Born in one of the most turbulent decades in the history of video games, the RTS genre was one that followed a similar trajectory to others. Early iterations were simple, but later revisions to the genre improved the visuals and added new systems and units to manage.

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That said, the early RTS games from this decade are fascinating to look at. They are still great games today, making use of limitations to create some fantastic experiences. It was a moment in time before RTS giants like Command & Conquer and StarCraft would revolutionize the genre when these simplistic games of combat and planning were in their infancy.

5 War In Middle Earth

First Real-Time Strategy Game Based On The LOTR Franchise

Outside a few text-based adventure games, this game was the first based on J.R.R. Tolkien's massively popular high-fantasy series of books to have a visual representation of Middle-earth. The franchise has gone on to inspire some of the best games in the industry, but this early attempt at bringing Tolkien's world to life is still quite a bit of fun.

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It feels somewhat crude in comparison to what Lord of the Rings games would later become, but this rough approximation of Middle-earth and its large-scale battles is still engaging to play through. It has some fun battle scenes that play out from different perspectives beyond the overhead while also featuring some charming sprite work. War in Middle Earth may pale in comparison to the Lord of the Rings games that came later, but this first digital step into Tolkein's fantasy world is still a charming adventure.

4 The Ancient Art Of War At Sea

Naval-Based RTS Set In The 18th Century

Published by the now-defunct Broderbund, this sequel to The Ancient Art of War takes the battles from the ground to the sea. In a time when naval combat has become more immersive and realistic than ever thanks to games like Assassin's Creed and Sea of Thieves, a game like this feels rather telling of the trends that would affect the industry.

Set in the 18th century, The Ancient Art of War at Sea features a slew of fantastic ships to control, from frigates to warships. It puts players into battle with five figures from history, including Blackbeard, Horatio, and the Duke of Sidonia. The combo of historical figures and enticing combat is wonderful, and it's one of Broderbund's best games.

3 Carrier Command

Unique Mix Of Vehicle Combat And Real-Time Strategy

While RTS games were beginning to expand and spread their wings, Carrier Command was attempting to do something that would become commonplace in the genre. By making a hybrid of the RTS with another genre, Carrier Command was able to mix vehicle combat with real-time strategy systems.

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This mash-up of two different styles of play resulted in not only one of the best RTS games of the 80s but also one of the decade's most unique titles. Featuring a clean visual interface and some stellar use of early 3D in the battle scenes, Carrier Command is one of the 80's most forgotten hidden gems of the RTS genre.

2 Utopia

A Fun Multiplayer Experience With Crafting Elements

As one of the earliest incarnations of an RTS that one can find, Utopia is a game that pioneered many of the facets of the genre that would be improved and refined moving forward. This multiplayer battle game pits two players against each other, with one on the left side and one on the right.

Using the resources at their disposal, the players can craft units and buildings and make use of a fun system where one can incite rebellion on the enemy's island. Utopia was able to build the foundation of the RTS but isn't held up entirely by its influence or legacy. It's still quite a bit of fun today, as the one-on-one nature of it feels remarkably engaging.

1 Populous

An RTS Game That Allows Players To Shape Their World

As the 80s wore on and the RTS genre was starting to become more popular and attractive for developers to make, Populous came along and became the peak of the genre during this time. Created by the legendary Peter Molyneux, Populous is also seen as the birth of the "god game," where an overhead viewpoint becomes the key for the player to influence and shape their world. It introduced a terraforming mechanic to raise and lower the landscape and a series of fun abilities like earthquakes and floods.

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When used in conjunction with the tiny people on this mass of land, one that the player has a fantastic amount of control over, it becomes a highly addictive cycle that is akin to something like Civilization where time begins to slip away. All of these mechanics are used within the RTS elements to create a game that feels truly unique even today. The success of Populous didn't go unnoticed, as it led to a sequel in 1991 known as Populous 2: Trials of the Olympian Gods and then Populous: The Beginning in 1998.

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