Command & Conquer: Red Alert

Command & Conquer: Red Alert from 1996 was originally conceived as a prequel to the story of the Tiberium saga, but Westwood Studios ultimately turned it into an alternate history in which Albert Einstein travels back in time to prevent Hitler's rise – thereby inadvertently opening the way for Stalin's Soviet Union to unleash war against the Allies. The player thus chooses between the technologically more advanced Allies and the numerically stronger, more brutal Soviet Army, each with a different set of units and strategic approach to the same conflict, allowing players to experience the war from two completely different perspectives.

The game expanded on the foundations laid by the first Command & Conquer with new units such as Tesla coils, dogs as scout units that reveal spies, and naval battles, offering more varied tactical options than its predecessor. The campaigns were again interspersed with live-action cutscenes, this time with an even greater dose of deliberate exaggeration and dark humor, which became characteristic of the Red Alert series and set it apart in tone from the more serious Tiberium saga. Expanded multiplayer and more varied maps further supported the game as a favorite choice for competitive players who wanted to test their strength against each other, not just against computer-controlled opponents.

Frank Klepacki's soundtrack, again with distinctive electronic-rock motifs, remains among the most frequently mentioned game music of the 1990s, and together with a distinctive art style it helped Red Alert build its own loyal fanbase independent of the main Tiberium series. Commercial and critical success led to a long line of sequels, including the already-released Red Alert 2, and Red Alert still ranks among the most popular and most-played titles of the early era of real-time strategy on PC, one that players gladly return to, aided also by later remastered releases.

Why play: Thanks to its distinctive art style, iconic Frank Klepacki soundtrack, and its own loyal fanbase, Red Alert still ranks among the most popular and most-played titles of the early era of RTS on PC.