Top 10 · RTS

The 10 best DOS RTS games

The 10 best DOS RTS games, as the players of dos.games rate them. Command & Conquer leads the list, ahead of Z and Earth 2140.

Every game on the list plays in your browser, with nothing to install. The order comes from players' ratings and real play time, so it moves as people play.

Updated November 12, 2026How the lists are ranked

17DOS RTS games in the archive
10 of 10Play in your browser
4.0Score of #1, out of 5

1. Command & Conquer
1995 · Westwood Studios, Inc. · Strategy / tactics
4.0 out of 5Played all the time
Westwood's 1995 MS-DOS strategy game Command & Conquer pits GDI against Nod in the war for Tiberium. Includes the Covert Operations add-on.
Play now: Command & Conquer About the game
2. Z
1996 · The Bitmap Brothers · Strategy / tactics
3.8 out of 5Played all the time
Z is a real-time strategy game in which you fight for control of the sectors, some of which contains manufactories that can gain you additional units.
Play now: Z About the game
3. Earth 2140
1997 · TopWare Programmy Sp. z o.o. · Strategy / tactics
3.7 out of 5Played a lot
It's the year 2140, earth is almost completely destroyed after numerous wars and environmental catastrophes, and the people primarily live underground.
Play now: Earth 2140 About the game
4. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
1995 · Blizzard Entertainment · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played all the time
For the kingdoms of Azeroth the real-time battle between Humans and Orcs continues with Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, the sequel to its highly succesful predecessor...
Play now: Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness About the game
5. Dungeon Keeper
1997 · Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. · Strategy / tactics
3.5 out of 5Played all the time
Dungeon Keeper takes real-time strategy into a fantasy setting.
Play now: Dungeon Keeper About the game
6. Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Red Dawn
1997 · Sorry Software · Strategy / tactics
3.4 out of 5Played all the time
Red Dawn was an unofficial add-on pack of skirmish & multiplayer levels.
Play now: Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Red Dawn About the game
7. Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
1992 · Westwood Studios, Inc. · Strategy / tactics
3.3 out of 5Played a lot
The planet Arrakis (also known as Dune for its sandy landscape) is the only place in the known universe where Melange (more commonly known as the Spice) can be found.
Play now: Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty About the game
8. KKND: Krush Kill 'N Destroy
1997 · Beam Software Pty., Ltd. · Strategy / tactics
3.3 out of 5Played a lot
After a nuclear war humanity is divided up into two groups: the survivors and the mutes.
Play now: KKND: Krush Kill 'N Destroy About the game
9. Polanie
1996 · MDF · Strategy / tactics
3.3 out of 5Played often
The year is 699.
Play now: Polanie About the game
10. Castles: The Northern Campaign
1991 · Quicksilver Software · Strategy / tactics
3.3 out of 5Played often
The Celts have been defeated and you've built a succession of castles across the wilds of Albion.
Play now: Castles: The Northern Campaign About the game

Ranks 11–17

More great DOS RTS games

11. Battle BugsSierra On-Line, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1994Played often
Often
3.2 out of 5
12. CapitalismInteractive Magic · Strategy / tactics · 1995Played often
Often
3.2 out of 5
13. Castles II: Siege & ConquestInterplay Productions, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1992Played often
Often
3.2 out of 5
14. Horde: The Northern WindBuka Entertainment · Strategy / tactics · 1999Played often
Often
3.2 out of 5
15. M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & ExplorationInterplay Productions, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1996Played often
Often
3.2 out of 5
16. The Ancient Art of WarBrøderbund Software, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1984Played now and then
Now and then
3.2 out of 5
17. The Ancient Art of War in the SkiesMicroProse Software, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1992Rarely played
Rarely
3.2 out of 5

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Questions

Frequently asked

How Best DOS Games are ranked

What is the best DOS RTS game?

Command & Conquer (1995, Westwood Studios, Inc.) is the best DOS RTS game by our players' ratings, ahead of Z and Earth 2140. The ranking follows players' ratings and real play time, so it changes as people play.

Can I play these DOS RTS games online?

Yes. 10 of the games on this list play free in your browser on dos.games, with no download and no emulator to set up. Press Play on any of them; your progress can be saved.

How many DOS RTS games are there on dos.games?

17. This list ranks the best 10 in full and the next ones below them; the catalogue has every one, with filters for year, studio and more.

Which year had the most great DOS RTS games?

1997. 4 of the games on this list came out that year: Earth 2140, Dungeon Keeper, Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Red Dawn and KKND: Krush Kill 'N Destroy.

How is this list ranked?

With the same score as our Best DOS Games ranking: players' ratings, pulled toward the archive's own rating while a game has few of them, plus a small bonus for the games people actually keep playing. No editor and no sponsor decides a place.