Real Time Strategy Games

While you are waiting for Free Empires or just have gotten all the brief enjoyment you can out of our current Lamp Refugee technical demo release, here are some other strategy games, both free and not, available for you on GNU/Linux.

CRAFT: The Vicious Vikings

 * Creator: Uwe Beyer and team
 * Publisher: Uwe Beyer and various hosts
 * Description: After angering your chief into forcing you out, you and your fellow viking drinking buddies must now build up your own Norse nation.
 * Notes: One of the earliest RTS games ever for GNU/Linux as well as one of free software ones.
 * Experience: Although buggy and unpredictable at times, the gameplay is much better than it appears at first glance.
 * Final Thoughts: Multimedia is either non-existent or primitive and the game is not entirely stable but it is well worth a play or two.
 * External Links: http://libregamewiki.org/CRAFT:_The_Vicious_Vikings

Bos Wars

 * Creator: Stratagus team
 * Publisher: Stratagus team
 * Description: A futuristic strategy game in which one group must fight another and build up their own base.
 * Experience: One of the best free RTS games available. Map design varies in quality as does gameplay.
 * Final Thoughts: A very commendable effort, but something about it just doesn't feel right. The level editor is appreciated though.
 * External Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bos_Wars, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratagus

Globulation 2

 * Creator: Globulation team
 * Publishers: Globulation team, Sourceforge.net
 * Description: A relatively highly rated game that tries and reduces micromanagement.
 * Experience: Problematic when we played it, the computer attack intelligence did not do a good job and we could not order units to do things ourselves.
 * Final Thoughts: Might appeal to some, but for we prefer strategy games where we can still order things around easily.
 * External Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globulation_2

Glest

 * Creator: Glest team
 * Publishers: Glest team, Sourceforge.net
 * Description: A Medieval fantasy themed 3D real time strategy game with Magic and Techs factions.
 * Notes: There have been claims of some non-free game content in the game.
 * Experience: Runs slow on our machines, even those that run Doom 3. As such gameplay is sluggish.
 * Final Thoughts: Bogged down by heavy needless 3D graphics. Like other 3D RTS games it can be a bit of a pain on the eyes.
 * External Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glest

0 A.D.

 * Creator: Wildfire Games
 * Publisher: Wildfire Games
 * Description: A historical real-time strategy game set in the classical period around the turn of the date system.
 * Notes: Started out as an Age of Empires II mod, then as a freeware project and finally in its current free software form.
 * Experience: Although only in alpha it is a very interesting game to play and with further development could become truly great.
 * Final Thoughts: Offering up an experience never before seen on GNU/Linux or in free software is certainly a good thing!
 * External Links: http://www.wildfiregames.com/0ad/

Theocracy

 * Creator: Philos Laboratories (notably a now defunct Hungarian company)
 * Publisher: Ubisoft
 * Description: Conquer other Aztec tribes and fight off the coming Spanish invasions.
 * Notes: One of the first major RTS games for GNU/Linux, even before Loki's Kohan. Was ported by Philos themselves and the port was on the retail disk.
 * Experience: A fun yet complicated and difficult strategy game. A nice game, but one that takes a lot of commitment to learn.
 * Final Thoughts: We enjoyed the historical setting but it could have used co-op multiplayer, difficulty modes, cheats, and maybe even a level editor.
 * External Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy_(computer_game)

Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns

 * Creator: TimeGate Studios, Loki Software (port)
 * Publishers: Strategy First, Loki Software (port)
 * Description: Play a Kohan named Darius Javidan as he fights the rise of the Ceyah, Kohan tainted by evil, to re-establish Kohan society in Khaldun.
 * Notes: Focused on restricting micromanagement by grouping units. Marketed as the earliest major GNU/Linux RTS game but was preceded by Theocracy.
 * Experience: One of the best RTS games for GNU/Linux in terms of playability. It also has an excellent level editor.
 * Final Thoughts: The poor voice acting/presentation really detracts from the game. Despite these annoyances it is a good game.
 * External Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohan:_Immortal_Sovereigns

Majesty: Gold

 * Creator: Cyberlore Studios, Tribsoft/Linux Game Publishing (port)
 * Publishers: Infogrames, MacPlay, MicroProse, Linux Game Publishing/TuxGames (port)
 * Description: Rally and unite the warped fantasy local of Ardania against its many evils and problems.
 * Notes: It is one of the best titles ever ported by Linux Game Publishing and it now has a sequel that might possibly get ported.
 * Experience: A game that mixes genres creatively and generally has good gameplay in both economy and war.
 * Final Thoughts: Again, a game well worth playing. Its over-the-top humour might not appeal to some.
 * External Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majesty:_The_Fantasy_Kingdom_Sim

Knights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom

 * Creator: Joymania Entertainment/Development, RuneSoft (port)
 * Publishers: Interactive Magic, TopWare Interactive, Linux Game Publishing/TuxGames (port)
 * Description: The player takes the role of the captain of the palace guards and leads the soldiers and citizens to victory.
 * Notes: Could very easily be described as a Warcraft II clone but featured an intricate and interconnected economic system.
 * Experience: Never really got to experience its singular economic features as the gameplay was unimpressive and clunky in our experience.
 * Final Thoughts: Graphics are, understandably, old fashioned and a bit of an eyesore. Gameplay could have been a lot better.
 * External Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_and_Merchants:_The_Shattered_Kingdom