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
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.
Mass Effect (2007)
As Commander Shepard, you lead an elite squad on a heroic, action-packed adventure throughout the galaxy.
X-COM: Apocalypse
There's something evil in the city tonight... Earth has been ravaged by human excess, petty conflict and alien invasion. The world's population has been herded into huge cities, the first of which was Mega Primus. 2084: A Utopia shattered, social collapse and civil unrest reigns in Mega Primus. Fiendish aliens terrorize the city.
Nexus - The Jupiter Incident
Ambitious megacorporations monopolize the conquest of space and the colonization of the solar system. At the very edge of the solar system, the companies make a discovery that will shift the technological advantage and upset the balance. And so a new conflict is born: "The Jupiter Incident."
Railroad Tycoon 3
Railroad Tycoon 3 features 25 scenarios challenging players to recreate magnificent feats of railroading history from around the world. Players can lay track (including tunnels and overpasses), pick from over 40 locomotives from early steams to modern bullets, choose to haul over 35 types of cargo in a dynamic economy, and participate in...
Sid Meier's Railroads!
Sid Meier's Railroads! marks the return of the watershed title in simulation/strategy gaming that launched the popular "tycoon" genre, and inspired a new generation of games. Sid Meier's Railroads!
Uplink
Uplink lets you play as a freelance hacker tackling risky contracts for corporations. Break into systems, steal data, sabotage rivals, and upgrade your gear. Support factions or go rogue in this immersive, strategy-driven hacking simulation game where your choices shape the outcome.
Dungeon Siege II
It’s been a generation since you vanquished the evil that plagued the Land of Ehb, and now…a new menace has awakened. In Dungeon Siege II, the sequel to the best-selling RPG from Gas Powered Games, you will be called on to again wield sword and spell to save the world from a growing abomination many years in the making.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 16th 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 10,488 reviews of which 10,037 were positive and 451 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 780 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.3
10,037
451
780
players
2. 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 817 reviews of which 778 were positive and 39 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
8.9
778
39
68
players
3. 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 2,285 reviews of which 1,921 were positive and 364 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
8.1
1,921
364
62
players
4. 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 1,967 reviews of which 1,642 were positive and 325 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
8.0
1,642
325
33
players
5. 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 453 reviews of which 408 were positive and 45 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
8.4
408
45
26
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 2,019 reviews of which 1,916 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
1,916
103
18
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 1,704 reviews of which 1,236 were positive and 468 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
1,236
468
16
players
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 725 reviews of which 584 were positive and 141 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
7.6
584
141
8
players
9. 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 451 reviews of which 321 were positive and 130 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
6.8
321
130
8
players
10. 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. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played real-time with pause games.
6.5
254
122
4
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 16th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted real-time with pause games.
1. 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 600 reviews of which 415 were positive and 185 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. Featuring a massive 68% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for real-time with pause category.
6.6
415
185
-68%
4.94€
1.58€
2. 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. Thanks to its 47% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in real-time with pause games.
6.5
254
122
-47%
20.06€
10.63€
3. 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 10,488 reviews of which 10,037 were positive and 451 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. Thanks to its 40% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in real-time with pause games.
9.3
10,037
451
-40%
24.12€
14.47€
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 817 reviews of which 778 were positive and 39 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a 25% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for real-time with pause games.
8.9
778
39
-25%
9.99€
7.49€