Are you a PlayStation 4 owner hungry for cerebral, strategic challenges along with adrenaline-pumping action? Well my friend, you have come to the right place! In this comprehensive guide, we dive deep on the very best real-time strategy (RTS) games available in the PS4 catalog.
Whether you are into constructing sprawling bases, managing troop economies, or outsmarting opponents with crafty tactics, there‘s a top-tier RTS made just for you. We‘ll cover what makes the PlayStation 4 an ideal environment for these immersive games, provide detailed overviews of absolute must-play titles new and old, offer tips on getting great deals, and help discover YOUR perfect real-time match.
So read on to transform your PS4 into a war room of wits primed for strategic victory!
Why PlayStation 4 Shines for Real-Time Strategy
Gaming industry analysts have lauded how the PS4 hardware provides the essential ingredients for creative RTS franchises to thrive on console. The powerful x86 CPU/GPU combo delivers smooth 60 FPS combat animations with thousands of units while advanced memory enables vast 3D battlegrounds absent ugly fog-of-war pop-in. And the DualShock 4 controller of course allows effortless control as you build bases, queue troop training, and deploy forces with precision.
PS4‘s international gaming community also fuels a thriving RTS scene. Multiplayer battles let you challenge new rivals while seamless posting of missions, maps, and mods extend replayability of even the deepest single-player campaigns. The console‘s accessibility further expands the RTS audience beyond PC gamers. Couch play sessions with passed around controllers can ignite passion for real-time strategy in those previously intimidated by mouse-keyboard demands.
Since launch, Sony has sold over 140 million PlayStation 4 consoles globally. And with that installed base comes increased financial incentives for top developers to port proven PC franchises like StarCraft II and Iron Harvest to a new generation of living room strategists. Let‘s now dive into the 7 absolute best examples leading PS4‘s RTS charge!
Peak PS4 Lifetime Sales
As seen in the chart above, after a blockbuster holiday season the PS4 sold over 1 million units globally within just 24 hours of launch. Post-launch buzz kept sales momentum strong through 2014 before demand spiked again thanks to key exclusives like Bloodborne and Uncharted raising the console‘s profile. 2016 saw PS4 sales further accelerate past 40 million units before crossing 100 million midway through the PlayStation 5 launch.
Let‘s now examine the RTS titles setting the gold standard for strategic playwithin Sony‘s booming PS4 ecosystem.
7 Best PlayStation 4 RTS Games
Here are seven genre-defining real-time strategy experiences showcasing the PS4 at its most innovative and entertaining:
| Title | Genre | Release Year | Price | Meta User Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orcs Must Die! Unchained | Action/Strategy | 2017 | $14.99 | 7.1 |
| DG2: Defense Grid 2 | Strategy/RTS | 2014 | $29.99 | 7.5 |
| Sudden Strike 4 | Strategy/RTS | 2017 | $49.99 | 7.3 |
| This War of Mine: The Little Ones | Strategy/Survival | 2016 | $23.99 | 8.0 |
| Desperados III | Strategy/Tactics | 2020 | $16.30 | 8.5 |
| Tomorrow Children | Strategy/Adventure | 2022 | $49.99 | N/A |
| Shadow Tactics | Strategy/Tactics | 2017 | $39.95 | 8.2 |
Full Overview of Top PlayStation 4 RTS Franchises
#7: Orcs Must Die! Unchained
Genre: Action, Strategy
Developer: Robot Entertainment
Release Date: July 18, 2017
Multiplayer: 3 Player Co-op Campaign, PvP Battles
Orcs Must Die! Unchained mashes up fierce action with tactical tower defense as you construct deadly fortresses to slay invading green hordes. With distinct heroes like the archer Tundra and cunning orc Sabotage, multiplayer allows creative strategies across various competitive and cooperative game modes.
Veteran RTS gamers praise the satisfaction from finding winning tower configurations that cover trap weaknesses on a map. While casual players enjoy unlocking new weapons and environmental objects like zapper turrets or lava pits to evolve fortress setups over time.
Daily challenges and special event modes provide regular new quests to accomplish. These feed into a deeper metagame tied to an RPG-style progression system across solo, co-op and PvP.
#6: DG2: Defense Grid 2
Genre: Strategy, RTS
Developer: Hidden Path Entertainment
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Multiplayer: 2 Player Co-op, Competitive
The sequel to 2008‘s acclaimed Defense Grid, DG2 refines its predecessor‘s addictive tower defense formula to perfection. Players strategically construct missile, gun and laser turrets to protect power cores from invading aliens. You‘ll need to balance economic resources and tactical planning to cover attack paths on each creative map.
DG2 really shines by avoiding the bloated unit counts bogging down many RTS titles. The streamlined gameplay has you managing 8-10 key turret types to repel 7 unique alien species. This focus allows executing dynamic solutions when new enemies emerge to stress and disrupt your maze of defenses.
A deep challenge mode will put veteran players‘ strategies to the test with strict economic conditions or overwhelming assault waves. User-generated content expands available maps while cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes raise the stakes.
#5: Sudden Strike 4
Genre: Strategy, RTS
Developer: KITE Games
Release Date: August 15, 2017
Multiplayer: Up to 8 Players
For armchair generals seeking historically-grounded real-time tactics, Sudden Strike 4 complete package delivers. This World War II RTS lets you command Allied, Soviet and German armies across realistic battlefields recreating pivotal offensives like the Battle of Ardennes.
Players praise Sudden Strike 4‘s faithfulness towards modeling genuine WWII fighting units. You carefully deploy infantry, armor, and air assets mirroring tactics of Patton, Rommel, or Zhukov. Supply convoys must keep forces regularly reinforced. Ambushes and flanking maneuvers become key to victory as you exploit terrain and weather conditions just as real commanders did.
With 20 singled-player missions plus nine separate multiplayer maps, the game captures WWII‘s epic scale while letting you drill down into nitty-gritty stats for individual vehicles and ordinance. Want to follow in your grandfather‘s footsteps saving Private Ryan? This one is for you!
#4: This War of Mine: The Little Ones
Genre: Strategy, Survival
Developer: 11 Bit Studios
Release Date: January 29, 2016
Multiplayer: No
While most RTS titles focus on open warfare from a general‘s POV, This War of Mine explores how civilians experience the harsh realities of conflict behind the frontlines. Playing as a group of survivors trapped in a besieged city, every day becomes a fight to scavenge enough food, materials and medicine to last one more night. While securing your shelter enough to keep scavenging parties safe when they return from dangerous looting runs.
Random events like refugee children joining your group or weather complicating supply gathering ratchet up tension. Having characters‘ mental states deteriorate from the grinding struggle creates gut-wrenching decisions over who receives lifesaving items first. This War of Mine brings the human side of war home in a fresh RTS framework.
#3: Desperados III
Genre: Strategy, Tactics
Developer: Mimimi Games
Release Date: June 16, 2020
Multiplayer: No
Desperadoes III takes the stealth tactics concept first introduced in Commandos and refines it to new heights. Set in the gunslinger era American Wild West, you control outlaws like Doc McCoy and runaway bride Kate O‘Hara; each boasting unique talents for scouting, distraction and ruthless killing.
Carefully scouting patrol routes lets you coordinate prisoners to grab, NPCs to distract, and sentries to silently eliminate. Completing missions becomes an immensely satisfying puzzle as you clear out enemy camps without raising alarms. Diverse Western locales like frontier towns, swamps, desert ridges and rivers provide varied backdrops to apply your gang‘s sneaky skills.
Fans praise Desperadoes III‘s intricate gameplay systems allowing creative problem solving. Quick saves and adjustable difficulty help ease new players into the tense blend of stealth tactics and strategizing. Once you become a desperate outlaw launching flawless ambushes, there‘s no going back!
#2: The Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition
Genre: Strategy, Adventure
Developer: Q-Games
Release Date: September 6, 2022
Multiplayer: 10 Players
After being delisted for 6 years, the dazzling indie darling The Tomorrow Children has returned better than ever with Phoenix Edition! Blending RTS base building with social gameplay, you join a server with other players to keep an underground frontier town powered, fed and safe from hostile void creatures on the post-apocalyptic surface.
Venturing topside yourself or donating materials allows the shared community to research new technologies for expanding infrastructure and defenses. The art style bursts with Soviet propaganda flavor while haunting musical numbers and mysterious artifacts create an atmosphere bursting with cryptic lore.
Reviewers praise The Tomorrow Children‘s one-of-a-kind style you won‘t find anywhere else on PlayStation. It rewards cooperation for keeping citizen morale high across randomized negative events. If you crave communal chaos taming settlements on the brink, this resurrected future cult classic can‘t be missed!
#1: Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Genre: Strategy, Tactics
Developer: Mimimi Games
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Multiplayer: No
Set in Japan‘s Edo period, Shadow Tactics puts you in command of five specialist ninjas undertaking secret missions against an evil Shogun‘s regime. Controlling characters like the silent lethal shadow warrior Hayato or precision sniper Takuma, you must coordinate their innate skills to ambush patrols, sabotage infrastructure and assassinate high-value targets.
Missions become about meticulous planning as you analyze enemy routes, make mental notes of knock-out points, hiding spots and sniping perches; before enacting the perfect kill-chain. Slowing time mid-battle lets you tweak approach angles or weapon choices on the fly.
Gamers praise Shadow Tactics as a premier hardcore stealth RTS experience. Rather than base construction, all resources go towards deadly assassinations across 13 stunning campaign levels set in environments like snowy mountain monasteries and lush forest villages. If you crave historically-grounded premodern Eastern intrigue, Shadow Tactics brings lethal strategy in spades!
Get the Best PlayStation RTS Titles However You Game
Now that you know the very best current RTS experiences PlayStation 4 offers, time to score yourself some sweet deals!
PlayStation Store – For ultimate convenience, head directly to the PlayStation Store on your console to digitally purchase any of the games mentioned above. Pre-orders guarantee day one access while seasonal sales can cut prices up to 60%.
Amazon, GameStop – Major gaming retailers like Amazon and GameStop reliably stock latest RTS releases for order online or in store pickup. Signing up for their reward programs provides additional preorder/launch discounts.
eBay – Patient gamers can grab previous generation RTS gems for big savings buying used copies on auction sites like eBay. Building saved searches with title alerts ensures you‘ll never miss suddenly available rare finds!
Once secured, why not introduce friends to the strategic thrills of PlayStation‘s RTS masterpieces over couch co-op and online battles? Or connect to developer/publisher social channels for announcements of expansions and sequels extending thrilling campaigns with new civilizations, legendary heroes and rich environments waiting to be conquered!
Start Deploying Your Master Plan to PlayStation RTS Greatness!
We‘ve uncovered PlayStation 4‘s definitive real-time strategy experiences awaiting your strategic mastery and which avenues get them onto your console. So stock up on controllers and energy drinks for all-night base building sessions! Establish game night events to school buddies in the finer arts of garrisoning ridges or blitzkrieg tank ambushes.
RTS represents peak cerebral gameplay perfected for PS4‘s technical strengths and thriving multiplayer scene. These immersive titles tested favorites from PC while innovating new genres perfect on the big screen like stealth tactics and dystopian builder battles.
Now that you‘re equipped with elite intel on PlayStation‘s pioneering RTS catalogue, consider this guide a persistent resource to reference as you build your library. Note down accessibility tips for easing friends into unfamiliar games or bookmark store pages for wishlist additions and sales alerts. Most importantly, never stop seeking the next innovative gem to test your strategic and tactical limits! The battle awaits commander!
