Best Tactical Games on Steam

Steam currently has 5,480 Tactical games available to download and play. 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. Tactical game rankings were last updated on 12/5/2024.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. Left 4 Dead 2

Set in the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) is the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning Left 4 Dead, the #1 co-op game of 2008. This co-operative action horror FPS takes you and your friends through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the Deep South, from Savannah to New Orleans across five expansive campaigns.

Left 4 Dead 2 banner

Left 4 Dead 2 holds the #1 spot for "best Tactical game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 921,247 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 898,523 positive reviews and 22,724 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 11/16/2009
Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Steam App Id 550

2. Counter-Strike

Play the world's number 1 online action game. Engage in an incredibly realistic brand of terrorist warfare in this wildly popular team-based game. Ally with teammates to complete strategic missions. Take out enemy sites. Rescue hostages. Your role affects your team's success. Your team's success affects your role.

Counter-Strike banner

Counter-Strike has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 245,092 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 238,801 positive reviews and 6,291 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 Counter-Strike on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 11/1/2000
Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Steam App Id 10

3. Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition

Zombies are invading your home, and the only defense is your arsenal of plants! Armed with an alien nursery-worth of zombie-zapping plants like peashooters and cherry bombs, you'll need to think fast and plant faster to stop dozens of types of zombies dead in their tracks.

Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition banner

Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 134,627 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 131,368 positive reviews and 3,259 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $4.99
Release Date 5/5/2009
Franchise PopCap EA
Developer PopCap Games, Inc.
Publishers
Steam App Id 3590

4. The WereCleaner

Kyle is a Janitor. He's also a Werewolf. And now he's got the night shift. Try not to kill anyone while working to get your paycheck - in a stealth-comedy game with surprises around every corner.

The WereCleaner banner

The WereCleaner has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,928 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,890 positive reviews and 38 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is completely free 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.

Release Date 5/7/2024
Developer Howlin' Hugs
Publisher USC Games
Steam App Id 2795000

5. STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack

Command or corrupt an entire galaxy in the definitive Star Wars strategy collection. It is a time of galactic civil war. Will you take up the reins of the Rebellion, assume control of the Empire, or rule the Star Wars Underworld?

STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack banner

STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 37,560 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 36,674 positive reviews and 886 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 STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $19.99
Release Date 5/25/2010
Developer Petroglyph
Publishers
Steam App Id 32470

6. Ravenfield

Fight upon the Ravenfield together with your Blue allies! Take down those pesky Reds using helicopters, tanks, guns, and active ragdoll physics!

Ravenfield banner

Ravenfield has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 70,501 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 68,324 positive reviews and 2,177 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $17.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Ravenfield on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $17.99
Release Date 5/18/2017
Developer SteelRaven7
Publisher SteelRaven7
Steam App Id 636480

7. Tactical Breach Wizards

In Tactical Breach Wizards, you lead a team of renegade wizards in kevlar through turn-based battles to unravel a modern conspiracy plot. Combine their unique spells in clever ways, or rewind time to try every crazy plan you can think of to punch a Traffic Warlock through a 4th story window.

Tactical Breach Wizards banner

Tactical Breach Wizards has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,229 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,120 positive reviews and 109 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 Tactical Breach Wizards on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $19.99
Release Date 8/22/2024
Franchise Suspicious Developments
Developers
Publisher Suspicious Developments
Steam App Id 1043810

8. Phasmophobia

Phasmophobia is a 4 player online co-op psychological horror. Paranormal activity is on the rise and it’s up to you and your team to use all the ghost-hunting equipment at your disposal in order to gather as much evidence as you can.

Phasmophobia banner

Phasmophobia has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 733,105 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 702,897 positive reviews and 30,208 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. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $15.99
Release Date 9/18/2020
Developer Kinetic Games
Publisher Kinetic Games
Steam App Id 739630

9. Counter-Strike: Source

Counter-Strike: Source blends Counter-Strike's award-winning teamplay action with the advanced technology of Source™ technology.

Counter-Strike: Source banner

Counter-Strike: Source has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 176,917 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 170,347 positive reviews and 6,570 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Counter-Strike: Source on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 11/1/2004
Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Steam App Id 240

10. Sid Meier's Civilization® V

Create, discover, and download new player-created maps, scenarios, interfaces, and more!

Sid Meier's Civilization® V banner

Sid Meier's Civilization® V has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 200,582 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 192,694 positive reviews and 7,888 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly 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 Sid Meier's Civilization® V on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $29.99
Release Date 9/21/2010
Franchise Civilization Franchise
Developers
Publishers
Steam App Id 8930

More Tactical Games

Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Tactical games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
Left 4 Dead 2 steam charts
36,712
11/16/2009
97
$9.99
Steam Charts
Counter-Strike steam charts
7,665
11/1/2000
96
$9.99
Steam Charts
Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition steam charts
2,205
5/5/2009
96
$4.99
Steam Charts
The WereCleaner steam charts
34
5/7/2024
96
Free
Steam Charts
STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack steam charts
1,697
5/25/2010
96
$19.99
Steam Charts
Ravenfield steam charts
1,062
5/18/2017
95
$17.99
Steam Charts
Tactical Breach Wizards steam charts
213
8/22/2024
95
$19.99
Steam Charts
Phasmophobia steam charts
26,957
9/18/2020
95
$15.99
Steam Charts
Counter-Strike: Source steam charts
8,563
11/1/2004
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Sid Meier's Civilization® V steam charts
15,071
9/21/2010
95
$29.99
Steam Charts
Left 4 Dead steam charts
657
11/17/2008
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Kingdom Rush  - Tower Defense steam charts
157
1/6/2014
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Cruelty Squad steam charts
96
6/16/2021
95
$19.99
Steam Charts
Age of Empires II (Retired) steam charts
2,983
4/9/2013
94
$19.99
Steam Charts
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun steam charts
135
12/6/2016
94
$3.99
Steam Charts
Teardown steam charts
2,100
4/21/2022
94
$29.99
Steam Charts
I Am Your Beast steam charts
52
9/10/2024
94
$15.99
Steam Charts
Desperados III steam charts
138
6/16/2020
94
$9.99
Steam Charts
FTL: Faster Than Light steam charts
1,082
9/14/2012
94
$9.99
Steam Charts
Snake Force steam charts
3
11/19/2021
94
Free
Steam Charts
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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 5). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Left 4 Dead 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 4). Counter-Strike on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, October 29). Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 15). The WereCleaner on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 9). Ravenfield on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). Tactical Breach Wizards on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). Phasmophobia on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). Counter-Strike: Source on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 18). Sid Meier's Civilization® V on Steam. Steam Store.

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