When people speak of RTS games, they are actually referring to StarCraft-like real time tactic simulators with optional unit production and resource gathering components. The titles developed by Paradox may not be turn based, but they have more common with the other 4X games like Civilization.

I also don't think RTS is dead but the category has been stale for some time. I grew up playing Age of Empires 2, and the game still has a healthy player base with regular new content being added. However compared to the turn of the century the pace of innovation has definitely slowed down.

Paradox is making turn-based 4X games that's not what people think when you say Real-Time Strategy.

None of Paradox' games are turn based, they're real time (but pausable). Their own description for the genre is "grand strategy", which is IMO between what is classically understood as "RTS" and "4X".

Well, technically speaking all those grand stategy games by paradox have turns - one month in EU4. Every player queues up actions in between turns, but they are doing it at the same time. IMO if we're being pedantic it's neither and is something in between skewed towards turn-based.

It's nothing like "pure" RTS like starcraft where everything is actually real time. Their 4X games have: speed control, pause, turns (days and months, depending on a game and action). If you remove ability make turns simulatinusly and make a single turn into a day - not much will change in gameplay other than it will take longer.

You don't 'queue up' actions in EU4 or any other Paradox grand strategy - you indicate something has to happen (start building something or move a formation somewhere) and it start happening immediately, in real time. The day/month/year doesn't serve any practical purpose outside of orientation for the end user. Nothing happens at the end of the day/month/year except for actions initiated earlier who's end happens to coincide.

Classically understood in video gaming context, the terms "RTS" and "4X" are pretty much mutually exclusive, even though some 4X titles are real-time, as you've noted.

That wasn't my understanding, and Wikipedia disagrees with you:

> 4X (abbreviation of Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate) is a subgenre of strategy-based computer and board games, and include both turn-based and real-time strategy titles.

Only if you just want to play singleplayer. If you're into multiplayer and not already an expert at Starcraft or AoE2 then good luck finding games around your skill level.

I have not played StarCraft in a long time so can't speak for that, but ranked AoE2 games are still being played with players of all skill levels.

Aside from maybe Company of Heroes 3, what RTS games have came out anytime recently at all? I want some mid-to-late 90s style RTS games (C&C, AoE, TA, War2, SC, SC2) where you collect resources, build and expand bases, and wage war on your enemies.

I am not interested in 4X games.

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliances has a significant community with FA Forever. (https://www.faforever.com/) It reworked all the stock solo missions with updated units and co-op. There are survival modes, phantom modes. There is a reasonable community online for ladder or team vs team play. In a week or so, the SupCom:FA game should be a couple bucks when the steam sales spin up. Well worth your time one remembers Total Annihilation fondly.

AoE4 is a refinement of AoE2. Frostgiant is planning to release a beta of the Starcraft spiritual successor next summer. Immortal: Gates of Pyre is in alpha

I don’t understand why Ashes of the singularity didn’t take off, that game rules.