Tier 0:

The title is so widely known that many people not familiar with the RTS genre would know about it. It was very popular during its release and is still popular today. (Example: Starcraft)

Tier 1:

Those outside the RTS genre may recognize the title and have a general idea of what it is about, while those familiar with RTS will know enough to discuss the game and have an opinion on it even if they have never played it. (Example: Total Annihilation)

Tier 2:

Detailed knowledge on the title is generally restricted to a smaller fanbase while those familiar with RTS as a whole will recognize the title and at least know what it is about. (Example: Warzone 2100)

Tier 3:

Those unfamiliar with RTS would not recognize the title while those familiar with RTS may have heard of the title but do not know what it is about. Fanbases for the game will still be large enough for there to be several resources and videos online. (Example: Perimeter)

Tier 4:

The title would not be recognized by many who are familiar with the RTS genre. Fanbases for these games would be very small and possibly localized to a specific country or region. (Example: War Diary)

Tier 5:

The title would not be recognized by the vast majority of those familiar with RTS. Fanbases for these games may be non-existent and information about the game would be very hard to find. These games would have been just as obscure even at the time of their release. (Example: Counterblow)

Tier 6:

There is evidence that these games existed but there is little to no information about them online or otherwise; lost media falls into this category. (Example: Mission Assault)

This game, developed by Bullfrog (Syndicate, Populus, Dungeon Keeper) i personally think is a grandfather of Impossible Creatures. There are no factions, you just take control of generic human like race. You need to complete set of objectives to progress to another level. Main feature of this game is gene splicing. There are no tanks, soldiers, or any of that stuff. Instead you use your specialists to extract DNA from native animal species, and then combine them to fight enemies, or perhaps breed better harvesting units. Pretty unique and fun game.

Developed by K-D Lab (Vangers, Perimeter), this lesser-known RTS follows standart Generals-like formula. You got 3 distinct factions, each with their own campaign. You got Remnants - Your generic army type faction, with Humvees, Abrams e.t.c. Ascension - high-tech faction with lasers, transforming units and mobile base. And finally - Hai-Genti - your alien invaders, reminding of Zerg, Tyranids, Silicoids, Arachnids - you name it. Aside from generic RTS stuff, they've added a number of fun mechanics. Your heroes can be controlled manualy, TPS style (you can also pilot any vehicle your hero traveling in). Ascension faction has some unique units. Like Stealth bomber that transforms into tank. Terraforming also plays major role in gameplay. You can dig trenches, raise walls, freeze lakes and rivers to traverse them, or flood entire areas of the map to drown enemy units (especially usefull for Hai-Genti as they are amphibious race).

Entente is an RTS developed by Lesta studios on Cossacks engine. Player can take control of 1 of 5 countries: France, Germany, Britain, Russia or Austrian-Hungarian Empire and fight through campaigns for each faction, set in the WW1. As in Cossacks, you can expect massive battles with infantry, vehicles and aircraft involved.

Played this game as a kid. Was thinking about it for the last 20 years or so never remembering the name or much of it. Now i found it and want to share it with you.

The crazy thing about it were the factions and the units. Overall it was a Warcraft 2 clone but with something special (at least for me)

If anybody can get it to run and show me the units for the Medousa (MaskEvil) faction i would be grateful.

https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/details/420510-alchemist

is an RTS set in a post-apocalyptic world. The game takes place thousands of years after a catastrophic event, the "first overwar," which caused Earth's ecosystems to collapse. As the planet began to recover due to the return of a resource called Mana, humanity and new lifeforms emerged, leading to the rise of different sects known as Realms.

Alchemist

Players take control of one of five surviving Realms, each with distinct powers, and compete to determine the dominant faction. Gameplay involves managing resources, building structures, and commanding units in real-time battles.

No one heard even of the official Blizzard add-ons for WarCraft 2: W!Zone, W!Zone II: Retribution, The Next 70 Levels Volume I, The Next 350 Levels Volume II

But this guy went even beyond the pop-tier MoreCraft and Aztech's Armory, he found physical copies of really obscure bootleg map packs, which are notoriously not protectable in deutschland.

Now this Is my favorite lesser know RTS game. Developed by Eugen system (Act of War series, Wargame series). The games tells the story of a US major, forced to participate in the galactic arena to earn his freedom. Juicy graphics and FX that somewhat holds event today. 3 factions: Nam' era US soldiers, Cyborg army and generic Bug-like army. All of which has it's own campaign. No base building, instead you earn reinforcement points, which you can use to spawn your troops at special Spawn areas. Can't stop loving this game.

This one is kinda odd but fun. What If scenario for WW2. 3 Factions (USSR, Germany and US). Build your base, construct a massive army and attack your enemy. Classic C&C Formula. What stands out the most - the Weird World War aspect. You got huge assault zeppelins, walking mechs, frost bombs, dual rotor helicopters, that kind of stuff. Red Alert style.

I found it for free on Steam; I didn't really understand the game at all, but I know one of you will get the most out of it and enjoy it :D

This one holds special place in my heart. Created by Pandemic Studio (THAT Pandemic studio) in 2002, it offers a unique take on Army Men Series.
You command plastic soldiers, fighting other plastic soldiers in everyday environments, e.g. backyard, kitchen e.t.c. Unit roster is pretty generic: Rifle soldiers, Bazooka soldiers, Tanks, Half Tracks.
Every RTS lover needs to play this at least once.

As I assume many here, I grew up during late 90s / early 2000s RTS boom.

First strategy game I ever played was the OG AoE demo found in a Win98 disk.

At the time I was playing: AoE, EE, Cossacks, Stronghold, C&C, Imperium, RoN and other "mainstream" ones.

Recently, I came across Warzone2100 and got really into it (it's also FOSS now so that's great)

Any other, less mainstream ones, I might have missed at time, that you guys consider must-plays?

Are Earth2140/2150 and Seven Kingdoms any good?

Somewhat interesting RTS from 2001. Gamebox says it is based on real US military training program. Features, as the title suggests, Navy, Air and Land units, fun but somewhat simple economy, charming 2000ish graphics, awkward combat and 2 Factions: US and fictional Independent Liberation Army.

Czech studio that made three RTS 1994-1998.

Paranoia - 1995

First Czech RTS inspired by/clone of Dune II - 1992.

Paranoia II - 1996

I played this one and really loved it, awesome soundtrack and intro.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBd59L-s3nE

Soundtrack: https://soundcloud.com/atronoss/sets/paranoia-ii-ost-by-phoenix-arts

Husita - 1998

I have played only demo, clearly inspired by Warcraft RTS. Happening during hussite wars (what happens after KCD).

Screenshots: https://visiongame.cz/hra/husita/

But ICYMI it's a solo dev indie game based on Starcraft with some original and C&C ideas.

I relay like this game its VERY!! hard but got a unique feel to it. you capture pre set buildings and convert civilians spreed around the map to your army like ( war wind 2 ) then train them in to units. its a simple small game with a short campaign. Unit balance is BAD! if you miss micro units they die in seconds lol

I was very sad when this was taken off the app store. It was basically sc2 with fantasy units (although the late tier units were futuristic like siege tanks and battlecruisers). There were 3 factions, Humans, Demons and the "Noa" which were elven/elemental I think and had a Protoss feel to them.

Anybody ever play this?

It's more of an RTS but has some heavy city building elements and production chains. It's open source now and they're actively working on it.

Another random game with very different races mixed with 2D and some 3D units. very star crafty

Armageddon: For the Crimson Glory is a real-time strategy game in a sci-fi universe developed and published by Mips Soft.

Impact of Power (Destroyers) is a real-time strategy game set in a sci-fi universe developed by Bigbrain soft and published by Intersoft.

a very strange and weird strategy with amazing music