Real-Time Strategy games and sprite art make a perfect combination. Many strategy fans who grew up with the genre started out playing pixel art games, after all. That’s one reason why many of today’s RTS games, which often come from indie developers, adopt a nostalgic sprite-based art style.
Of course, using retro-style art can also be a budget saver, but that doesn’t mean that these games aren’t capable of great art direction and visual style. The games here represent some of the most creative and visually interesting uses of pixel and sprite art in the RTS genre.
9 Factorio
An Automated Workforce
The strategy layer of Factorio is only one aspect of its appeal. Watching a factory come together as disparate parts are combined and joined to create efficient workflows is a joy to behold. It’s only enhanced by the game’s gorgeous pixel art style.
There’s a distinctive industrial esthetic that Factorio has, reminiscent of low-fi sci-fi or dieselpunk. It gives the game an instant appeal, even before mentioning the excellent balance of resource gathering, building, and defending built into the gameplay loop.
8 Worldbox
God Sim Sandbox
Worldbox‘s god sim sandbox may not be the most strategic game on the list, yet the ability to nurture (or destroy) various fantasy cultures and influence their warring or diplomatic ways certainly gives strategy fans something to dig into.
What really makes Worldbox shine, though, is its bright, colorful pixel art. The sprites for the villagers and housing are charming, but the animations for special abilities, disasters, and the titans are truly excellent. Also, manifesting as a giant crab with lasers to subdue unruly villagers is always fun.
7 Necrosmith 2
Building Undead Armies
Platforms | PC, macOS |
|---|---|
Released | December 8, 2023 |
Developer | Alawar |
Genre | Strategy, Sim |
Necrosmith 2 is an interesting blend of genres; there’s a little tower defense, a little RTS, and a little RPG. Players take on the role of a necromancer collecting body parts to raise a variety of undead minions. These minions then protect said necromancer’s tower and explore the overworld map looking for new loot.
The designs of the creatures are varied and creative, changing based on the parts used in their creation. The addition of Titan creatures in this sequel allows for bigger and more distinctive visual designs, and it really works in the game’s favor.
6 Crying Suns
Star Fighter Skirmishes
Platforms | Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS, iOS, Android |
|---|---|
Released | February 1, 2019 |
Developer | Alt Shift |
Genre | Strategy |
Crying Suns‘ real-time tactical starship battles are a feast for the eyes, with squadrons of brilliantly realized ship sprites darting around and enough explosions and laser fire to fill the screen. It’s a game that requires tactical skill to command ships effectively on the grid-based battlefield.
That’s only one aspect of the game, though. Players will also experience gorgeous pixel art renditions of space scenes, on-planet scenes, and distinctive characters throughout the roguelike journey. Crying Suns delivers not just visually, but with deep and engaging gameplay too.
5 Kingdom Two Crowns
Build And Protect The Kingdom
Kingdom Two Crowns brings a unique side scrolling perspective to its tactical settlement building and defending gameplay loop. The art style is fantastic, from the painterly cutscenes to the side-on sprites of both characters and architecture.
The side-on perspective gives the opportunity for striking silhouettes and facades, which the game takes full advantage of. The gameplay is great, too, offering a balance of attack and defense using both the players’ armies and their monarch character to fight foes.
4 Songs Of Conquest
Might And Magic-Like
Technically, Songs Of Conquest is a turn-based strategy game. Yet, with its real-time overworld exploration and city building elements, plus its unique combination of retro and modern in its clean and beautifully animated sprite designs, it feels like a necessary addition to this list.
The game takes a lot of inspiration from the Might & Magic series, but manages to add enough of its own personality to feel special. Players will especially enjoy the option to play either endless custom maps or curated campaigns, all of which can be done solo or in multiplayer.
3 Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
The Best Version Of A Classic
Age of Empires 2 is the quintessential example of a civilization-building grand strategy game. This 20th anniversary re-release cleaned up the already superb sprite art, making it quite simply gorgeous on modern 4K displays.
There’s also a deluge of content in the Definitive Edition, covering all the base game’s expansions and even adding new campaigns, civilizations, and co-op modes. It’s the best way to play a classic that any strategy fan should pick up.
2 Command & Conquer Remastered Collection
Long Live The RTS King
For players whose strategy tastes lean more towards base building and the minutiae of unit management, there’s few games that can beat the original Command & Conquer series. The sprite art in these titles may be showing its age, but the modern brush-up in the Remastered Collection is helpful in that regard.
The Command & Conquer series has always been excellent at using color schemes to create highly readable unit designs, even with the constraints of retro displays. The Remastered Collection only enhances this with smooth and clean units that can easily be parsed in the heat of battle.
1 Rimworld
Unique Colony Management
RImworld’s take on the harsh realities of colony management has proven to be incredibly popular. Part of that is due to the game’s unique take on sprite art, using a more modern animated art style for character sprites, combined with retro flavored top down colony views and grid-based building.
There are enough unique biomes and models to keep the game visually interesting throughout, which is a must in a game designed for multiple playthroughs. However, some would say the true beauty of Rimworld lies in watching the colonists go slowly insane in their grim reality.
