Best Real-Time with Pause Games on Steam

Steam currently has 406 Real-Time with Pause 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. Real-Time with Pause game rankings were last updated on 12/4/2024.

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1. Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance

The last days of man are at hand.. Two years after the Infinite War the once great warring nations now lie in ruins, and humanity’s hope for a brighter future is nothing but a bitter memory. A new, seemingly unstoppable enemy, supported by the zealots of The Order, now seeks to eradicate mankind: UEF, Aeon Loyalist, and Cybran alike.

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance banner

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance holds the #1 spot for "best Real-Time with Pause game on Steam" with a Player Score of 94. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,064 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,652 positive reviews and 412 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $12.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance on the Steam Deck.

Steam Price $12.99
Release Date 9/28/2011
Developer Gas Powered Games
Publisher Square Enix
Steam App Id 9420

2. 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 banner

FTL: Faster Than Light has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 73,135 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 69,847 positive reviews and 3,288 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

3. 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!

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Besiege has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #3 spot for the best 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

4. 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 banner

Rusted Warfare - RTS has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #4 spot for the best 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

5. Against the Storm

A dark fantasy city builder where you must rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic rains. As the Queen’s Viceroy, lead humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies to reclaim the wilderness and secure a future for civilization's last survivors.

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Against the Storm has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 28,911 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 27,509 positive reviews and 1,402 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $29.99 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 $29.99
Release Date 12/8/2023
Franchise Hooded Horse
Developer Eremite Games
Publisher Hooded Horse
Steam App Id 1336490

6. 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 banner

Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #6 spot for the best 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

7. Door Kickers 2: Task Force North

Command military Special Ops Teams in gripping tactical combat against a Middle East-based terrorist network. Sequel to RockPaperShotgun's "Best Tactics Game of 2014".

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North banner

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,244 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,875 positive reviews and 369 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Door Kickers 2: Task Force North on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $24.99
Release Date 11/3/2020
Franchise KillHouse Games
Developer KillHouse Games
Publisher KillHouse Games
Steam App Id 1239080

8. Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander

Design and simulate the starships of your dreams! Command your ship or fleet in epic battles and manage your crew while exploring a dangerous galaxy. Play alone or with friends, test your ships in online PvP, and let your imagination reach for the stars!

Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander banner

Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 10,294 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,797 positive reviews and 497 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $14.99
Release Date 10/24/2022
Developer Walternate Realities
Publisher Walternate Realities
Steam App Id 799600

9. 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.

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Cities: Skylines has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #9 spot for the best 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

10. 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 banner

Empires of the Undergrowth has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Real-Time with Pause games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,882 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,105 positive reviews and 777 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 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 $14.99
Release Date 6/7/2024
Franchise Hooded Horse
Developer Slug Disco
Publishers
Steam App Id 463530

More Real-Time with Pause Games

Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Real-Time with Pause games available on Steam.

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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 4). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 4). Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). FTL: Faster Than Light on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 11). Besiege on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 18). Rusted Warfare - RTS on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 13). Against the Storm on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). Door Kickers 2: Task Force North on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). Cities: Skylines on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 13). Empires of the Undergrowth on Steam. Steam Store.

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