Retro Commander

Retro Commander

Noble Master LLC · November 24, 2023 · Strategy, RTS, Base Building, Wargame, Multiplayer

Retro Commander is free to play — no purchase needed. We track it so you know if that ever changes.

PC
Mostly Positive77% · 3741playing now
This game is free to play. Get it on Steam →

Screenshots

Retro Commander price

Retro Commander is free to play — there is no purchase price, on Steam or anywhere else we track. We keep watching it, so if it ever stops being free the price history on this page will show when that happened and what it changed to.

About Retro Commander

✦ AI summary

Retro Commander is a post-apocalyptic real-time strategy wargame where you build armies, research faction-specific technologies, and battle across dynamic environments in single-player campaigns or cross-platform multiplayer matches. With six unique factions featuring specialized units like stealth operatives, robots, drones, and alien crafts, plus a full map editor for custom content, it delivers strategic depth without the generic RTS feel.

Retro Commander is a post-apocalyptic real-time strategy wargame (RTS). Take command and fight it out in a world where a cataclysmic timeline has transpired on Mother Earth. Wage wars solo, against the AI, or take on your gaming comrades and friends in cross-platform multiplayer matches. Form teams and clans and fight co-op style with the AI and other players for ultimate victory. As opposed to other real-time strategy game, Retro Commander tries to focus on both, a fun single player and a thrilling multiplayer experience. The game strives to be easy to learn with a modern user interface. Single player comes with skirmish matches against the AI as well as a comic-based story campaign. Multiplayer can be played cross-platform and includes a ranking and rating system.
  • Post-Apocalyptic: Real-time strategy (RTS) played in a post-apocalyptic timeline on Mother Earth. The environment includes day-night cycles, rain, snow, wind and solar flare activity.
  • Story Campaign: Deep campaign and story line of humanity after a cataclysmic event. Factions come with their own specialized technologies such as stealth, robots, drones or shields.
  • Single & Multiplayer: A challenging AI for both single and multiplayer matches with co-op play. Cross-platform multiplayer including LAN/internet. ONLINE play comes with an award and rating system.
  • Play Modes: In addition to regular skirmish matches, the game supports missions such as elimination, survival, capture the flag, defense and battle royale. Available in both single and multiplayer also are escort and rescue missions.
  • Structures & Troops: Common troops for land, sea and air warfare is available to all factions. Specialized elements such as stealth, shields, EMP weapons, nukes, portals, orbital weapons, assimilator and other troops and structures provide for additional variety.
  • Research: A tech tree and research options enable to build specialized structures and troops. A Tech Snatcher can be used to steal enemy technology.
  • Modding: A map editor is included allowing for player-modded maps including player-modded campaigns. All elements including troops, structures, as well as graphics and sound effects, can be modded if desired.
Although some troops are shared, the game is trying not to be a generic RTS-games. There are faction-specific technologies each with their strengths and weaknesses.
  • GRA Technology: gives access to stealth and cloaking. Included are cloaked agents and spies as well as bombers with EMP and nuclear weapons. Available also are snipers and heavy airlifts. Can build uranium fabricators.
  • ELC Technology: provides robots, airships and robo dogs. Available also are a mechanic and heavy airlift. Can build stationary EMP-field generators.
  • IDB Technology: provides hovertanks, drones including EMP-field drones and drones equipped with napalm weapons. Can build fusion generators for power.
  • Mayan Technology: consists of decoy capabilities. Included are hologram tanks, transformers, dogs and dolphins. Can build portals.
  • Ancient Technology: provides shields, EMP soldiers, assimilators and napalm tanks. Can build matter fabricators.
  • Alien Technology: provides alien crafts, specialized in PSY and EMP. Builds mobile factories.
Free vs Paid (DLC or in-game): The free version includes unlimited access to over 12+ multiplayer scenarios and Chapter 01 of the single player campaign. Purchasing the DLC "All Maps & Modding" grants full access to the game. It includes everything for single player including the story campaign, skirmishing against the AI, ONLINE multiplayer or LAN-play with friends and family.No DRM: There is no DRM in the game. You don't need to connected to the internet to play single player games or the campaign. You don't need to be logged in to play LAN games either. You don't need to login either for WAN games (locally hosted games over the internet), but you will have to work out your router settings and do the appropriate port-forwarding so your friends can connect from remote.

Retro Commander — game info

Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux / SteamOS
Steam Deck
Playable
Player modes
Single-player, Online PvP, Online co-op, LAN, Cross-platform multiplayer
PC Game Pass
Not included

DLC & expansions

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

✦ AI summary

Retro Commander receives mixed reactions from players, with some enjoying it as a nostalgic throwback to classic RTS games that they found fun and well-polished, while others find it severely lacking in every aspect—from uninspired unit and building design to clunky controls and dated sound. The game appears to appeal primarily to those seeking retro RTS nostalgia, but critics argue it fails to deliver engaging mechanics or a user experience that stands up even to the standards it's attempting to emulate.

Not recommended Jul 22, 2026
I do not know how i came to own this game but it seems i have since January 2025. i tried this and i now know why this was so easily forgettable. There is nothing to this game that is remarkable in any way. Every single aspect of this thing is the worst way to do it. The building design has nothing that makes one building look easily distinguishable from another. unit design is so shameful that you can make it through the entire tutorial and only build like 4 types of units. The user interface is uninspired unless you find Photoshop's UI as something you want to imitate. The sound design would be acceptable on an Atari 2600. Units move in a clunky way that also reminds me of an Atari 2600. It seems obvious to me that this game designer has never designed a game before and i would believe that they have never even played a game before. i hope i didnt spend money on this.
1 found this helpful
Not recommended Jun 26, 2026
Freemium jank
1 found this helpful
Recommended Sep 25, 2026
This game is awesome. Be warned though. Gameplay can be clunky at times, especially when having to manage loads of construction robots or dealing with unit pathfinding. Those points aside it is an amazing game. The game features a nice tech tree and multiple starting factions that all come with their own unique starting points (always go for robots and airships, never go for stealth). Adding to the good gameplay there is the map editor which lets you build your own maps and the option to host a game on your local network or even the internet if you forward your port 2300. This game was made with a lot of passion and you can absolutely feel it. All of that said the 20€/$ for maps and modding are a bit steep. I would look at it as a thank you to the developer. The game also runs nice on linux without any modifications.
Recommended Jul 14, 2026
everthing
Recommended Jul 6, 2026
amazing
Recommended Jul 5, 2026
A fun, well polished RTS game.

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