Rival Realms

Rival Realms is a fantasy RTS game following a conflict between humans, elves and greenskins.

Its most defining feature is its early version of unit veterancy. Every single unit can gain up to five levels of experience and has its own inventory that can be traded between units. Inventory items include skill artifacts, keys, potions, spell scrolls, and more. These unit features, as well as quests that are required to advance levels, bring in RPG elements to this RTS game. After completing a mission, the player can save a limited number of units so that they can be re-hired in future missions or even in multiplayer games.

Among the more unique units available, there are spies and thieves which can steal gold from enemy castles and gold mills, or pick-pocket gold or items from enemies or even monsters. There are also fire masters who can create bombs to destroy mountains and can turn land into water and vice versa.

The AI in the game includes four difficulty levels to choose from, and the can be set to be mainly offensive or defensive when creating custom missions. It is even able to call a tactical retreat if needed and can manage any special units efficiently.

The game comes with 3 single-player campaigns (one for each race) totaling 60 missions, as well as many separate scenarios to play. In multiplayer, up to 8 players can engage in cooperative or head-to-head modes. Finally, the game features a replay system and a level/campaign editor.