The 7 Absolute Best PlayStation 4 Real-Time Strategy Games of All Time

If you own a PS4 and are looking for a challenging strategy game that can keep you busy for hours, this list is for you.

For those that don’t know, real-time strategy games are a genre of strategy video game where players have to build an army to battle their opponent, which can be another player or AI. In most RTS games, players gather resources, build bases, and produce units to destroy those of their opponents.

The earliest RTS games were developed in the mid-1990s and were inspired by World of Warcraft. Today, the best-known titles in this genre include StarCraft and Age of Empires.

A Brief History of the PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 is the successor to Sony’s previous console, the PlayStation 3. It was first released in North America in November 2013, with its European release following in February 2014.

The PS4 was announced by Sony on February 20, 2013, at a press event in New York City. The event featured a trailer that showcased some of the PS4’s essential features, including a newly designed controller and online gaming functionalities similar to that found on the Xbox Live.

Sony launched the PlayStation 4 for around $399. As of July 2022, it had sold 116.94 million units worldwide, including 46 million units in Europe.

7 Best PlayStation 4 Real-Time Strategy Games of All Time

There are plenty of great RTS titles today, but here are some of the best you can find on the PlayStation 4 based on actual user ratings from Metacritic.

#7: Orcs Must Die! Unchained

If you’re looking for a game that combines tower defense elements and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), then Orcs Must Die! Unchained is worth checking out. It’s a third-person shooter/tower defense game that offers an action-packed experience with tons of value.

The game features four playable heroes with unique abilities and play styles. There are also more than 40 weapons available for use in battle, so you’ll have plenty to choose from when designing your defenses against incoming enemies. There are several maps available in the game and over 100 enemy types, with new enemies being regularly added via updates and patches.

Orcs Must Die! Unchained was developed and published by Robot Entertainment for PlayStation 4 and was released on July 18, 2017.

#6: DG2: Defense Grid 2

DG2: Defense Grid 2 is a tower defense game that features a single-player campaign, competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes, and an extensive map editor.

The game is set in the near future, where you must defend your base from hordes of alien invaders. You do this by building defensive towers to shoot at incoming enemies.

There are dozens of different types of towers, each with its own unique abilities. You can even upgrade them as they progress through levels to make them more powerful and effective against different types of enemies.

Defense Grid 2 is a sequel to Defense Grid: The Awakening, initially released in 2009. The new title was developed by Hidden Path Entertainment, which has worked on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Rise of the Tomb Raider. While it was a good game, it was vastly overshadowed by other titles like Desperado and Shadow Tactics.

#5: emSudden Strike 4/em

Sudden Strike 4 (PS4) - PlayStation 4

$44.50

• Sudden Strike 4 offers realistic real-time strategy gameplay with tactical depth and a historical setting
• Three campaigns with over 20 missions test your tactical skills and determine the outcome of significant WWII battles
• As one of nine commanders, lead your army on the battlegrounds of the biggest military conflict in history
• Command more than 100 authentic units - including the Konigstiger tank, the Katyusha rocket launcher and the Hawker Typhoon fighter plane
• Pit yourself against other commanders in the competitive multiplayer mode

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11/26/2023 05:36 pm GMT

emSudden Strike 4/em is a real-time strategy game developed and published by Kalypso Media. It is the fourth game in the Sudden Strike series and was released on August 15, 2017.

The game is set during World War II. The player controls several different armies during the war, commanding them to defeat their enemies on the battlefield. The player must manage their forces’ supplies, capture enemy bases, and destroy enemy tanks and vehicles while completing various missions.

The game also has some great graphics and sound effects that really bring the battles to life. There are also a number of different weapons available to use in each battle, so you’ll need to work out which ones work best for your strategy before you start fighting.

Check it out on Amazon here.

#4: emThis War of Mine: The Little Ones/em

This War Of Mine - The Little Ones (PS4)

$19.99

• A realistic and engaging experience inspired by real-life events
• Make unforgiving & emotionally repercussive, life-or-death decisions
• Craft items such as weaponry, beds, stoves, toys & more
• Tackle randomized or pre-defined scenarios - or even create your own scenarios and characters!
• Experience war through the eyes of a child with the introduction of child survivors

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11/26/2023 07:21 pm GMT

emThis War of Mine: The Little Ones/em is a standalone expansion to the original This War of Mine, released in 2014. The game puts you in control of a group of civilians trying to survive in a war-torn city where your goal is to stay alive.

The game has been praised for its emotional storytelling and unique gameplay mechanics, making it stand out from other war games on the market. You’ll have to scavenge for supplies, defend your home from intruders, and ensure that everyone has food and shelter.

The game features two modes: normal and hard difficulty. The difficulty level determines how many resources you’ll have access to during your playthrough. emThis War of Mine: The Little Ones/em also added children to the mix, giving you more characters to look after and making the game even more challenging.

You can find a copy on Amazon here.

#3: emDesperados III/em

Desperados 3 - PlayStation 4

$13.00

• Command up to five desperados and use their lethal skills to stealthily thin out the enemy rows
• Approach each mission with a variety of different solutions and paths
• Resolve seemingly impossible large enemy setups with careful planning and perfectly timed execution of the team's special skills
• Witness the glory of classic Wild West scenarios like frontier towns, desert canyons, Mississippi swamps, sprawling modern cities and many more by day and night
• Defeat your foes choosing between deadly and non-lethal options, stealth and blazing guns and further adjust the game to your playstyle

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11/26/2023 03:46 am GMT

emDesperados III/em is a real-time strategy game set in the Wild West. It was developed by Mimimi Productions and published by THQ Nordic. The game was released on September 9, 2019, for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows.

emDesperados III/em is a sequel to Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive, released in 2006. emDesperados III/em takes place in the same universe as its predecessor, but it doesn’t continue the story of its characters. Instead, it introduces a new set of outlaws trying to escape prison while avoiding bounty hunters who want to bring them back to justice.

The gameplay involves controlling your team members as they travel around the map searching for treasure and other loot items that will help them survive during their journey. You’ll also use these resources to upgrade your camp to recruit more soldiers for your gang.

Play it for yourself from Amazon right here.

#2: The Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition

The Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition is a game that’s difficult to describe, but easy to play. It’s a survival game that takes place in a Soviet-era alternate reality, where people live underground and try to rebuild society. As an Overseer, your job is to help them do this by completing missions, collecting resources, and building new structures.

The Tomorrow Children features a large assortment of weapons and tools for you to use, including rifles, grenades, and rocket launchers. You’ll also be able to build defensive structures that will help keep back enemies during combat situations.

If you’re looking for a strategy game that offers something different from traditional real-time strategy games like StarCraft, Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition might be worth checking out. The game has a unique art style and exciting gameplay, making it stand out from other open-world games.

#1: emShadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun/em

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - PlayStation 4

$33.95

• Play as five completely different characters, each with their own unique skill sets
• Conquer seemingly impossible challenges where you are outnumbered ten to one
• Find dozens of creative and strategic methods to take out your opponents
• Jump from roof to roof and climb large buildings to attack the enemy from above
• Explore beautiful environments, taken straight from ancient, Edo period Japan

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11/26/2023 03:57 pm GMT

emShadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun/em is a real-time tactics video game developed by Mimimi Productions and published by Daedalic Entertainment. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in December 2016.

In emShadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun/em, you play as a group of five ninjas trying to overthrow a shogunate regime in Japan. You can switch between them anytime, using their skills to solve puzzles or take down enemies.

The game has been praised for its gameplay mechanics and story, focusing on political intrigue rather than historical accuracy. emShadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun/em is available on PlayStation 4 as a physical disc or digital download, and you can find it on Amazon right here.

Where to Buy PlayStation 4 Real-Time Strategy Games

There are numerous places to get your hands on PlayStation 4 real-time strategy games. The easiest way is to head straight to the PlayStation Store and buy them directly from there. 

You can also buy PlayStation 4 real-time strategy games from various online retailers. Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop all carry a wide selection of titles for the console. In addition to these stores, you can also find PS4 RTS games at Walmart and other retailers that sell video games. 

If you want to save money when buying PlayStation 4 RTS games online, look for sales and coupons from major retailers. They may offer discounts on new releases or pre-owned titles, so you don’t have to pay the full price for your favorite game. 

If you’re looking for an older title that’s not currently in stock at most retailers, try searching online auction sites like eBay or Craigslist to find what you’re looking for at a lower price than retail stores charge.

What to Know Before Buying PlayStation 4 Real-Time Strategy Games

If you’re a fan of real-time strategy games, you’ll want to look at the PlayStation 4’s library. There are many great games to choose from, including titles like Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun and Orcs Must Die! Unchained.

Many of these games have been ported over from PC and other consoles, but they’ve all been updated to take advantage of the PlayStation 4’s capabilities. Some even have exclusive content that wasn’t available before or isn’t available anywhere else.

Final Thoughts

For those unfamiliar with this type of game, the goal of RTS games is usually to defeat your opponent through military might or economic domination. Several RTS titles are available for the PS4, including games like Shadow Tactics and Desperado III.

Up Next:

• The Absolute Best Xbox 360 Sandbox Games of All Time
• The 7 Absolute Best Wii Real-Time Strategy Games of All Time
• The Absolute Best Xbox One Sandbox Games of All Time
• The 7 Absolute Best Nintendo DS Real-Time Strategy Games of All Time

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