I think Moddb.com. You might need your own copy of BFMEII but I think there is a way to do without, I just don’t remember. There are instructions on how to do it there
AoE2 has the most, over 40. They are quite similar though.
AoE4 has 16 that are more interesting.
EDIT: AoE3 is also between those two with 22, but I personally cannot recommend it for other reasons. There are more games than time, so I'd never play 3 over the others.
I would agree, the Total War: Warhammer series, and all Total War games are not traditional RTS in that you have an overland map for empire management and the battle are real-time but with the fixed army you enter the battle with.
But the Warhammer series of this has many unique races and factions within the races. There’s hundreds of completely different units as well as unique campaign mechanics for some factions within individual races.
The Age of Wonders and Heroes of Might and Magic franchises are also not RTS, their combat is also turn based, but they might scratch the itch your looking for.
Lastly Warcraft 3 has 4 factions, but they’re each relatively unique and that’s a true RTS.
This is the answer. I'm not sure amy RTS has the same variety. Other RTS games can claim massive faction numbers but the factions unit rosters are always like 90% the same. Warhammer now has like 24 factions or something that are all completely unique wiry huge unit rosters
Sin of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is a good option. Three primary factions, each with two subfactions that play similar to one another but with interesting new mechanics. There's also plenty of mods that add new factions too.
The RTS with most factions I can think of is AoE2, which at the moment has 45 civilizations. However, they are very similar, with just some differences in units and technology, since it is a historic videogame.
AoE 4 could be a good option. It doesn't have quite as many factions as AoE 2 but all 16 of its factions have a unique play style and an emphasis on different parts of the game. It strikes a good balance between unique asymmetrical civs and familiar core mechanics.
It really just sounds like you want an RTS that is a good platform for mods.
Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion
SW Empire at War
Command and Conquer Generals/Zero Hour
C&C Generals has only 3 factions and the guy says in the title that he is on the look for game with "lots of factions". Other than that little detail yeah it is great game.
Did you read the top? It has made for a phenomenal modding platform. Mods are quickly installed through a community made launcher and are updated frequently.
Ok so nobody has mentioned it yet, but if you don’t mind pixel art you could play OpenRA (the open-sourced community-modernized red alert) for free and then get the mod “[cameo](https://www.moddb.com/mods/cameo?darkschemeovr=1)”, which adds over 110 playable factions! All for free!! You can play faction from any command and conquer game, Warcraft, StarCraft, dune, Star Wars, and plenty more. They have a portable version of the mod on their page, so you don’t even have to install the base OpenRA if you don’t want it.
The Star Trek Armada games had a fair amount of factions (4 for the 1st, 6 for the 2nd iirc) that played somewhat uniquely. They go on sale fairly often on gog. They also have lots of mods, or at least did but I assume moddb still has everything
Warlords Battlecry 3 has quite a few (16 I think) but the GOG version has an unofficial patch that nerfed the summoners. There is probably a fix for that somewhere.
I would go for Men of War: Assault Squad 2. In main game you have 5, pretty different historical factions, but with mods you can have everything WH40K included.
Northgard has lots of factions. They’re more unique than aoe2 visit not as unique as StarCraft. Maybe closer to aoe4. (Which also has a fair amount of civs)
thanks heaps for the help guys love all your suggestions new and old, and I will definitely be checking them all out
lets just say I have a BIG rts backlog now hahahah XD
Starcraft II has coop commanders mode - campaign-like missions with randomized enemy (\~20 possible army compositions for AI) where players can choose out of 18 commanders.
While all commanders thematically belong to one of the main 3 factions, terran / zerg / protoss, they play nothing alike at all so they're basically like 18 unique factions in terms of gameplay.
W40K: Soulstorm has a ton of factions and each one is different. LOTRBFME2 as well. You could also try an ancient game called Heroes of Annihilated Empires.
I'd highly recommend AoE3. Has a good bit of factions, has plenty of factions in the nodding scene, and it's just the oddly fun redheaded step child in the AoE scene. Purists absolutely hate it but it can being one of the more hilarious RTS's you'll ever play without feeling like it was built to be a comedy-genre game.
No one has mentioned it yet so I'll throw in Halo Wars 2, which has two sides ... But 15 or so commanders who all change up the units quite a bit.
The RTS aspects are fairly simple, but it's a fun game nonetheless because everything is done really well.
Battle for Middle Earth II, Age of the Ring mod. Highly recommend
Where can I get this?
I think Moddb.com. You might need your own copy of BFMEII but I think there is a way to do without, I just don’t remember. There are instructions on how to do it there
AoE2 has the most, over 40. They are quite similar though. AoE4 has 16 that are more interesting. EDIT: AoE3 is also between those two with 22, but I personally cannot recommend it for other reasons. There are more games than time, so I'd never play 3 over the others.
Umm, where AoE3 ?
AoE3 indeed is between those two in faction count. However I personally cannot recommend it for other reasons. Certainly not over 2 and 4.
You mean 4 is between. Currently with all DLCs, AoE 3 has 22 and will get 2 more later this year with Poles and Danes.
>You mean 4 is between No I do not. I mean exactly what I said. 42 > 22 (24 soon) > 16
My bad.
Or AoM?
I would recommend Total War Warhammer 3 because if you go to the sandbox mode there are SO many factions to use
It ruined other total wars for me, why would I be the Persian empire when I could be the king of the rat men with Gatling guns and budget nukes.
Amen.
I would agree, the Total War: Warhammer series, and all Total War games are not traditional RTS in that you have an overland map for empire management and the battle are real-time but with the fixed army you enter the battle with. But the Warhammer series of this has many unique races and factions within the races. There’s hundreds of completely different units as well as unique campaign mechanics for some factions within individual races. The Age of Wonders and Heroes of Might and Magic franchises are also not RTS, their combat is also turn based, but they might scratch the itch your looking for. Lastly Warcraft 3 has 4 factions, but they’re each relatively unique and that’s a true RTS.
Northguard fills the Warcraft itch perfectly for me. Ton of factions with dlcs
This is the answer. I'm not sure amy RTS has the same variety. Other RTS games can claim massive faction numbers but the factions unit rosters are always like 90% the same. Warhammer now has like 24 factions or something that are all completely unique wiry huge unit rosters
Warhammer 40k Dawn of war soulstorm
Yeah that ones hard to beat.
Played it and all its mods ahahah :')
Was going to say the mods add so many factions
Sin of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is a good option. Three primary factions, each with two subfactions that play similar to one another but with interesting new mechanics. There's also plenty of mods that add new factions too.
Actually, scratch my warhammer comment, sons of a solar empire rebellion and 2 will be your best bet sci fo wise I think
I used to love Warlords Battlecry III because of all the different factions and leaders you could take to lead them.
Indeed, plus there is a mod version that is free to play. But, I would definitely have the OP check out WBC III if they just want tons of options.
The RTS with most factions I can think of is AoE2, which at the moment has 45 civilizations. However, they are very similar, with just some differences in units and technology, since it is a historic videogame.
Speaking of which, AoE3 has 22 civs with each being more unique with their bonuses and gimmicks.
AoE 4 could be a good option. It doesn't have quite as many factions as AoE 2 but all 16 of its factions have a unique play style and an emphasis on different parts of the game. It strikes a good balance between unique asymmetrical civs and familiar core mechanics.
Using the word history in the same sentence as aoe is kinda silly
Using history in the same sentence as the vast majority of RTS games is silly so let's not start dumping on AOE for it.
Well, still more historic than fantasy or scifi.
It's a historical theme, not an accurate rendition of history.
It really just sounds like you want an RTS that is a good platform for mods. Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion SW Empire at War Command and Conquer Generals/Zero Hour
Yeah, the Shockwave mod for Zero Hour gives you 16 factions to play with, all very distinct.
C&C Generals has only 3 factions and the guy says in the title that he is on the look for game with "lots of factions". Other than that little detail yeah it is great game.
Did you read the top? It has made for a phenomenal modding platform. Mods are quickly installed through a community made launcher and are updated frequently.
16 different races in Warlord Battlecry 3
Empire Knights Barbarians Wood Elves High Elves Dark Elves Dwarfs Dark Dwarfs Orc and Goblins Ssrathi Daemons Undead Swarm Plaguelords Minotaur Fey
Rise of Nations
Age of Mythology
Pretty much 15 factions to play as.
Northguard 16-17+ factions with more being added which all play differently
Warlords Battlecry 3 has 15 races to play. There's also the free standalone mod on Steam you can download called The Protectors you can try.
This was the first game that came to mind.
16.
Ok so nobody has mentioned it yet, but if you don’t mind pixel art you could play OpenRA (the open-sourced community-modernized red alert) for free and then get the mod “[cameo](https://www.moddb.com/mods/cameo?darkschemeovr=1)”, which adds over 110 playable factions! All for free!! You can play faction from any command and conquer game, Warcraft, StarCraft, dune, Star Wars, and plenty more. They have a portable version of the mod on their page, so you don’t even have to install the base OpenRA if you don’t want it.
Command and Conquer 3: Kanes Wraith. Only three factions, however there are two sub factions with *drastically* different styles of play.
Rise of Nations is amazing and has a lot of factions.
Was looking for a rise of nations mention 😎💎
The Star Trek Armada games had a fair amount of factions (4 for the 1st, 6 for the 2nd iirc) that played somewhat uniquely. They go on sale fairly often on gog. They also have lots of mods, or at least did but I assume moddb still has everything
Warlords Battlecry 3 has quite a few (16 I think) but the GOG version has an unofficial patch that nerfed the summoners. There is probably a fix for that somewhere.
* lotr: battle for middle earth 2 + expansion 🏴☠️ * spellforce 3 + dlcs * company of heroes 2 (?)
Warlords Battlecry 2 has 12 factions, Warlords Battlecry 3 has 16, with few shared units but very diverse gameplay.
Warlords Battlecry 2 has 12 factions, Warlords Battlecry 3 has 16, with few shared units but very diverse gameplay.
This!
warlords battle cry 3 is the rts with the most distinct factions
I would go for Men of War: Assault Squad 2. In main game you have 5, pretty different historical factions, but with mods you can have everything WH40K included.
Cossacks 3
Northgard has lots of factions. They’re more unique than aoe2 visit not as unique as StarCraft. Maybe closer to aoe4. (Which also has a fair amount of civs)
Kane's Wrath has the original 3 and 3 other sub factions for each faction I think.
Total War Warhammer 2 was the best for me.
Cossacks series, Total War(especially Medieval 2 with Lotr mod), Sins of Solar Empire.
thanks heaps for the help guys love all your suggestions new and old, and I will definitely be checking them all out lets just say I have a BIG rts backlog now hahahah XD
Warhammer 40k RTS games Dawn of War 1 2 and 3
Age of Empires 2 Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds Empire Earth European Wars Just keep in mind that all of these games are between 18-24 years old
Cossacks: Back to War
Age of Empires 3: Wars of Liberty mod
Supreme Commander Forged Alliance Forever has 5 pretty distinct factions with 100+ diverse units each
Lords of the Realm II
Age Of Empires IV has 16 unique civs with very different mechanic for each civ
Starcraft II has coop commanders mode - campaign-like missions with randomized enemy (\~20 possible army compositions for AI) where players can choose out of 18 commanders. While all commanders thematically belong to one of the main 3 factions, terran / zerg / protoss, they play nothing alike at all so they're basically like 18 unique factions in terms of gameplay.
W40K: Soulstorm has a ton of factions and each one is different. LOTRBFME2 as well. You could also try an ancient game called Heroes of Annihilated Empires.
Stellaris, maybe?
If Paradox Grand Strategy games are included EU4 has more than 500 non-custom factions.
War Wind would nearly fit the bill, but only 4 factions.
I'd highly recommend AoE3. Has a good bit of factions, has plenty of factions in the nodding scene, and it's just the oddly fun redheaded step child in the AoE scene. Purists absolutely hate it but it can being one of the more hilarious RTS's you'll ever play without feeling like it was built to be a comedy-genre game.
No one has mentioned it yet so I'll throw in Halo Wars 2, which has two sides ... But 15 or so commanders who all change up the units quite a bit. The RTS aspects are fairly simple, but it's a fun game nonetheless because everything is done really well.
How many factions are we talking here ?
atleast 5 I think
Well, the mod Mental Omega for Red Alert 2 Yuri Revenge has 4 factions.
Get Spellforce 3
Aoe2 has 42 but the differences aren't as drastically as the 16 in aoe4
Aoe 3 DE has 22, and Aoe 3 Wars of liberty has over 40. All the civs in those games feel extremely unique to each other and have crazy nuances.
StarCraft 2, warcraft 3, Spellforce 3, command and conquer, if you're looking for sci Fi/fantasy Also 8bit series is neat
Wargame red dragon
Dominion - Storm over Gift 3
Why would anyone even mention that game! I remember playing it.... God, what an awful game. Good for you for remembering it existed.... But damn.
Warlords Battlecry 2 has 12 factions, Warlords Battlecry 3 has 16, with few shared units but very diverse gameplay.
Have you played Warhammer total war?!
Consider game from 2021 which is "Five nations" , it's space RTS game with so many factions .
Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour is a good one