Best Tactical Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 5,585 Tactical 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. Tactical game rankings were last updated on 1/3/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best tactical games on Steam
- Best tactical Steam Deck games
- Best tactical Steam games (for Mac OS)
- Free tactical games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
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 holds the #1 spot for "best Linux Tactical game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 931,095 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 908,153 positive reviews and 22,942 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.
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 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Linux Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 246,321 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 240,013 positive reviews and 6,308 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).
3. Ravenfield
Fight upon the Ravenfield together with your Blue allies! Take down those pesky Reds using helicopters, tanks, guns, and active ragdoll physics!
Ravenfield has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Linux Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 71,264 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 69,071 positive reviews and 2,193 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $10.79 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 | $10.79 |
| Release Date | 5/18/2017 |
| Developer | SteelRaven7 |
| Publisher | SteelRaven7 |
| Steam App Id | 636480 |
4. Counter-Strike: Source
Counter-Strike: Source blends Counter-Strike's award-winning teamplay action with the advanced technology of Source™ technology.
Counter-Strike: Source has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Linux Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 178,394 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 171,767 positive reviews and 6,627 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).
5. Sid Meier's Civilization® V
Create, discover, and download new player-created maps, scenarios, interfaces, and more!
Sid Meier's Civilization® V has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 201,620 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 193,253 positive reviews and 8,367 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 |
6. Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense
Get ready for an epic journey to defend your kingdom against hordes of orcs, trolls, evil wizards and other nasty fiends using a vast arsenal of towers and spells at your command!Fight on forests, mountains and wastelands, customizing your defensive strategy with different tower upgrades and specializations!
Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Linux Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 14,231 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,844 positive reviews and 387 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 Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 1/6/2014 |
| Franchise | Ironhide Game Studio |
| Developer | Ironhide Game Studio |
| Publisher | Ironhide Game Studio |
| Steam App Id | 246420 |
7. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Shadow Tactics is a hardcore tactical stealth game set in Japan around the Edo period. A new Shogun seizes power over Japan and enforces nationwide peace. In his battle against conspiracy and rebellion, he recruits five specialists with extraordinary skills for assassination, sabotage and espionage.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 36,644 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 35,204 positive reviews and 1,440 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $39.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $39.99 |
| Release Date | 12/6/2016 |
| Franchise | Mimimi |
| Developer | Mimimi Games |
| Publisher | Daedalic Entertainment |
| Steam App Id | 418240 |
8. Desperados III
Desperados III is a story-driven, hardcore tactical stealth game, set in a ruthless Wild West scenario. Play smart if you want to succeed. A good plan can make the difference between survival and finding yourself at the business end of a pistol.
Desperados III has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 14,086 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,621 positive reviews and 465 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $39.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Desperados III on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $39.99 |
| Release Date | 6/16/2020 |
| Franchise | Mimimi |
| Developer | Mimimi Games |
| Publisher | THQ Nordic |
| Steam App Id | 610370 |
9. 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 #9 spot for the best Linux Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 73,493 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 70,167 positive reviews and 3,326 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 |
10. Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition
Spanning the most turbulent era in Western history, your quest for territory and power takes you through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and even onto the shores of the New World.
Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 32,426 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 31,037 positive reviews and 1,389 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 11/15/2006 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 4700 |
More Tactical Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Tactical games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23,488 | 11/16/2009 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 16,787 | 11/1/2000 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 731 | 5/18/2017 | 95 | $10.79 | Steam Charts | |
| 13,649 | 11/1/2004 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 16,111 | 9/21/2010 | 95 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 175 | 1/6/2014 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 153 | 12/6/2016 | 94 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 190 | 6/16/2020 | 94 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,024 | 9/14/2012 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 3,946 | 11/15/2006 | 94 | $24.99 | 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). Left 4 Dead 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 3). Counter-Strike on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 29). Ravenfield on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 8). Counter-Strike: Source on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 6). Sid Meier's Civilization® V on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 4). Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 12). Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 15). Desperados III on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 3). FTL: Faster Than Light on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 9). Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition on Steam. Steam Store.