Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War

Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War (2006) is a historically-rooted real-time strategy game that puts you in the boots of legendary commanders like Alexander the Great, Achilles, Cleopatra, Ramses, and Julius Caesar. You don’t just command armies from afar; you lead heroes directly into the heart of battle, turning the tide with your own hands. Greece, Egypt, Rome, and Persia come alive across sprawling maps, with 24 multiplayer arenas that let up to eight players clash in epic confrontations.

Resource management follows the classic RTS model, but Glory points add a fresh layer of strategy. Earned by achieving difficult objectives or constructing key buildings, Glory can enhance your hero, strengthen units, or summon aides that boost morale and battlefield effectiveness. The true innovation this game offers is controlling your hero on the front lines, fighting alongside your soldiers rather than staying safely behind, giving every engagement a sense of immediacy and personal stakes. Rise & Fall does not just ask you to manage an empire; it throws you into the chaos of its battles, where every decision shapes the fate of civilizations.