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
Steel Division: Normandy 44
Steel Division: Normandy is a tactical real-time strategy (RTS) game that pits players against AI enemies in a single-player campaign -- or against several opponents in massive 10-on-10 multiplayer battles.
Bounty Train
Explore the dangerous life, the accurate historic events and contemporary inventions of the North American/US 19th century. Acquire one of the most legendary steam machines and transform it into a fortress on rails.
Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition
Uncover secrets of past lives in this story-rich, tactical roleplaying game set in Sigil, a dark fantasy city at the heart of the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse. Explore the planes, survive combat alongside a party of bizarre companions, and solve puzzles unlike any ever seen in the genre.
Has-Been Heroes
Has-Been Heroes is a challenging, lane-based roguelike game of strategy and action, featuring a band of heroes on a quest to escort the King's twin princesses to school!
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".
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: Anniversary Edition
Imagine an enemy that is everywhere and moves like a giant, organic mass across the map. Imagine your base and your people surrounded by a blanket of crushing destruction from all directions. Your only hope, well what hope? Then you take the high ground and pound this enemy into oblivion.
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.
Particle Fleet: Emergence
Build and design your own fleets and stand opposed to the Particulate in this physics/strategy/RTS/fleet hybrid. Build partially destructible and self repairing ships that interact with enemies less controlled by some scripted logic and more driven by a real time massive physics particle simulation.
Cossacks 3
Cossacks 3 is the return of RTS classics. Obtain resources, build cities and research technologies while taking command of great armies, crushing enemies in grand historical warfares on land and sea!
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Imagine a place of wonder, where magick and technology coexist in an uneasy balance, and an adventurer might just as easily wield a flintlock pistol as a flaming sword. Welcome to the land of Arcanum.
Hearts of Iron IV
Victory is at your fingertips! Your ability to lead your nation is your supreme weapon, the strategy game Hearts of Iron IV lets you take command of any nation in World War II; the most engaging conflict in world history.
Stellaris
Explore a galaxy full of wonders in this sci-fi grand strategy game from Paradox Development Studios. Interact with diverse alien races, discover strange new worlds with unexpected events and expand the reach of your empire. Each new adventure holds almost limitless possibilities.
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.
Battlevoid: Harbinger
Battlevoid: Harbinger is a hard sci-fi space exploration game blending roguelike, turn-based, star map strategy, and real-time space battles. You are a young commander venturing out into enemy territories, to unknown galaxies, never knowing what you will face as you jump out from hyperspace.
Lords of Magic: Special Edition
Urak, once peaceful, is now a land of darkness, chaos and death. The people yearn for a champion to drive away the forces of evil. That champion is you.
The Fall of the Dungeon Guardians - Enhanced Edition
In this tactical combat & dungeon crawler mash-up, explore a massive dungeon, full of danger, mystery and secrets. Fight your way through hordes of enemies and powerful creatures, with your tank, healer & damage dealers party.
Train Valley
Build railways, manage traffic and stay accident-free. Play in Europe, America, Japan and USSR in 1830-2020. Complete the story mode from the Gold Rush of 1849 to the first manned spaceflight, and then explore the random mode. Management. Construction. Trains. Welcome to Train Valley!
Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients
Command armies, manage resources, and build an empire in this real-time strategy wargame from Longbow Games. Will Rome fulfil its destiny to rule the ancient world or will history be rewritten to forge a new Etruscan, Gallic, or Greek hegemony!
Crookz - The Big Heist
Crookz - The Big Heist is a tactical strategy game set in the funky 1970’s with a slick and groovy atmosphere. Show off the art of thieving by plotting stylish heists and robberies; utilizing espionage and quick-thinking to avoid detection.
The Red Solstice
2280 A.D. The last few survivors of a ruined Earth seek a new home: Mars, a planet whose inhabitants didn't take too kindly to outsiders. The Red Solstice is a tense, tactical, squad-based action game. Fight to survive with up to 8 players in co-op, or lead your own squad in single-player mode.
Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville
Rebuild a ruined city in this post-apocalyptic mix of strategy and simulation. Manage survivors, scavenge for food and supplies, deal with rival gangs, illness, interpersonal strife and zombie attacks.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 April 30th 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 10,564 reviews of which 10,110 were positive and 454 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 622 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.3
10,110
454
622
players
2. 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 1,966 reviews of which 1,642 were positive and 324 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
8.0
1,642
324
43
players
3. 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 843 reviews of which 807 were positive and 36 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
9.0
807
36
34
players
4. 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 456 reviews of which 411 were positive and 45 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
8.4
411
45
27
players
5. 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. Tower of Time is a rpg, strategy and indie game developed and published by Event Horizon. Released on April 12th 2018 has received 2,335 reviews of which 1,961 were positive and 374 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
8.1
1,961
374
22
players
6. 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 2,025 reviews of which 1,922 were positive and 103 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
9.0
1,922
103
16
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 1,707 reviews of which 1,238 were positive and 469 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
1,238
469
15
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 452 reviews of which 322 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
322
130
9
players
9. 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 729 reviews of which 588 were positive and 141 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
7.6
588
141
6
players
10. 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 421 reviews of which 357 were positive and 64 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
7.9
357
64
2
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 April 30th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted real-time with pause games.
1. 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 2,025 reviews of which 1,922 were positive and 103 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.0 out of 10. Featuring a massive 80% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for real-time with pause category.
9.0
1,922
103
-80%
9.99€
1.99€
2. 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 515 reviews of which 335 were positive and 180 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.3 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 80% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in real-time with pause games.
6.3
335
180
-80%
5.99€
1.19€
3. King Arthur - The Role-playing Wargame
Welcome to the lost age of chivalry, where magic and myth is alive, and you are destined to be one of the living legends: Arthur, the son of Uther Pendragon, the Once and Future King of the prophecies. Fulfill your destiny and claim your rightful place on the throne of Britannia. King Arthur - The Role-playing Wargame is a strategy, rpg and fantasy game developed by NeocoreGames and published by Paradox Interactive. Released on November 24th 2009 has received 601 reviews of which 416 were positive and 185 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 68% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in real-time with pause games.
6.6
416
185
-68%
4.94€
1.58€
4. Hero of Fate
Hero of Fate is a smooth and fun "rougue" game with "survivor" as the core gameplay. You will receive various tasks or meet unexpected events under monsters surrounded, and you can also recruit partners or battle alone. In this fantasy world, go to experience a exciting and unpredictable adventure! Hero of Fate is a real-time with pause, rts and choices matter game developed by Planescape Game Studio and published by Wise Games. Released on September 01st 2023 has received 536 reviews of which 433 were positive and 103 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 55% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
7.6
433
103
-55%
2.99€
1.34€
5. 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 376 reviews of which 254 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 #5 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
6.5
254
122
-47%
20.06€
10.63€