
Total Annihilation stands out as one of the best Strategy titles in recent memory.
92
Verdict
97%
Steam
—
IGDB
Verdict score based on confidence-adjusted Steam reviews?
Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam (97% positive from 3.7K reviews)
Engaging multiplayer/co-op experience
Outstanding soundtrack
No significant drawbacks reported
Total Annihilation is a science fiction real-time strategy video game released in September 1997 for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS by Cavedog Entertainment and distributed internationally by GT Interactive. Two expansion packs were released in 1998, The Core Contingency on April 29 and Battle Tactics on July 20, while a medieval-themed spin-off called Total Annihilation: Kingdoms was released on June 25, 1999.

Runs well on modern hardware.
Last updated 4d ago
I spent hundreds (perhaps thousands?) of hours playing TA as a kid. TA was an incredible technical feat in 1997. Full 3D units that turn, aim, and fire at enemies, 3D height-mapped terrain, gravity, projectile physics, dynamic shadows, environmental fires. From an RTS standpoint it also has incredible depth, with radar, artillery, ICBMs, active and passive countermeasures, complex patrol paths, bombardment, and units deployable across land, sea, and air. The score is performed by a living, breathing symphony orchestra. Many of TA's gameplay elements have not been replicated in modern titles. For instance, in modern games you get a button in the UI which launches an airstrike or artillery barrage. In TA you build the artillery, fly out a radar aircraft, and target your artillery to fire at the blips on radar. Flying units can be ordered into combat air patrols and will fly back for repair as needed. If the enemy air defense is too dense, your airstrike isn't going to hit. TA does so much, so well, with a level of polish that is rarely seen even in modern games. Even TA's spiritual successors, the Supreme Commander and Planetary Annihilation games, don't come close to the original. They tried to do more but lost the simplicity that made TA work so well. I played this on Fedora and encountered a few bugs. At launch it says I have the wrong version of Direct X. The mission narration is cut off, and the game doesn't seem to like running in 4k with multiple displays. In spite of this, the game runs fine in 1080p. I'm glad this classic lives on. It's a treat for any RTS fan.
Best RTS from <2000, smoothest economy, coolest units
game just stopped working, resolution problems,lacking expansions here on steam, played often now cannot , either there is no commander on screen at higher res or the mouse scroll stops working
Reviews sourced from Steam. All reviews belong to their respective authors.
Data sourced from RAWG, Steam, IGDB, CheapShark, Wikipedia, HLTB, and GX Corner. Sources: rawg, steam, cheapshark, igdb, wikipedia.
All game titles, trademarks, and copyrights belong to their respective owners.