Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Similar games to Homeworld 3 are:
- Nexus – the Jupiter Incident
- Haegemonia: Legions of Iron
- Star Wars Empire at War
- Ancient Space
- Stellar Warfare
- Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
- House of the Dying Sun
- Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Homeworld 3 offers a great blend of story, strategy, and intense space battles, with all the trappings and systems tha tyou might expect from an RTS game. Homeworld sees you take command of a mothership and navigate through space, all the while managing your resources and growing your fleet to protect yourself from various dangers. If you enjoyed Homeworld 3 and are craving some more space RTS action, you should try the titles we recommend.
Fierce battles in space await. Image via Mithis Games
It’s not just about combat, exploring is crucial. Image via Mithis Games
You will need to manage resources and your fleet. Image via Mithis Games
Nexus – the Jupiter Incident
- Available on PC
- Rating: PEGI 12
- Where to buy: Steam
If you’ve not heard of Nexus, this is a must-play for fans of Homeworld. While it is a bit older – it came out in 2004, a few years after the first Homeworld game – do not be put off by this fact. Jupiter Incident has a huge campaign, fantastic gameplay, and extremely deep tactical combat. In this game, you control a small fleet with a capital ship that has limited movement due to its size. With this in mind, you have to think fast and ensure the survival of your capital ship against enemies who are faster and, mostly, smarter. You will fail plenty of times, but it’s all a learning experience. This game is truly a legend among sci-fi RTS, and one entirely worth your time.
The explosion effects in this game are infamous. Image via Digital Reality
Battles take place in space. Image via Digital Reality
Haegemonia: Legions of Iron
- Available on PC
- Where to buy: Steam
Haegemonia is another old RTS game from 2002, but you shouldn’t let this fact put you off. Legions of Iron is seen by many as one of the best space RTS games out there, and for good reason. Not only does it deliver solid, tactical gameplay and fleet management, but also a thoroughly enjoyable story. It scratches the ever-present itch of wanting a space-opera RTS and delivers on the combat, 3D space exploration, and let’s not forget about those 2002-era explosion effects. There is something undeniably charming about old-school RTS, and Legions of Iron is one you won’t be able to put down.
Command Star Destroyer fleets and crush your foes. Image via Petroglyph
Battles take place in space and on planets, featuring plenty of iconic Star Wars units. Image via Petroglyph
You can command X-Wings and live our your Star Wars dreams. Image via Petroglyph
Star Wars Empire at War
- Available on PC
- Where to buy: Steam
Bear with us on this one, but Star Wars Empire at War is something of an underrated gem in the RTS world. It has space and ground battles, base building, troop and ship management, and it’s all set in the wonderfully detailed Star Wars universe. Some fights play out by first securing the space outside a planet, before going down to launch the invasion. You can play as Rebels or the Empire, and have the option to blow everything up with the Death Star. This isn’t exactly the same as Homeworld 3, but if you want a solid RTS with space battles, you really should give Empire at War a try.
Ancient Space
- Available on: PC
- Rating: 7+
- Where to buy: Steam
The general consensus for Ancient Space is that it is almost close enough to being like Homeworld, but it falls short in several aspects. Where Homeworld is mostly unforgiving, Ancient Space is much more lenient regarding resource management and risk vs reward. It is an RTS, but you can’t move your ships as freely as you’d like, which might be a dealbreaker to some. The battles in Ancient Space are also on a smaller scale, but this is mostly because it’s an older game at this point. As you travel, you can issue commands, manoeuvre your fleet, and engage your foes in combat. Compared to Homeworld 3, which follows a fast-paced and chaotic approach, Ancient Space offers a slightly slower pace.
Stellar Warfare
- Available on: PC, Mac
- Rating: 7+
- Where to buy: Steam
Stellar Warfare is an indie title currently in Early Access on Steam, and it also falls into the camp of falling short of being as good as Homeworld. Stellar Warfare has you choose a faction, build space stations, and engage in truly chaotic battles. The battles can be extremely overwhelming, and some would argue that the combat is more akin to a MOBA than an RTS game due to how much there is going on at one time. With that said, it’s close enough in aesthetic to Homeworld, and it is an RTS game set in space, not just an RTS game with a sci-fi setting. One of the better points of this game is its customisation options, giving your fleets tons of freedom and options.
Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
- Available on: PC
- Rating: 13+
- Where to buy: Steam
It’s true that few games understand RTS better than those set in the Warhammer universe. Warhammer 40k has a wellspring of lore to draw from, and Battlefleet Gothic harnesses these extremely well. Don’t expect large-scale battles like Homeworld 3, but you should expect a solid selection of choice for your vessels, smaller combat scenarios, and an all-around solid space RTS game positively dripping with Warhammer 40K lore and three fantastic campaigns to sink your time into.
House of the Dying Sun
- Available on: PC
- Rating: 7+
- Where to buy: Steam
In many ways, House of the Dying Sun manages to capture the same sci-fi vibe of Homeworld, and most agree that House of the Dying Sun is directly inspired by Homeworld. It’s a beautiful game, full of understated style and nuanced tactical battles. You can fly around in first-person and you can also order vessels in your fleet from a tactical overview, switch to another ship, and pause time to carefully consider what to do next. House of the Dying Sun is short and sweet, which is its biggest problem; it doesn’t span a huge universe like Homeworld, but what it delivers is extremely polished and fantastically fun.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
- Available on: PC
- Rating: TEEN
- Where to buy: Steam
While it might seem like a convoluted mess, Sins of a Solar Empire is no more difficult than wrapping your head around Homeworld 3. Your task is to build your space-faring empire, manage your resources, and take part in battles that will test your strategic capabilities. Where Homeworld 3 has a clearly defined focus on large-scale RTS mayhem fights, Sins of a Solar Empire puts you in more of a management position, where you must also consider diplomacy as you navigate the sandbox world. If you want a delightfully fun sci-fi RTS game, you can’t go wrong here. There is a sequel in the works right now, scheduled to be released in 2024, so that is another one to keep your eye on if you want something modern.
