: Abstracted economic systems (e.g., gold, wood, vespene gas) that must be gathered through specialized units or by controlling territory.

: Moveable actors including workers for gathering and military units (land, sea, or air) for combat.

Real-time strategy (RTS) games are defined by a continuous flow of gameplay where players manage resources, build structures, and command armies simultaneously to defeat opponents. The core experience typically follows a "harvest, build, and destroy" loop. Core Gameplay Elements

Successful RTS games integrate four primary components into their "real-time" environment: