Best Tactical Games on Steam (for Mac OS)
Steam currently has 4,630 Tactical 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. Tactical game rankings were last updated on 5/14/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best tactical games on Steam
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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 Mac OS Tactical game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 853,953 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 832,851 positive reviews and 21,102 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. 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 Mac OS Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 236,830 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 230,809 positive reviews and 6,021 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. 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 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Mac OS Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 125,290 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 122,211 positive reviews and 3,079 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. 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 #4 spot for the best Mac OS Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 66,954 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 64,878 positive reviews and 2,076 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 |
5. 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 #5 spot for the best Mac OS Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 170,028 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 163,727 positive reviews and 6,301 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: Source on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. 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 #6 spot for the best Mac OS Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 197,397 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 189,798 positive reviews and 7,599 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $7.49 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 | $7.49 |
| Release Date | 9/23/2010 |
| Franchise | Civilization Franchise |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 8930 |
7. Left 4 Dead
From Valve (the creators of Counter-Strike, Half-Life and more) comes Left 4 Dead, a co-op action horror game for the PC and Xbox 360 that casts up to four players in an epic struggle for survival against swarming zombie hordes and terrifying mutant monsters.
Left 4 Dead has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Mac OS Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 55,533 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 53,492 positive reviews and 2,041 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 Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Left 4 Dead on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
8. 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 #8 spot for the best Mac OS Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 12,914 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,561 positive reviews and 353 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 |
9. 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 #9 spot for the best Mac OS Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 35,654 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 34,275 positive reviews and 1,379 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 |
10. 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 #10 spot for the best Mac OS Tactical games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,193 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,763 positive reviews and 430 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 |
More Tactical Mac Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Tactical games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 12,225 | 11/16/2009 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 5,934 | 11/1/2000 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,537 | 5/5/2009 | 96 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 592 | 5/18/2017 | 95 | $17.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 8,149 | 11/1/2004 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 10,050 | 9/23/2010 | 95 | $7.49 | Steam Charts | |
 | 252 | 11/17/2008 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 140 | 1/6/2014 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 74 | 12/6/2016 | 94 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 59 | 6/16/2020 | 94 | $39.99 | 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, May 14). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 14). Left 4 Dead 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 22). Counter-Strike on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, February 28). Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 14). Ravenfield on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 22). Counter-Strike: Source on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 14). Sid Meier's Civilization® V on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 1). Left 4 Dead on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 15). Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 2). Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 15). Desperados III on Steam. Steam Store.