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 13,017 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,606 positive reviews and 411 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 72,910 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 69,634 positive reviews and 3,276 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 5,446 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,270 positive reviews and 176 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. 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 #4 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,524 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,372 positive reviews and 152 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).

5. 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 #5 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 27,216 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 25,852 positive reviews and 1,364 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 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.

6. 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 #6 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,176 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,810 positive reviews and 366 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).

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 10,092 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,598 positive reviews and 494 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 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 262,856 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 245,208 positive reviews and 17,648 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. Empires of the Undergrowth

Command swarms of warriors at an unprecedented scale of warfare in this blend of RTS and base-building. Lead ant colonies against the many fearsome threats of the insect world, while building intricate nests, developing pheromone-based tactics, and evolving to meet growing dangers.

Empires of the Undergrowth 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 13,469 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,707 positive reviews and 762 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Empires of the Undergrowth on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

10. Mass Effect 2 (2010)

Mass Effect 2 (2010) 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 15,548 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 14,629 positive reviews and 919 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).