Best Real-Time with Pause Games on Steam

1. Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance

The last days of man are at hand.. Two years after the Infinite War the once great warring nations now lie in ruins, and humanity’s hope for a brighter future is nothing but a bitter memory. A new, seemingly unstoppable enemy, supported by the zealots of The Order, now seeks to eradicate mankind: UEF, Aeon Loyalist, and Cybran alike.

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance holds the #1 spot for "best Real-Time with Pause game on Steam" with a Player Score of 94. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 12,641 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,242 positive reviews and 399 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $12.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance on the Steam Deck.

2. FTL: Faster Than Light

This "spaceship simulation roguelike-like" allows you to take your ship and crew on an adventure through a randomly generated galaxy filled with glory and bitter defeat.

FTL: Faster Than Light has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 71,323 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 68,188 positive reviews and 3,135 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play FTL: Faster Than Light on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

3. Rusted Warfare - RTS

{{An RTS inspired by the classics of the past!}} Making up for it's subpar retro graphics with fun gameplay and modern multi-threaded tech enabling huge battles to run smooth... Featuring singleplayer challenges, skirmish, sandbox, 10-player multiplayer & workshop modding.

Rusted Warfare - RTS has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,843 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,701 positive reviews and 142 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Rusted Warfare - RTS on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

4. Against the Storm

A dark fantasy city builder where you must rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic rains. As the Queen’s Viceroy, lead humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies to reclaim the wilderness and secure a future for civilization's last survivors.

Against the Storm has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 24,444 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 23,282 positive reviews and 1,162 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.49 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

5. Door Kickers 2: Task Force North

Command military Special Ops Teams in gripping tactical combat against a Middle East-based terrorist network. Sequel to RockPaperShotgun's "Best Tactics Game of 2014".

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,695 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,402 positive reviews and 293 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Door Kickers 2: Task Force North on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

6. Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal

Creeper World 3 is what happens when cellular automata takes over a strategy simulation. Instead of discrete units that attack your base, a fluid-like substance spreads over the terraformable terrain. Your base, your weapons, your strategy... you must adapt them all.

Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,466 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,315 positive reviews and 151 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

7. Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander

Design and simulate the starships of your dreams! Command your ship or fleet in epic battles and manage your crew while exploring a dangerous galaxy. Play alone or with friends, test your ships in online PvP, and let your imagination reach for the stars!

Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,184 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,748 positive reviews and 436 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $15.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

8. Cities: Skylines

Cities: Skylines is a modern take on the classic city simulation. The game introduces new game play elements to realize the thrill and hardships of creating and maintaining a real city whilst expanding on some well-established tropes of the city building experience.

Cities: Skylines has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 255,777 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 238,562 positive reviews and 17,215 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Cities: Skylines on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

9. Mass Effect 2 (2010)

Mass Effect 2 (2010) has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 15,557 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 14,642 positive reviews and 915 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $0.00 to play and is not available to play on Windows, Mac OS, or Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Mass Effect 2 (2010) on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

10. Door Kickers

Door Kickers is an innovative realtime strategy game that puts you in charge of a SWAT team and lets you command them during a tactical intervention.

Door Kickers has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,620 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,087 positive reviews and 533 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Door Kickers on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).