Does C&C Red Alert count?

It's alternate-timeline WWII (w/si-fi), and one of the most classic RTSs of all time.

I personally enjoyed RUSE

but its not here yet - https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/ruse

:(

OoB is not RTS, but turn-based hex grid game similar to Panzer General.

My 2c: If somenone wants to have a most realistic WW2 RTS (with pause option), then Graviteam games are pretty much the only option. Latest games, Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front and Tank Warfare 1943: Tunisia are just fabulous company-battallion level battle simulators. Learning curve is extremely high, they may feel infuriating at times, but when everything clicks, which is more often than not, you can't get better battlefield experience on any other strategy game.

Small dev team is awesome, they update the games for years pushing constant updates instead of releasing new games and are communicating on Steam forums. Even the base games have practically endless replayability, but all the DLCs are worth the money: all the maps and force structures are based on the historical events and offer even more variety in the form of new operations. If one knows about company level military tactics, you can use that knowledge effectively in the game.

TW1943 is now in big discount on Steam with all the DLC (and no, battles in Africa weren't just on a flat desert terrain). A word of warning though, as these are very different kind of games compared to those suggested before and as I said, difficult and at times confusing but still very, very good, they aren't for everyone. Considering Steam's refund policy and 2 hours of game time, you won't learn to play these games in that time frame and will get you ass brutally kicked by AI during those hours while being mostly clueless how the game works.

Sure, but i wasn't responding to the OP. ;)

Thanks for the recommendations.

I did take a look at it, but it does seem pricey at the moment, with all the (optional) DLCs. The same goes to the Panzer Corps, that people also mention. I will take it into consideration.

Not that is a different take! Good call, Telika. Sadly, it is not on GOG.

Yep, it's quite pricey right now but last time it went on sale the cost was around $5. I can't comment on the DLCs as i didn't buy any of them yet, but i'm going to get one or two at some point.

Buy Men of War: Assault Squad GOTY on GOG or Man of War: Assault Squad II on Steam which also has Steamworks support and also slightly better gameplay. Company of Heroes 1 and 2 are also fine games but I only really enjoyed the skirmish modes in them and Men of War is much better than both CoHs.

Please check those games out if you find the chance.

Is MoW easier to get into for a RTS noob?

Yeah, especially CoH 1 is very accessable for RTS newcomers. I suggest that you also pick up CoH 2 if you very much enjoyed the setting of CoH 1 but definitely pick up CoH 1 first.

Empires: Dawn of the Modern World would be another game to consider.

I remember being quite impressed with Codename: Panzers back in the day. No idea if that had any actual merit to it, though.

if you wanted to take the steam route, I know they have a game called company of heroes. my father played the hell out of that back when it first came out, the issue is you have to deal with steam but if you have an account already I would recommend that game. and for here I would recommend the Blitzkrieg series. amazing game and still holds itself up and beats the third one in the franchise that failed real bad.

Thanks for all of the perspectives and replies. I appreciate it!

I've had copies of COH1 (and 2) and Soldiers: Heroes of WWII for awhile but haven't booted them up yet.

I'm tempted to go ahead and buy Codename Panzers Phase One and Phase Two while they're on sale (I'm thinking I might start with the Panzers games). I'll plan on picking up the Blitzkrieg and Men of War series when they go on sale again.

Would anyone recommend Sudden Strike 4 or is that down the list? Played a bit on PS4 and couldn't quite figure out the controller interface.

Sorry for the necro-thread but have since played some of the games and would love to possibly get some new perspectives as well... Yeah, that has been one of the biggest reasons why I have COH and COH2 but still haven't loaded them up. Battlefield engineering is fine but building tanks in the field just feels like a bridge too far. Still, people rave about these games.

Yes! The Men of War Assault Squad games sound great.

I think I'll be playing Faces of War sometime soon... and then move on to the Assault Squad games

Am currently playing through Sudden Strike 4, and although I feel it's not great, I'm enjoying it. It got me to buy the Blitzkrieg games and to look at Sudden Strike 3.

I hate to say it but this WWII RTS search has now got me looking at WWII grand strategy and turn-based strategy as well! Ugh I've had issues with top-down games, but with Close Combat The Bloody First being 3D I may take the leap! Definitely interesting.

Yeah, seems it's been pulled everywhere for rights issues. Think I may pick it up on PS3.
Watched some YouTubes on this series and looks fun.

Hoping that Gates of Hell, a Men of War successor, is good. Looks like it has a 2021 release date via Best Way. Hope it will show up here on GOG... but still no Men of War Assault Squad 2, so...