Best Games Like Age of Empires (Series) for LinuxTop RTS Games & Historical Games like Age of Empires (Series)

Age of Empires is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is 0 A.D., which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Age of Empires and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Age of Empires are OpenRA, Warzone 2100, Widelands and openage.

Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Age of Empires alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. 0 A.D. icon
     259 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
     
    |
    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
     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
     
  3. Warzone 2100 icon
     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
     
    |
    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
  4. Widelands icon
     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
     
    |
    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
  5. openage icon
     18 likes

    Free (as in freedom) open-source RTS Age of Empires engine. Written from scratch in C++, Python, Cython, Qt/QML, OpenGL/GLSL, Vulkan, ...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  6. MegaGlest icon
     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...

    18 MegaGlest alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
    |
    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
  7. CaesarIA icon
     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
     
    |
    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
  8. Dune Legacy icon
     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
     
  9. Settle your people on fertile land, gather resources and construct your village, as the commander of a Bronze Age civilization in the Near East.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Discord
    • Indie DB
    • itch.io
    • Steam
     
    |
    1
    The Fertile Crescent vs Age of Empires Comments
    randomperson
    Positive
    0

    A great AoE alternative that works on macOS and Linux too!

    • The Fertile Crescent is Paid and ProprietaryAge of Empires is also Paid and Proprietary
  10. Spring 1944 icon
     4 likes

    Spring:1944 is a WWII themed game based on the open source Spring Engine. Our goal is to create four fully functional sides (US, Germany, USSR, Britain) with period-accurate units and strengths. Realism is a primary design goal, second only to creating a game that is fun and...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  11. Earth icon
     7 likes

    Earth 2140, 2150 and 2160 are 2-D real-time strategy computer games created in 1997, 1999 and 2000 by Polish-based Reality Pump Studios and published by TopWare Interactive (later acquired by Zuxxez Entertainment).

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Wine
     
12 of 24 Age of Empires alternatives