Best Free Games Like Age of Empires (Series) Top RTS Games & Historical Games like Age of Empires (Series)

The best free alternative to Age of Empires is 0 A.D., which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Age of Empires and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Age of Empires are OpenRA, StarCraft, Warzone 2100 and Widelands.

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Alternatives list

  1. 0 A.D. icon

    0 A.D.

     256 likes

    Free, open-source real-time strategy game focusing on ancient warfare spanning 500 B.C. to 500 A.D., offering 3D graphics, city building, economy management, a variety of civilizations, cross-platform support, multiplayer options, and extensive modding features.

    44 0 A.D. alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    0 A.D. screenshot 1
     
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    6
    0 A.D. vs Age of Empires Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    randomperson
    1

    It works on all platforms and it's free and open-source.

    Festo
    Positive
    0

    It's the closest comparable game to Age of Empires 2. But it's free and better graphics.

    David
    Positive
    1

    0 A.D. is arguably the closest comparable game to Age of Empires 2. The civilizations and more advanced units within them are obviously different but play-wise and strategy-wise, the two are very close. Meanwhile, 0 A.D. has visuals that eclipse the later 3D graphics of AoE 3.

    3 of 6 comments
    • 0 A.D. is Free and Open SourceAge of Empires is Paid and Proprietary
  2. OpenRA icon

    OpenRA

     49 likes

    OpenRA is an open-source reimplementation of Westwood’s Command & Conquer Red Alert game engine, updated to use the hardware acceleration of modern video cards using OpenGL.

    26 OpenRA alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • .NET Framework
    • Mono
    OpenRA screenshot 1
     
  4. StarCraft icon

    StarCraft

     122 likes

    Command the exiled Terrans, the relentless Zerg, and the abiding Protoss, in the world's most longstanding RTS. (Released in 1998.).

    32 StarCraft alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Battle.net
    StarCraft screenshot 1
     
  5. Warzone 2100 icon

    Warzone 2100

     65 likes

    Join "The Project" to restore humanity's synaptic-link technology after nuclear war has devastated Earth, rendering it a Warzone 2100.

    27 Warzone 2100 alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Steam
    Warzone 2100 screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Warzone 2100 vs Age of Empires Comments
    Festo
    Positive
    0

    RTS similar to AoE but with a different thematic.

    • Warzone 2100 is Free and Open SourceAge of Empires is Paid and Proprietary
  6. Widelands icon

    Widelands

     38 likes

    Widelands is a free, open source real-time strategy game with singleplayer campaigns and a multiplayer mode. The game was inspired by Settlers II™ (© Bluebyte) but has significantly more variety and depth to it. Still, it is easy to get started through playable tutorials.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Widelands screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Widelands vs Age of Empires Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    different game play and concept

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Widelands is Free and Open SourceAge of Empires is Paid and Proprietary
  9. Stormgate icon

    Stormgate

     Like

    Stormgate® is a free-to-play PC real-time strategy game set hundreds of years in Earth’s future. Take command of the human resistance, the demonic invaders, or other factions yet to be revealed–solo or cooperatively.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Stormgate screenshot 1
     
  10. MegaGlest icon

    MegaGlest

     24 likes

    MegaGlest is an open source 3D-real-time strategy game, where you control the armies of one of seven different factions: Tech, Magic, Egyptians, Indians, Norsemen Persian or Romans. The game is setup in one of 14 naturally looking settings, which -like the unit models- are...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    MegaGlest screenshot 1
     
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    1
    MegaGlest vs Age of Empires Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Similar gameplay. Great graphics.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • MegaGlest is Free and Open SourceAge of Empires is Paid and Proprietary
  12. CaesarIA icon

    CaesarIA

     20 likes

    CaesarIA is an open source remake of Caesar III game released by Impressions Games in 1998, it aims to expand the possibilities of the classical city-building simulators and to add new features showing the city life. Now the game work with Windows, Linux, Mac, Haiku and Android.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Wine
    • Steam
    CaesarIA screenshot 1
     
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    2
    CaesarIA vs Age of Empires Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    different game play and concept

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    I enjoy the city build experience

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • CaesarIA is Free and Open SourceAge of Empires is Paid and Proprietary
  13. Dune Legacy icon

    Dune Legacy

     12 likes

    Dune Legacy is an effort by a handful of developers to revitalize the first-ever real-time strategy game. Based from Dune II

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Dune Legacy screenshot 1
     
  14. DomiNations icon

    DomiNations

     5 likes

    From legendary game designer Brian Reynolds (Civilization II, Rise of Nations), DomiNations is an epic new strategy game of exploration, advancement, and conquest. Lead your Nation to ultimate victory throughout all of human history – from the Stone Age to the Space Age!

    17 DomiNations alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    DomiNations screenshot 1
     
12 of 34 Age of Empires alternatives