Developer: Cavedog Entertainment Released: 1997 Total Annihilation is a pioneering real-time strategy title that was the first to feature a 3D map and units. Unlike most strategy games even today, Total Annihilation isn't constrained to the horizontal axis, taking into account the height and velocity of projectiles. This means that fired projectiles need to lead moving targets, and shot high enough to clear any obstacles blocking the target. Total Annihilation was more focused on the battles themselves over base building, allowing for warfare on a greater scale than many other titles at the time. Still retaining an active player base even today, Total Annihilation's cult popularity meant that it recently received a spiritual successor, in the form of Planetary Annihilation.
