Best Real-Time with Pause Games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated real-time with pause games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals real-time with pause games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Crying Suns
Crying Suns is a tactical rogue-lite that puts you in the role of a space fleet commander as you explore a mysteriously fallen empire. In this story rich experience inspired by Dune and Foundation, each successful run will uncover the truth about the Empire... and yourself as well.
Steel Division 2
Steel Division 2 is a historically-accurate WW2 real-time strategy game set on the Eastern Front. Features 1:1-scale turn-based army management and real-time tactical battles with thousands of men at your order.
They Are Billions
They Are Billions is a Steampunk strategy game set on a post-apocalyptic planet. Build and defend colonies to survive against the billions of the infected that seek to annihilate the few remaining living humans. Can humanity survive after the zombie apocalypse?
Interstellar Transport Company
Build a galactic transportation empire and supply humanity with everything it needs to colonize the stars. In this sci-fi logistics simulator, grow your company from a local transport agency into an interstellar logistics behemoth! Singleplayer, vs AI, and online multiplayer.
S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster
S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster is the new edition of the challenging classic strategy game S.W.I.N.E! The filthiest of all wars between the Rabbit and the Pig armies is a sophisticated real-time strategy with completely revised textures, detailed unit models, a 16:9 adapted interface.
Imperator: Rome
Dominate the classical Mediterranean in Imperator: Rome, a grand strategy game from Paradox Interactive. Navigate the dangerous waters of politics and diplomacy as you build up your provinces and conquer foreign lands. Now available with special content and the digital artbook.
The White Laboratory
The White Laboratory is a sandbox style physics-based tower defense and RTS game in which you modularly build and command robotic structures. Use them to defend against or conquer other disobedient mechanical blocks on a facility floating in the atmosphere of a remote gas planet.
Skirmish Line
Experience the brutality and randomness of war as an Allied tactical commander in the Pacific Theater during World War 2. Train, equip, and command a squad of soldiers as you fight against the fanatical Imperial Japanese Empire.
NationWar:Chronicles | 国战:列国志传
This is a sandbox game that is deeply rooted in the rich historical information of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. The story of the game unfolds slowly in the eighth century BC on the vast and mysterious land of China.
03.04
04/03/2017How much does this date tell you? For the main character, it became very significant, because this is the day of his death. The protagonist was precisely in the train that arrived at the metro station "Technological Institute" with the bodies of innocent, already dead, people ...
Species: Artificial Life, Real Evolution
Play with evolution! Species: ALRE is a scientifically-grounded, emergent simulation of natural selection. Creatures evolve and speciate in response to in-game mutation and selection forces, allowing you to experience and tinker with evolution in real-time.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker — Enhanced Plus Edition
Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition is the first isometric party-based cRPG set in the Pathfinder fantasy universe. Enjoy a classic RPG experience inspired by games like Baldur's Gate, Fallout 1 and 2 and Arcanum. Explore and conquer the Stolen Lands and make them your kingdom!
Dustwind
ARE YOU READY FOR CLASSIC REALTIME TACTICS? Be the nameless heroine in the wastelands of DUSTWIND's story campaign or find with two friends a new home or fight against and with human players in the elaborate Multiplayer mode or design your very own story campaigns and maps in the mighty map editor!
MachiaVillain
Machiavillain is an evil mansion management and strategy game, inspired by Dungeon Keeper, Prison Architect and all the horror movie clichés! Build your own manor, raise your monsters, set up your traps, and exterminate your victims. But to gain reputation you'll have to slay by the horror movie rules!
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Patch 5.0 - Turn-based mode and The Ultimate challenge out now! Pursue a rogue god over land and sea in the sequel to the multi-award-winning RPG Pillars of Eternity. Captain your ship on a dangerous voyage of discovery across the vast unexplored archipelago region of the Deadfire.
Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation
Build, scavenge, craft, and perform occult rituals to survive in a demon-infested, post-apocalyptic colony simulation. Will you survive Judgment day?
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?
Tower of Time
A new kind of RPG awaits you. A story-rich dungeon crawler with innovative real-time combat that lets you pause or slow time. Tactical thinking is essential to succeed. Now with RPGlite and Permadeath for fast-paced game.
Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition
Return to the Forgotten Realms in this bestselling Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Combines all the content of Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition with all-new enhanced features. Includes 100+ hours of award-winning adventures and the tools to create your own!
FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE
FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE - This revered classic returns, now fully remastered for the first time for PC, featuring all new and enhanced gameplay.
Heat Signature
Heat Signature is a game from the developers of Gunpoint where you break into spaceships, make terrible mistakes, and think of clever ways out of them. You take a mission, fly to the target ship, sneak inside, and make clever use of your gadgets to distract, ambush and take out the crew.
Lost Technology
Lost Technology is a simulation game in which over 100 characters comprising a total of 12 different factions battle to conquer each other’s territories. The faction chosen at the beginning will determine the conversations and events that occur throughout the game between the player and the other factions.
Cursed Treasure 2
Why be good when you can be... bad? Cursed Treasure 2 is an addictive tower-defense game that puts the power of darkness at your fingertips. Build towers of powerful orcs, demons, and undead, and master powerful spells, to protect your precious hoard from all manner of no-good do-gooders.
Most played real-time with pause games on Steam
Take a look at the top real-time with pause games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 15th 2025.
1. 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 is a tactical, top-down and real-time with pause game developed and published by KillHouse Games. Released on February 10th 2025 has received 10,848 reviews of which 10,389 were positive and 459 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played real-time with pause game, thanks to its 618 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.3
10,389
459
618
players
2. Diplomacy is Not an Option
Diplomacy is Not an Option is a strategy game set in a medieval fantasy world. Build your town and defenses, raise huge armies and fight against massive hordes of enemies. How long can you survive? Diplomacy is Not an Option is a real-time with pause, resource management and simulation game developed and published by Door 407. Released on October 04th 2024 has received 9,673 reviews of which 8,217 were positive and 1,456 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. While seeing 495 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among real-time with pause games based on player count.
8.3
8,217
1,456
495
players
3. Europa Universalis III Complete
Europa Universalis III Complete includes the original Europa Universalis III as well as the expansions In Nomine and Napoleons Ambition Europa Universalis III delves deeply into the areas of exploration, trade, warfare and diplomacy. Europa Universalis III Complete is a grand strategy, strategy and historical game developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on February 04th 2009 has received 1,971 reviews of which 1,646 were positive and 325 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
8.0
1,646
325
53
players
4. From Glory To Goo
From Glory To Goo is a Sci-Fi survival RTS set on an alien world. Serve as humanity's bulwark by establishing a colony and supporting your colonists still in orbit. But beware, for The Goo, a relentless and shape-shifting force approaches from all sides, even above and below. From Glory To Goo is a base-building, colony sim and tower defense game developed and published by Stratagem Blue. Released on April 02nd 2024 has received 902 reviews of which 865 were positive and 37 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
9
865
37
42
players
5. Original War
An American geological expedition, under a UN mandate, assesses the natural resources in a distant part of Siberia, deep in the trackless steppes of Eastern Russia. But instead of oil, they discover a deposit of a hitherto unknown mineral. Original War is a strategy, rts and sci-fi game developed by Altar Games and published by Bohemia Interactive. Released on January 27th 2014 has received 2,030 reviews of which 1,928 were positive and 102 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
9.0
1,928
102
32
players
6. Creeper World 2: Anniversary Edition
Deceptively simple... amazingly deep. Creeper World 2 thrusts you into the 14th millennium fighting and enemy that flows and oozes through the terrain. Employ advanced weapons,gravity manipulating repulsors, wormhole like rifts, and your own wit against this never yielding enemy. Creeper World 2: Anniversary Edition is a strategy, indie and simulation game developed and published by Knuckle Cracker. Released on November 16th 2016 has received 459 reviews of which 414 were positive and 45 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
8.4
414
45
24
players
7. Jagged Alliance - Back in Action
A contemporary remake of the much-loved series of turn-based mercenary-themed strategy games. Jagged Alliance - Back in Action is a strategy, rpg and tactical game developed by Coreplay GmbH and Bigmoon Studios and published by THQ Nordic. Released on February 08th 2012 has received 1,711 reviews of which 1,241 were positive and 470 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
7.0
1,241
470
16
players
8. Polaris Sector
Can anyone build an empire in a place like this? Other factions are naturally suspicious of newcomers and may wage war at the first sign of unidentified craft. Here, a natural death is an uncommon luxury. Polaris Sector is a strategy, simulation and 4x game developed by SoftWarWare and published by Slitherine Ltd.. Released on March 22nd 2016 has received 455 reviews of which 325 were positive and 130 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
6.8
325
130
11
players
9. Black Geyser: Couriers of Darkness
Black Geyser is an isometric, party-based fantasy RPG inspired by genre classics. Recruit characters with unique personalities and explore a land ravaged by civil war and a mysterious curse of greed. Your choices, good or evil, will decide the fate of the Kingdom of Isilmerald. Black Geyser: Couriers of Darkness is a rpg, crpg and real-time with pause game developed by GrapeOcean Technologies and published by GrapeOcean Technologies and V Publishing. Released on March 17th 2022 has received 889 reviews of which 663 were positive and 226 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
7.1
663
226
8
players
10. Drakensang
Drakensang is a third-person party-based RPG based on the pen & paper role-play rules of The Dark Eye. Drakensang is the first PC game for over 10 years to be based on Germany's most successful and popular role-play system. Drakensang builds on the pen & paper rules as applied in version 4.0. Drakensang is a rpg, fantasy and party-based rpg game developed by Radon Labs and published by dtp Entertainment. Released on March 09th 2009 has received 735 reviews of which 592 were positive and 143 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
7.6
592
143
5
players
Best deals on real-time with pause games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of real-time with pause games available on Steam right now, updated on June 15th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted real-time with pause games.
1. The Dwarves
A few heroes are facing hundreds of foes – are you even able to lead the coolest fantasy people to victory against the dark hordes? Explore a vast world, fight tactical real-time battles, and experience the fantastic story based on the bestseller "The Dwarves". The Dwarves is a dwarf, rpg and fantasy game developed by KING Art and published by THQ Nordic and EuroVideo Medien . Released on December 01st 2016 has received 2,023 reviews of which 1,495 were positive and 528 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. Featuring a massive 98% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for real-time with pause category.
7.2
1,495
528
-98%
39.99€
0.90€
2. Aarklash: Legacy
In Aarklash: Legacy take command of a mercenary squad in search of truth and guide it through countless battles.Welcome to Aarklash, a land of chaos where incessant battles between the forces of Light, Destiny and Darkness have lasted since the beginning of time. Aarklash: Legacy is a rpg, strategy and adventure game developed by Cyanide Studio and published by Nacon. Released on September 12th 2013 has received 832 reviews of which 610 were positive and 222 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 98% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in real-time with pause games.
7.0
610
222
-98%
13.29€
0.39€
3. Masquerada: Songs and Shadows
Masquerada is a single-player tactical RPG set in a Renaissance-inspired city of magic, where real-time combat can be paused to set up elemental combos powered by Venetian-styled masks. Come for gorgeous hand-drawn art; stay for the rich lore & a thoughtful, fully-voiced tale of intrigue & tragedy. Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is a real-time with pause, dark fantasy and party-based rpg game developed by Witching Hour Studios and published by Ysbryd Games. Released on September 30th 2016 has received 540 reviews of which 478 were positive and 62 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 97% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in real-time with pause games.
8.3
478
62
-97%
19.99€
0.74€
4. Diplomacy is Not an Option
Diplomacy is Not an Option is a strategy game set in a medieval fantasy world. Build your town and defenses, raise huge armies and fight against massive hordes of enemies. How long can you survive? Diplomacy is Not an Option is a real-time with pause, resource management and simulation game developed and published by Door 407. Released on October 04th 2024 has received 9,673 reviews of which 8,217 were positive and 1,456 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 97% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
8.3
8,217
1,456
-97%
28.99€
0.87€
5. Original War
An American geological expedition, under a UN mandate, assesses the natural resources in a distant part of Siberia, deep in the trackless steppes of Eastern Russia. But instead of oil, they discover a deposit of a hitherto unknown mineral. Original War is a strategy, rts and sci-fi game developed by Altar Games and published by Bohemia Interactive. Released on January 27th 2014 has received 2,030 reviews of which 1,928 were positive and 102 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 96% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
9.0
1,928
102
-96%
9.99€
0.41€
6. UFO: Afterlight
The story is situated on Mars. It starts where UFO: Aftermath left off and runs simultaneously with UFO: Aftershock. While the Laputans on Earth are fighting Wargots and Starghosts and finding out what caused the destruction of their home planet, a small colony on Mars is trying to survive and flourish. UFO: Afterlight is a strategy, tactical and sci-fi game developed by Altar Games and published by Bohemia Interactive. Released on January 06th 2014 has received 517 reviews of which 337 were positive and 180 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.3 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 95% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
6.3
337
180
-95%
5.99€
0.33€
7. Star Wolves
Star wolves is a 3D space RPG with deep strategy and tactical elements. The game thrusts players into a world of freelance space hunters in the XXI-XXII century A.D. during a time of political crisis for the all-powerful Empire and the three mega-corporations that control all the known worlds. Star Wolves is a rpg, strategy and space game developed by X-Bow Software and published by Fulqrum Publishing. Released on March 02nd 2010 has received 422 reviews of which 358 were positive and 64 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 84% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
7.9
358
64
-84%
3.99€
0.66€
8. Drakensang
Drakensang is a third-person party-based RPG based on the pen & paper role-play rules of The Dark Eye. Drakensang is the first PC game for over 10 years to be based on Germany's most successful and popular role-play system. Drakensang builds on the pen & paper rules as applied in version 4.0. Drakensang is a rpg, fantasy and party-based rpg game developed by Radon Labs and published by dtp Entertainment. Released on March 09th 2009 has received 735 reviews of which 592 were positive and 143 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a 47% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
7.6
592
143
-47%
9.99€
5.32€
9. March of the Eagles
“he Who Fears Being Conquered Is Sure Of Defeat.”The war-game March of the Eagles focuses on the dramatic conflicts of Europe during 1805 to 1820. Explore one of the defining periods in European history with this experience crafted by the masters of Grand Strategy, Paradox Development Studio. March of the Eagles is a strategy, simulation and grand strategy game developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on February 18th 2013 has received 374 reviews of which 252 were positive and 122 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a 47% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
6.5
252
122
-47%
19.99€
10.63€
10. 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 is a tactical, top-down and real-time with pause game developed and published by KillHouse Games. Released on February 10th 2025 has received 10,848 reviews of which 10,389 were positive and 459 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. Currently offered at a 45% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
9.3
10,389
459
-45%
24.00€
13.32€