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Company of Heroes 2 is the closest overall match for Company of Heroes 3. It keeps the World War II setting, faction-driven battles, squad tactics and the series’ cover-and-flanking identity. Choose Men of War II or Call to Arms: Gates of Hell: Ostfront for more direct control, Steel Division 2 for larger formations and fronts, or Age of Empires IV for resource gathering, construction and historical campaigns. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War applies Relic’s squad-based ideas to science fiction, while Broken Arrow and Tempest Rising are looser modern-setting or classic-base-building alternatives.
Which game is most like Company of Heroes 3?
Start with Company of Heroes 2. Relic Entertainment describes it as the sequel that broadens army diversity, the European theatre of World War II, narrative depth and a campaign built around a meta map and persistent armies. That makes it the natural choice when you want another game in the same broad squad-real-time-strategy family rather than a different kind of strategy game.
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![Age of Empires IV – Anniversary Edition – Windows [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51NQnflAhRL._SL160_.jpg)
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Age of Empires IV – Anniversary Edition – Windows [Digital Code] | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Age of Empires Collector's Edition - PC | $89.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Age Of Empires: Gold (Jewel Case) - PC | $72.55 | Buy on Amazon |
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Age of Empires | $75.01 | Buy on Amazon |
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Age of Empires III | $37.55 | Buy on Amazon |
The other recommendations change one major ingredient at a time:
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →- Men of War II: closer, more granular control of soldiers and vehicles, with a steeper simulation-leaning interface.
- Call to Arms: Gates of Hell: Ostfront: realism-first WWII tactics with demanding battles and direct control.
- Steel Division 2: operational-scale WWII combat with formations, suppression, morale and shock mechanics.
- Age of Empires IV: an economy-driven historical RTS built around gathering resources, constructing buildings and producing armies.
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Relic-style squad combat and strong faction identity in a science-fiction setting.
- Broken Arrow: a modern combined-arms direction rather than a WWII substitute.
- Tempest Rising: a more conventional base-building RTS with only a loose connection to Company of Heroes 3.
How the alternatives differ
Company of Heroes 3 is easiest to replace when you identify which part of its battles you actually enjoy. The table below uses seven practical axes: tactical scale, battlefield emphasis, setting, campaign structure, unit control, multiplayer orientation and learning curve.
#1 Best Overall
- The award-winning and best-selling strategy franchise continues to delight fans worldwide with Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, putting you at the center of even more epic historical battles that shaped the world.
- Featuring 2 brand new civilizations: the Ottomans and Malians for a total of 10 diverse civilizations with unique playstyles and abilities.
- Play how you want with user-generated content, tools, and mods for custom games (Beta).
- 8 new maps; new masteries, challenges, taunts, and cheats; and additional in-game updates and languages included.
- Cooperate or spectate with up to 7 of your friends in PVP and PVE multiplayer modes, and now with ranked seasons!
| Game | Tactical scale | Main battlefield emphasis | Setting | Campaign structure | Control style | Multiplayer and learning profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company of Heroes 2 | Squad-level WWII engagements | Army diversity, cover, flanking and persistent-army strategy | European theatre of World War II | Meta map with persistent armies and narrative campaign | Familiar squad-RTS control | Closest learning transition for Company of Heroes 3 players |
| Men of War II | Squads and individual vehicles | Granular battlefield and vehicle handling | World War II | Not characterized in the available description | More direct and simulation-leaning | Steeper interface and learning curve |
| Call to Arms: Gates of Hell: Ostfront | Detailed WWII tactical actions | Realistic equipment, direct control and demanding battles | World War II | Not characterized in the available description | Direct control with realism-first handling | Demanding rather than accessibility-first |
| Steel Division 2 | Large formations and operational fronts | Suppression, morale, shock and combined formations | World War II | Single-player is weaker than multiplayer according to PC Gamer’s comparison | Operational, wargame-oriented control | Multiplayer emphasis and a high information load |
| Age of Empires IV | Armies built through an economy | Resource gathering, construction, production and raids | Multiple historical civilizations | Four historical campaigns | Economy and base-building control | Different opening priorities from a cover-centric RTS |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War | Squad-based science-fiction battles | Resource management, squads and faction identity | Warhammer 40,000 science fiction | Not characterized in the available description | Relic’s squad-based interface design | Familiar tactical DNA with a new setting |
| Broken Arrow | Modern combined-arms battles | Modern military scale and equipment | Modern setting | Not characterized in the available description | Broader combined-arms direction | Looser Company of Heroes match |
| Tempest Rising | Conventional RTS armies | Base building and production | Alternate modern setting | Not characterized in the available description | Traditional base-building control | Looser match for players who want classic RTS structure |
Company of Heroes 2: the closest family match
Choose Company of Heroes 2 when your priority is the recognizable Company of Heroes formula: WWII factions, squads fighting for terrain and a campaign that connects individual battles to a larger army. Relic presents it as a long-awaited sequel that expands army diversity and the European theatre while adding more narrative depth. Its campaign uses a meta map and persistent armies, so the strategic layer matters alongside each tactical engagement.
This is the safest first recommendation for someone who already understands Company of Heroes 3’s rhythm. You are not replacing cover-centric, factional combat with an economy simulator or a formation-scale wargame. Instead, you are moving to another entry in the same lineage and accepting that its campaign and balance belong to an earlier release.
Why it fits
- It remains in the European theatre of World War II.
- Army diversity and faction identity stay central to the experience.
- The persistent-army meta map provides campaign structure beyond isolated skirmishes.
- The transition is easier than learning an operational-scale system or a traditional economy opening.
Who should look elsewhere
Pick another game if you specifically want individual-soldier control, a larger operational front, a resource-and-construction economy or a non-WWII setting. Company of Heroes 2 is the closest match, not the answer to every reason someone might be leaving Company of Heroes 3.
Relic’s franchise history records more than 4 million copies sold for Company of Heroes, a figure tied to the company’s 2006-era history rather than a current sales measurement.
Men of War II: more direct control over units and vehicles
Men of War II appears among the closest Company of Heroes 3 alternatives for players who want WWII real-time tactics but more granular handling. The important distinction is control: it is suited to players who want to manage soldiers and vehicles more directly and who are comfortable with a steeper, more simulation-leaning interface.
What changes from Company of Heroes 3
- You trade some accessibility for closer involvement in individual unit and vehicle actions.
- The interface asks more of you, so the first hours can feel less immediate than a conventional squad RTS.
- The appeal is precision and control rather than a larger economy or a different historical theatre.
Best use case
Choose Men of War II when your ideal battle involves issuing precise orders, correcting vehicle positions and managing the details of an engagement. It is a better direction for a player who feels Company of Heroes 3 abstracts too much, but a worse fit for someone seeking a relaxed campaign or a lighter learning curve. Current platform and edition information can change, so verify those details before buying.
Rank #2
- 11 New Units: Including the Huns' Tarkan, the Korean War Wagon and Turtle Ship, plus the Aztecs' Plumed Archer 26 New Technologies: One for each civilization, including Chinese Rocketry and British Yeoman
- New Game Types: Experience new challenges with `Wonder Race', `Defend the Wonder' and `King of the Hill' Real World Maps: Based on geographical locations such as Britain, France, and Italy
- Command Allied Computer Players: Use chat commands to order allies to attack, tribute resources, and build an economy or military Smart Villagers: Villagers work smarter, build walls more intelligently, and gather resources automatically after constructing a drop-off building.
- Farms Automatically Replant: Queue farms so they replant after being harvested Battering Rams: Units can garrison inside Battering Rams for protection, or to increase the Ram's speed when attacking foes.
Call to Arms: Gates of Hell: Ostfront: realism-first WWII tactics
Call to Arms: Gates of Hell: Ostfront is repeatedly grouped with Company of Heroes 3, Men of War and Steel Division as a close WWII tactical option. Its selling point in this comparison is realism: detailed WWII equipment, direct control and battles that demand more attention than an accessibility-first RTS.
Choose it for equipment and control
- You want to interact with individual vehicles and battlefield positions directly.
- Authentic-feeling WWII equipment matters more than a quick, forgiving onboarding process.
- You prefer demanding tactical problems to a broad economic layer.
Trade-offs
The same directness that attracts simulation-minded players can make mistakes expensive and interfaces harder to read. It is not the best recommendation if your main goal is the cleanest campaign structure or the largest multiplayer population; exact modes, downloadable content and current player numbers are subject to change and should be checked at the time of purchase.
Steel Division 2: move from squads to operational formations
Steel Division 2 is the choice for a reader who likes WWII but wants the battlefield to expand beyond Company of Heroes’ tighter squad scale. PC Gamer describes the series as large-scale WWII real-time battles influenced by Eugen Systems’ wargame approach. The sequel adds an operational feel in which fronts and formations matter more than a handful of squads contesting a single building.
Mechanics that change the decision
- Suppression: fire can reduce a formation’s ability to operate effectively.
- Morale: the condition of troops becomes a battlefield variable, not just a health bar.
- Shock: sudden pressure and disruption can determine whether an attack succeeds.
Those systems reward planning across a wider area and make Steel Division 2 a stronger fit for players who think in lines, reserves and timing. It is less suitable if you mainly want the intimate cover dance of Company of Heroes 3.
Campaign versus multiplayer
PC Gamer says Steel Division 2 improves on its predecessor but that its single-player experience is weaker than its multiplayer. Treat that as a buying signal: choose it primarily for large battles and competitive or cooperative play, not because you expect the campaign to be the strongest part of the package.
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Age of Empires IV is not a one-to-one Company of Heroes replacement. It is the right answer when the tactical battles are only part of what you want and you would rather build an economy, develop a base and produce an army over time.
How its loop differs
- Explore the map for resources.
- Construct buildings that support your economy and army.
- Produce units from those structures.
- Use the resulting force to raid, defend and fight for territory.
The official game page lists four historical campaigns and ten civilizations in the Anniversary Edition. That gives the campaign side a broader historical frame than a single WWII theatre, while the civilization roster encourages different economic and military openings.
Requirements and availability listed by the official page
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 support.
- 8 GB minimum memory.
- Included with PC Game Pass.
Choose Age of Empires IV if you want the satisfaction of turning resources and construction into military power. Do not choose it expecting Company of Heroes-style cover and suppression to remain the central concern; the economy is the engine that drives every battle.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Relic mechanics in science fiction
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War keeps the Relic connection while changing the setting completely. Relic says the game introduced resource-management and squad-based interface innovations to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. That makes it a strong alternative for readers who value squad combat, distinctive factions and tactical identity more than historical authenticity.
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Why the change of setting works
- The squad-based interface preserves a recognizable tactical foundation.
- Resource management remains important, but the conflict is science fiction rather than WWII.
- Faction identity becomes a major reason to replay, even when the battlefield assumptions differ from Company of Heroes.
Relic’s franchise history records more than 7 million copies sold for Dawn of War. That is a historical franchise figure, not a current player-count or sales claim.
Broken Arrow: a modern combined-arms direction
Broken Arrow appears in similarity results alongside Company of Heroes 3, but it should be treated as a setting and scale variation rather than a direct WWII substitute. Its modern combined-arms direction is the attraction: choose it when contemporary military equipment and a broader battlefield concept matter more than recreating Company of Heroes’ European theatre.
This is a recommendation for curiosity about modern warfare, not for preserving every familiar mechanic. If your non-negotiables are WWII authenticity, persistent campaign armies or classic cover tactics, start with Company of Heroes 2, Men of War II or Gates of Hell instead.
Rank #4
Tempest Rising: conventional base-building in an alternate setting
Tempest Rising is another loose match surfaced in similarity results. Present it as a more conventional base-building RTS in an alternate setting. The appeal is the traditional loop of establishing a base, producing an army and fighting with that economy behind you, not a close recreation of Company of Heroes 3’s squad-level battlefield priorities.
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Pick Tempest Rising if you want a classic RTS structure and are willing to leave WWII tactics behind. If cover, flanking and direct squad decisions are the reason you play Company of Heroes 3, the closer matches are higher on this list.
Choose by the change you want
You want the same kind of WWII squad battles
Choose Company of Heroes 2. It is the nearest match in setting, lineage and campaign concept.
You want to control the details yourself
Choose Men of War II for granular unit and vehicle handling, or Gates of Hell: Ostfront when realism and demanding WWII equipment are the priority.
You want armies, fronts and morale systems
Choose Steel Division 2. Its scale is substantially larger, and its suppression, morale and shock mechanics support an operational wargame mindset. Favor it for multiplayer, since the single-player side is described as weaker than multiplayer.
You want an economy before the battle
Choose Age of Empires IV. Its resource, construction and production loop is the defining difference, and its four campaigns provide a broad historical structure.
Best Value
- Start out playing as the British and begin with a solid economy, or lead the French into an easy alliance with Native Americans - 8 total civilizations to choose from
- Work with Native Americans to your tactical advantage, for the first time ever
- Develop your own Home City, and customize it make it wealthier and more powerful as you take over Europe
- Explore the New World and create colonies while seeking out new resources and making alliances with the Native Americans
- Recover buried treasure from the Caribbean, hunt bison on the Great Plains, compete for trade routes and fortify the coast of New England
You want Relic-style squads without WWII
Choose Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. It preserves squad-based interface ideas and resource management while moving into science fiction.
You want modern or classic-RTS variations
Choose Broken Arrow for a modern combined-arms direction or Tempest Rising for conventional base building. Both are intentionally looser matches.
Learning-curve advice before you switch
The alternatives do not all test the same skills. A Company of Heroes 3 player moving to Company of Heroes 2 can concentrate on faction differences and campaign decisions. Moving to Men of War II or Gates of Hell adds interface and control precision. Moving to Steel Division 2 requires thinking about formations, morale and the shape of a front. Moving to Age of Empires IV requires an economy opening before tactical combat can reach full strength.
- Lowest transition friction: Company of Heroes 2.
- Highest control demand: Men of War II and Gates of Hell: Ostfront.
- Largest scale adjustment: Steel Division 2.
- Biggest strategic-system change: Age of Empires IV.
- Most dramatic setting change: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War.
A note on pausing and planning
Relic describes Company of Heroes’ Full Tactical Pause as “an innovative feature allowing players to pause the action at any time and queue up commands before watching their strategies play out.” That matters when comparing games: a pause-and-queue option changes how comfortably you can plan under pressure, while direct-control alternatives place more responsibility on continuous battlefield attention. Check the specific implementation in the edition you intend to play rather than assuming every recommendation handles time in the same way.
Final recommendation
Buy or play Company of Heroes 2 first if you want the closest Company of Heroes 3 experience. Select Men of War II or Gates of Hell: Ostfront for deeper hands-on WWII control, Steel Division 2 for operational formations, and Age of Empires IV for economy-driven historical strategy. Dawn of War is the best thematic detour, while Broken Arrow and Tempest Rising make sense only when modern combined arms or traditional base building is the change you are specifically seeking.
Quick Recap
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