Real-time strategy game with gorgeous sprite work

Real-time strategy game and sprite art make a perfect combination. Eventually, many strategy fans who grew up with the genre started playing pixel art games. This is one of the reasons why many of today's RTS games from indie developers adopt a nostalgic sprite-based art style.

Of course, using retro-style art can also save money, but that doesn't mean these games can't have great art direction and visual style. The games here represent some of: It is one of the most creative and visually interesting uses of pixel and sprite art in the RTS genre.

9 Factorio

automated workforce

strategy layer Factorio That's just one aspect of the appeal. It's fun to see a factory where different parts fit together and come together to create an efficient workflow. This is only enhanced by the game's gorgeous pixel art style.

It has a unique industrial beauty. Factorio It's reminiscent of lo-fi sci-fi or dieselpunk. It gives the game an immediate appeal, even before mentioning the excellent balance of resource gathering, building, and defense built into the gameplay loop.

8 World Box

God Sim Sandbox

World BoxThe God Sim sandbox may not be the most strategic game on the list, but the ability to foster (or destroy) various fantasy cultures and influence their methods of warfare or diplomacy certainly gives strategy fans something to dig into.

What actually makes it? World Box But Shine is bright, colorful pixel art. The sprites for the villagers and settlements are attractive, but the animations for the special abilities, disasters, and titans are really great. Also, it's always fun to use lasers to manifest as a giant crab and take down unruly villagers.

7 Necrosmith 2

Building an undead army

Necrosmith 2 It's an interesting mix of genres. There's a bit of tower defense, a bit of RTS, and a bit of RPG. Players take on the role of a necromancer who collects body parts to raise various undead minions. These minions then protect that necromancer's tower and explore the overworld map to find new loot.

The designs of the creatures are varied and creative depending on the parts used to create them. The addition of Titan creatures to this sequel allows for a larger and more unique visual design, which actually works in the game's favor.

6 crying sun

Star Fighter Battle

crying sunReal-time tactical spaceship combat is a feast for the eyes, with squadrons of well-realized ship sprites jumping around and enough explosions and laser fire to fill the screen. This is a game that requires tactical skills to effectively command a ship on a grid-based battlefield.

But that's just one aspect of the game. Players will also experience gorgeous pixel art renditions of space scenes, planetary scenes, and unique characters throughout their roguelike journey. crying sun It offers not only visuals, but also deep and engaging gameplay.

5 Kingdom Two Crowns

Build and protect your kingdom

Kingdom Two Crowns It offers a unique side-scrolling perspective to the tactical settlement-building and defense gameplay loop. The art style is fantastic, from painterly cutscenes to side sprites of characters and buildings.

The side perspective provides an opportunity for striking silhouettes and frontal views, which the game takes full advantage of. The gameplay is also great, offering a balance of offense and defense as players battle enemies using both their military and lord characters.

4 song of conquest

Might And Magic

Technically, song of conquest It is a turn-based strategy game. But its unique blend of retro and modern in its real-time overworld exploration and city-building elements, as well as its clean, beautifully animated sprite designs, makes it a game that deserves to be added to this list.

This game takes a lot of inspiration from gaming. Might and Magic Even though it's a series, they've added enough of their own personality to make it feel special. Players will especially enjoy the option to play endless custom maps or a curated campaign, all of which can be done solo or in multiplayer.

3 Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

The best version of a classic

Age of Empires 2 It is a classic example of a civilization-building grand strategy game. This 20th anniversary re-release cleans up the already excellent sprite art and makes it quite simply beautiful on modern 4K displays.

There is also an abundance of content. definitive versionCovers all expansions of the base game and adds new campaigns, civilizations, and co-op modes. It's the best way to play a classic game that any strategy fan should pick up.

2 Command & Conquer Remastered Collection

Long live the RTS King

For players who prefer a strategy that focuses more on base building and detailed unit management, few games can beat the original. Command and Conquer series. The sprite art for this title looks dated. Remastered Collection It helps in that respect.

that Command and Conquer The series has always excelled at using color schemes to create readable device designs despite the constraints of retro displays. that Remastered Collection It only improves this with smooth, clean units that can be easily analyzed in the heat of battle.

1 Rimworld

Unique colony management

Rimworld's Accepting the harsh realities of colonial administration proved enormously popular. Some of that is due to the game's unique take on sprite art, using a more modern anime art style for character sprites and combining retro-flavored top-down colonial views with grid-based buildings.

There are enough unique biomes and models to maintain visual interest throughout the game, which is essential in a game designed for multiple playthroughs. But some would say true beauty. Rimworld Watching the colonists slowly go crazy in this dark reality.