cities. This requires careful thinking, from ensuring you have resources for both offensive and defensive strategies to choosing the right clan.
2. Clash of Clans
- Release date: August 2, 2012
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Rating: 4.5/5 on Google Play
- Gameplay features: City-building, clan formation, base defense, PvP, resource management, unit management, single-player campaign
- Developer: Supercell
- Best for: Players who want a mobile MMORTS with a heavy focus on resource management and defensive city-building
One of the oldest titles on our list, Clash of Clans, is a classic among MMORTS games. This is only highlighted by its mobile format, which makes it easy to pick up and play on the go. Clash of Clans revolves around defensive and offensive strategy. You’ll need to pick between using your resources to build up your city or train troops.
Clan formation is also a large element of Clash of Clans. While you can play the game alone, clans allow you to access events and engage in the game’s social aspects. In all, Clash of Clans is one of the best mobile games, and it’s a great MMORT for all skill levels.
3. Conflict of Nations: WW3
- Release date: 2016
- Platforms: Browsers, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
- Rating: 4.4/5 on Google Play
- Gameplay features: Grand strategy, unit management, military tactics, resource management
- Developer: DOG Productions
- Best for: Those interested in strategic global warfare against other players
If you’re wanting something more realistic and modern than Vikings or fictional villages, Conflict of Nations: WW3 combines MMORTS qualities with grand strategy for an immersive military game. Gameplay for this title focuses on strategic global warfare.
As you play against other players, you must manage different military elements, from your strategy and tactics to your units. You must also keep resources in mind, or risk not having the supplies or troops when you need them.
4. Sparta: War of Empires
- Release date: March 13, 2014
- Platforms: Browser
- Rating: 2.45/5 on MMOSs
- Gameplay features: Ancient Greece themes, city-building, unit management, PvP combat, resource acquisition and management
- Developer: Plarium
- Best for: Players interested in diplomacy and strategic warfare set in Ancient Greece
Strategic battle tactics are only one part of warfare, which Sparta: War of Empires demonstrates well. In this 2014 title, dive into Ancient Greece where you need to build up your city, protect your people, and conquer opponents. However, diplomacy is just as important as PvP as you navigate other players and make alliances.
One unique feature of Sparta: War of Empires is that it’s exclusively available on browsers. This creates a fun online experience with no downloads required.
5. Romans: Age of Caesar
- Release date: April 27, 2022
- Platforms: Windows
- Rating: 3.9/5 on Google Play
- Gameplay features: City-building, city defense, resource acquisition and management, economy, PvP and PvE options
- Developer: Firefly Studios
- Best for: Those interested in cooperative city-building with up to 16 players, with options for PvE or PvP combat
In many MMORTS games involving cities or empires, you’re faced with building your city from the ground up alone. However, this isn’t the case for Romans: Age of Caesar.
Instead, this MMORTS takes a cooperative approach, forcing you to work alongside up to 15 other players to grow and protect shared cities. This requires strategy in knowing what moves to make and how to work alongside others for the greater good of your civilization.
6. Anvil Empires
- Release date: TBA
- Platforms: Windows
- Rating: TBD
- Gameplay features: Servers with up to 1000 players, open world sandbox, empire building and management, medieval warfare, resource management
- Developer: Siege Camp
- Best for: Players who want to truly experience the massively-multiplayer aspect of MMORTS with a medieval-style game
MMORTS isn’t just a genre from the 2010s. Enter Anvil Empires, an upcoming title with servers set to host up to 1000 players at once.
By pairing an open world sandbox with medieval warfare, Anvil Empires players must build an empire from the ground up and lead it to success through strategic management and planning. Many MMORTS games only support a few hundred players at once, and Anvil Empires may redefine just how massive massively multiplayer online games can be.
7. Rise of Kingdoms
- Release date: May 24, 2018
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Rating: 4.5/5 on Google Play
- Gameplay features: Technological advances, resource acquisition and management, city-building, social aspects through alliances
- Developer: Lilith Games
- Best for: Players who want a classic MMORTS game that they can take on the go
Rise of Kingdoms showcases the traditional MMORTS formula, and it’s one of the best mobile games to play with friends. In this title, dive into city-building, with resource acquisition and management being key to gameplay.
However, you must also balance social aspects through your alliances and lead your civilization to success through technological advances that can elevate your gameplay. Like Clash of Clans, Rise of Kingdoms revolves around defensive city-planning and military development for PvP.
8. Conqueror’s Blade
- Release date: June 24, 2019
- Platforms: Windows
- Rating: 6/10 on Steam
- Gameplay features: Open world, medieval themes, siege combat, real-time unit management, a mixture of real-time tactics and turn-based strategy
- Developer: Booming Tech
- Best for: Those interested in a blend of real-time and turn-based gameplay while maintaining the key features of an MMORTS
Part of the allure of MMORTS is its ability to immerse you in the action. When you’re forced to make quick decisions and experience consequences in real time, gameplay can feel real enough to touch.
With Conqueror’s Blade, you can enjoy this realistic, immersive gameplay alongside turn-based strategy. This gives you ample time to pick and choose your best move while watching the results in real-time.
Conqueror’s Blade offers a medieval open world within its blend of real-time and turn-based gameplay. What starts as unit development and management quickly evolves into medieval warfare, as you can engage in siege combat.
9. Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming
- Release date: March 15, 2019
- Platforms: Browser, Windows, Android, iOS
- Rating: 6/10 on Steam
- Gameplay features: Game of Thrones elements, dragon rearing, alliance building, military management
- Developer: Yoozoo Games
- Best for: Fans of Game of Thrones interested in MMORTS set in the same universe
Have you ever wondered what decisions you’d make in Game of Thrones? In Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming, you can put your skills to the test as you navigate this fantasy world.
Like other strategy games on our list, much of the gameplay in Winter is Coming focuses on military management and PvP. However, you can also explore elements unique to the world of GoT, such as acquiring a dragon egg and raising your own dragon.
10. Grepolis
- Release date: December 8, 2009
- Platforms: Browser, Android, iOS
- Rating: 4.2/5 on Google Play
- Gameplay features: Ancient Greece themes, city-building, resource acquisition and management, Greek mythology elements, military management
- Developer: InnoGames
- Best for: MMORTS fans who want a city-building and military strategy game with elements of Ancient Greece
The oldest title on our list, Grepolis, embraces the core aspects of the MMORTS genre while showcasing themes related to Ancient Greece.
While you can enjoy the traditional gameplay elements, like PvP and citybuilding, Grepolis also provides the opportunity to explore Greek mythology. This makes it a great choice for Ancient Greece fans who want a game to play with friends online.
How To Choose a MMORTS Game
Although there are many similarities between MMORTS games, each title is unique with its own differences that help set it apart from others in the genre. When picking the best MMORTS game for you, keep these key considerations in mind:
- Persistent world mechanics: Many MMORTS games include persistent world mechanics, which means the world continues even when you’re not playing. As a result, the world you return to may not always be the same, as changes can always occur.
- Alliance and diplomacy systems: Collaboration is a big part of the MMORTS genre, and most titles include diplomacy systems. These include alliances with small buffs to larger clans and groups that are essential to gameplay.
- Resource management depth: As a strategy genre, resource management is a key component of MMORTS games. However, the exact depth can vary, with acquisition, scarcity, and other factors all changing how you manage your resources.
- Real-time combat strategy: Part of the fun of MMORTS games comes from quick thinking in the moment. However, some titles offer another option, with real-time combat and turn-based strategy that gives you the best of both worlds.
- PvP vs PvE balance: Depending on your title, your chosen MMORTS game may include both PvP and PvE games, while others may lean toward one style of conflict over the other. Choose a title that represents the gameplay you enjoy.
- Pay-to-win elements or monetization mode: Monetization is common, especially in free-to-play games, but pay-to-win elements can make winning feel impossible without microtransactions. Before getting invested, take time to research titles and learn more about their payment structure.
- Active player base and community support: An MMORTS game is only as strong as its community and player base. Larger player bases give you more opportunities for collaborative and PvP gameplay, while smaller player bases can be more niche.
Build, Battle, Conquer — Your Next Strategy Game Awaits
MMORTS provide strategy, combat, and collaboration, providing a unique social experience that’s equal parts virtual gameplay and real teamwork. While it can take time to learn the ins and outs of this genre’s micromanagement elements, these titles rank among some of the best games for city-building, strategy, and more.
Whether you’re just getting started with your first MMORTS or want to explore more of what the genre has to offer, there are hundreds of titles to enjoy, including upcoming games. If you want to take a break from strategy-heavy gameplay without sacrificing the fun of playing alongside hundreds of players, you may always want to try the best MMO games.
What Are the Most Notable MMORTS Games?
Among the best strategy games available today is Clash of Clans, which was first released by Supercell in 2012, but has grown to be a gaming phenomenon. Thirteen years on from its launch, the mobile game remains lucrative, with analysts estimating that it made $355 million in revenue in 2024.
How Do Alliances Work in MMORTS Games?
Alliances in MMORTS games provide a place for players to work for common goals while still having the option to engage in solo play.
For example, you may need to work by yourself to build up your city and train your military, but you can join other players in an alliance for greater missions and even PvP battles for additional rewards.
What’s the Difference Between MMORTS and Traditional RTS Games?
MMORTS games combine the elements of traditional RTS games with servers capable of supporting a large number of players at once.
In the upcoming title Anvil Empires, you’ll enjoy the real-time strategic moves you love while experiencing the gameplay alongside hundreds of other players, which sets MMORTSs apart from other RTS genres.
Are MMORTS Games Cross-Platform or Browser-Based?
Many MMORTS titles offer cross-platform play or browser access, as well as a combination of both.
For example, Vikings: War of Clans is a browser MMORTS that’s also available on mobile. You can access your saved data across all available platforms by linking your progress to an ID (this could be a Plarium or Facebook ID, depending on how you want to run the game).
