A real-time strategy game, or RTS, is a strategy game where time keeps moving. Players gather resources, build bases, create units, scout the map, and command battles without waiting for formal turns.
Why real time changes strategy
RTS games test planning and execution together. A player may have a good plan, but they also need speed, attention, and the ability to handle several tasks at once.
Common RTS terms
Players often talk about build orders, economy, scouting, map control, unit counters, and micro-management. These terms describe how a player turns resources into pressure.
An RTS is different from a turn-based game because decisions happen while the opponent is acting too.