0 A.D. Alpha 23 22786

Most old school RTS games have had mods developed for them over the years, likely due to how simplistic the design and file organization was back then. Some of them have even become their own full-fledged game or genre, like DoTA or coop tower defense modes. One of these numerous spinoff games is 0 AD.

The installation process for 0 AD is straightforward, but keep in mind that you need to meet hardware and software requirements. The game is surprisingly intense on your computer. Also keep in mind that this game is still in Alpha, which leaves it with some features missing like a campaign.

The basic game flow is similar to the Age of Empire 2 mod it came from - you gather resources, build your town, build an army, and attack. You can command one of a few civilizations between 500 BC and 500 AD:  Romans, Carthaginians, Celts, Greeks, Iberians, Mauryans, and Persians. There are also a few new features added to the gameplay, such as the concept of citizen soldiers. You can order your soldiers to gather resources and construct buildings. On the other hand, the more battle experience the unit gets, the less effective they become at being a civilian.

Another interesting feature are the technological tradeoffs. You can only choose one of two technologies from a pair at a time and the choice is irreversible. That gives each faction more replay value. With so many features and even more on the way thanks to its state as an alpha. 0 AD is worth a look.