Relic’s announcement that Company of Heroes is heading into roguelite territory has split the fanbase. Some players see it as fresh, others see it as a step away from the World War II real-time strategy the series was built on. If the roguelite direction is not for you and you want a classic RTS loop with base building, squad tactics, and a proper multiplayer ladder, the seven Company of Heroes 3 alternatives below cover the ground: historical RTS, cold-war-era divisional strategy, near-future combined arms, and space-based grand strategy for a change of setting.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Free plan | Price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age of Empires IV | Classic historical RTS with modern polish | Demo | AAA price | Naval and land campaigns |
| Men of War II | Squad-based WWII tactics with realism | Demo | AAA price | Direct control mode |
| Steel Division 2 | Deep WWII operational strategy | Demo | Modest indie price | Divisional composition |
| WARNO | Cold-war-gone-hot RTS | Demo | AAA price | Ninety-plus divisions |
| Iron Harvest | Diesel-punk WWI-alternate RTS | No | Modest indie price | Mech-based combat |
| Homeworld 3 | Full 3D space RTS | No | AAA price | Vertical combat design |
| Broken Arrow | Modern combined arms RTS | Demo | AAA price | US-vs-Russia doctrines |
Why the roguelite pivot worries fans
Community sees it as a departure. Company of Heroes was built on WWII realism and long campaigns. Roguelite runs of 30 minutes are a very different loop.
Multiplayer future is unclear. Ranked ladders and 4v4 matches are what much of the community organizes around. Whether the roguelite retains those systems is uncertain from Relic’s announcements.
Franchise history matters. Company of Heroes 1 and 2 remain benchmark RTS games. Fans want a Company of Heroes 4 that iterates on that, not a genre swap.
The alternatives
Age of Empires IV, best modern historical RTS
Age of Empires IV brings the granddaddy of historical RTS back with modern visuals, mature multiplayer, and campaigns that teach mechanics without hand-holding. Regular content packs add new civs, and the ranked ladder is one of the healthiest RTS communities on PC.
Where it falls short: Setting is medieval, not WWII. Some players prefer the earlier Age titles. Higher hardware ask than expected.
Pricing:
- Free: Demo on Steam
- Paid: AAA price on Steam and Microsoft Store
- vs CoH3: Similar price, healthier ladder
Migrating from CoH3: No importer. Base-building instincts translate directly.
Download: Steam · Microsoft Store
Bottom line: Pick AoE4 if you want a modern polished RTS with active multiplayer.
Men of War II, best WWII squad realism
Men of War II is the closest CoH cousin in tone: WWII tactical squad combat with direct control of individual units, deep vehicle mechanics, and multi-scale battles. The single-player campaign is longer than CoH3’s and the multiplayer historical mode has a growing scene.
Where it falls short: Learning curve is steep. Netcode is workable but not the smoothest. UI can be dense.
Pricing:
- Free: Demo on Steam
- Paid: AAA price on Steam
- vs CoH3: Similar price, closer WWII feel
Migrating from CoH3: No importer. Squad-tactics instincts translate.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Men of War II if you want WWII squad tactics with deeper unit-level control than CoH3.
Steel Division 2, best operational WWII strategy
Steel Division 2 takes WWII to the operational scale: divisional composition, real historical units, and battles that model actual encounters on the Eastern Front. Multiplayer is niche but committed, and the campaign is a genuine strategy sim rather than a scripted narrative.
Where it falls short: Not a base-builder. The learning curve leans wargame, not RTS. Community is smaller than CoH’s.
Pricing:
- Free: Demo on Steam
- Paid: Modest indie price on Steam
- vs CoH3: Lower price, deeper strategy layer
Migrating from CoH3: No importer. Operational thinking transfers.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Steel Division 2 if you liked the CoH campaign maps and want deeper strategic decisions.
WARNO, best cold-war-gone-hot RTS
WARNO answers the “what if the Cold War went hot in 1989” question with 90+ NATO and Warsaw Pact divisions to command. Battles run large-scale, ranged combat is central, and the divisional composition rewards planning before every match.
Where it falls short: No base building. Setting is Cold War, not WWII. Balance patches have been frequent, some players find that disruptive.
Pricing:
- Free: Demo on Steam
- Paid: AAA price on Steam
- vs CoH3: Similar price, larger scale
Migrating from CoH3: No importer. Combined arms instincts translate.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick WARNO if you want ranged combined arms at divisional scale.
Iron Harvest, best diesel-punk alternate history
Iron Harvest is the direct CoH-inspired diesel-punk alternate-history RTS: mech-infantry battles, base building, and a linear campaign that clearly draws from Relic’s design DNA. The story is inventive, and the co-op mode makes it easier to onboard newcomers to RTS.
Where it falls short: Balance issues never fully resolved. Multiplayer is quiet. Some campaign missions feel padded.
Pricing:
- Free: None
- Paid: Modest indie price on Steam and GOG
- vs CoH3: Lower price, closer aesthetic sibling
Migrating from CoH3: No importer. Nearly identical control scheme.
Bottom line: Pick Iron Harvest for a CoH-shaped RTS with a fresh setting.
Homeworld 3, best 3D space RTS
Homeworld 3 returns the classic space RTS to modern PCs with full 3D movement, tight fleet management, and campaigns that use verticality as a mechanic, not decoration. If you love RTS controls but are tired of WWII tanks, this is the change of setting.
Where it falls short: Not a base builder in the CoH sense. Fleet management is closer to Homeworld 1 than 2, which pleases veterans and confuses newcomers.
Pricing:
- Free: None
- Paid: AAA price on Steam and Epic
- vs CoH3: Similar price, different genre
Migrating from CoH3: No importer. RTS instincts translate, controls do not.
Bottom line: Pick Homeworld 3 for a genuinely fresh RTS setting with fleet-scale tactics.
Broken Arrow, best modern combined-arms RTS
Broken Arrow puts you in modern US and Russian doctrines with combined-arms battles that mix infantry, armor, artillery, and air support. The scale is large, deployment orders drive tempo, and the game rewards long planning windows more than fast clicking.
Where it falls short: Newer game with balance still in flux. Netcode has been patched but occasionally hiccups. Not for base-builder purists.
Pricing:
- Free: Demo on Steam
- Paid: AAA price on Steam
- vs CoH3: Similar price, modern setting
Migrating from CoH3: No importer. Combined-arms instincts translate.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Broken Arrow if you want the CoH-scale combined arms but in a modern context.
How to choose
- Pick Age of Empires IV if you want the healthiest RTS ladder and are open to a medieval setting.
- Pick Men of War II if you want the closest WWII squad-tactics feel.
- Pick Steel Division 2 or WARNO for deeper operational strategy.
- Pick Iron Harvest if you want the closest visual and control sibling to CoH.
- Pick Homeworld 3 for a full setting change.
- Pick Broken Arrow for modern combined-arms.
- Stay on Company of Heroes 3 if you want to see where Relic takes the roguelite direction.
FAQ
Is Company of Heroes going away? No. Relic has confirmed continued support and the roguelite is presented as a new direction, not a replacement for CoH3.
What is the best Company of Heroes alternative for WWII squad tactics? Men of War II is the closest match. Steel Division 2 is deeper strategically but not squad-focused.
Are any of these DRM-free? Iron Harvest is on GOG DRM-free.
Which alternative has the best multiplayer scene? Age of Empires IV has the largest active ladder, WARNO and Broken Arrow have smaller but committed communities.
Do any run on Steam Deck? Age of Empires IV runs well. Iron Harvest and Steel Division 2 are playable with tweaks. WARNO and Homeworld 3 are heavy.
