Best Real-Time with Pause Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 407 Real-Time with Pause games, but not all of them are able to be played on Linux builds. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Real-Time with Pause game rankings were last updated on 12/12/2024.
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1. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best Linux Real-Time with Pause game on Steam" with a Player Score of 94. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 73,141 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 69,851 positive reviews and 3,290 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).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 9/14/2012 |
| Developer | Subset Games |
| Publisher | Subset Games |
| Steam App Id | 212680 |
2. Besiege
Besiege is a physics building game about constructing mechanical machines to annihilate armies, obliterate castles and overcome challenging obstacles. Conquer the campaign or skirmish with friends in Multiplayer!
Besiege has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Linux Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 48,577 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 46,400 positive reviews and 2,177 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $3.74 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Besiege on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $3.74 |
| Release Date | 2/18/2020 |
| Franchise | Spiderling Studios |
| Developer | Spiderling Studios |
| Publisher | Spiderling Studios |
| Steam App Id | 346010 |
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 Linux Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,535 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,354 positive reviews and 181 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).
| Steam Price | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 7/14/2017 |
| Developer | Corroding Games |
| Publisher | Corroding Games |
| Steam App Id | 647960 |
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 Linux Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,538 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,386 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).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 3/27/2014 |
| Developer | Knuckle Cracker |
| Publisher | Knuckle Cracker |
| Steam App Id | 280220 |
5. 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 #5 spot for the best Linux Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 265,441 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 247,640 positive reviews and 17,801 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).
| Steam Price | $29.99 |
| Release Date | 3/10/2015 |
| Developer | Colossal Order Ltd. |
| Publisher | Paradox Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 255710 |
6. 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 #6 spot for the best Linux Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,703 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,161 positive reviews and 542 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).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 10/20/2014 |
| Franchise | KillHouse Games |
| Developer | KillHouse Games |
| Publisher | KillHouse Games |
| Steam App Id | 248610 |
7. STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™ II - The Sith Lords™
5 years after the events of the award winning original, the Sith are on the verge of crushing the Old Republic. As a lone Jedi, will you follow the light side or succumb to the dark?
STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™ II - The Sith Lords™ has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 23,629 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 22,122 positive reviews and 1,507 negative reviews — making it "Very 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 STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™ II - The Sith Lords™ on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 8/23/2012 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 208580 |
8. Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition)
Defender's Quest is a Tower-Defense/RPG Hybrid tightly focuses on three things: tactical depth, customization, and story
Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition) has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,424 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,265 positive reviews and 159 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 Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition) on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 10/30/2012 |
| Developer | Level Up Labs, LLC |
| Publisher | Level Up Labs |
| Steam App Id | 218410 |
9. Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition
Uncover secrets of past lives in this story-rich, tactical roleplaying game set in Sigil, a dark fantasy city at the heart of the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse. Explore the planes, survive combat alongside a party of bizarre companions, and solve puzzles unlike any ever seen in the genre.
Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,703 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,458 positive reviews and 245 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
10. Crusader Kings III
Love, fight, scheme, and claim greatness. Determine your noble house’s legacy in the sprawling grand strategy of Crusader Kings III. Death is only the beginning as you guide your dynasty’s bloodline in the rich and larger-than-life simulation of the Middle Ages.
Crusader Kings III has achieved a Player Score of 90, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 117,358 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 107,287 positive reviews and 10,071 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $49.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Crusader Kings III on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $49.99 |
| Release Date | 9/1/2020 |
| Franchise | Paradox Interactive - Official |
| Developer | Paradox Development Studio |
| Publisher | Paradox Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 1158310 |
More Real-Time with Pause Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Real-Time with Pause games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,184 | 9/14/2012 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 337 | 2/18/2020 | 94 | $3.74 | Steam Charts | |
| 141 | 7/14/2017 | 93 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 201 | 3/27/2014 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 9,105 | 3/10/2015 | 92 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 27 | 10/20/2014 | 92 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 338 | 8/23/2012 | 92 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 8 | 10/30/2012 | 91 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 67 | 4/11/2017 | 91 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 18,880 | 9/1/2020 | 90 | $49.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). FTL: Faster Than Light on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 13). Besiege on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 18). Rusted Warfare - RTS on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). Cities: Skylines on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 4). Door Kickers on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™ II - The Sith Lords™ on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 19). Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition) on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 7). Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 9). Crusader Kings III on Steam. Steam Store.