Original War similar games & best alternatives

Original War

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2014

Should you play it?

An American geological expedition, under a UN mandate, assesses the natural resources in a distant part of Siberia, deep in the trackless steppes of Eastern Russia. But instead of oil, they discover a deposit of a hitherto unknown mineral.

What works

  • Unique blend of rts and rpg elements
  • Persistent unit progression and permadeath
  • Branching storylines with meaningful choices
  • Mod support and active community
  • Challenging and strategic gameplay

Things to keep in mind

  • Dated graphics and audio
  • Somewhat clunky ui and controls
  • Lack of ai skirmish mode
  • Russian campaign considered caricatured by some
  • Steep difficulty and trial-and-error gameplay

What to play next

Top picks

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Choose your own criteria ->

Last update: 17/09/2026