Best Real-Time with Pause Games on Steam (for Mac OS)
Steam currently has 413 Real-Time with Pause games, but not all of them are able to be played on Mac. 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 1/3/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best real-time with pause games on Steam
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- Best real-time with pause Linux games on Steam
- Free real-time with pause games on Steam
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- Best rated Steam games
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 Mac OS Real-Time with Pause game on Steam" with a Player Score of 94. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 73,472 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 70,147 positive reviews and 3,325 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 Mac OS Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 48,789 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 46,592 positive reviews and 2,197 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 Besiege on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| 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 Mac OS Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,651 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,467 positive reviews and 184 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 Mac OS Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,574 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,418 positive reviews and 156 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 Mac OS Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 267,451 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 249,515 positive reviews and 17,936 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. 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 #6 spot for the best Mac OS Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 14,137 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,356 positive reviews and 781 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $29.99 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).
| Steam Price | $29.99 |
| Release Date | 6/7/2024 |
| Franchise | Hooded Horse |
| Developer | Slug Disco |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 463530 |
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 Mac OS Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 23,769 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 22,258 positive reviews and 1,511 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 Mac OS 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 Mac OS Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,765 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,516 positive reviews and 249 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. Frostpunk
Frostpunk is the first society survival game. As the ruler of the last city on Earth, it is your duty to manage both its citizens and infrastructure. What decisions will you make to ensure your society's survival? What will you do when pushed to breaking point? Who will you become in the process?
Frostpunk has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Mac OS Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 117,911 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 108,996 positive reviews and 8,915 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Frostpunk on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $29.99 |
| Release Date | 4/24/2018 |
| Franchise | 11 bit studios |
| Developer | 11 bit studios |
| Publisher | 11 bit studios |
| Steam App Id | 323190 |
More Real-Time with Pause Mac Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Real-Time with Pause games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,163 | 9/14/2012 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 251 | 2/18/2020 | 94 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 113 | 7/14/2017 | 93 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 185 | 3/27/2014 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 6,740 | 3/10/2015 | 92 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 362 | 6/7/2024 | 92 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 400 | 8/23/2012 | 92 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 8 | 10/30/2012 | 91 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 77 | 4/11/2017 | 91 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,316 | 4/24/2018 | 91 | $29.99 | 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. (2025, January 3). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 3). FTL: Faster Than Light on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 10). Besiege on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 6). Rusted Warfare - RTS on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 3). Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 3). Cities: Skylines on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 4). Empires of the Undergrowth 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, December 20). Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition) on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 3). Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 11). Frostpunk on Steam. Steam Store.