Best Real-Time 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 games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals real-time games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Sea Power : Naval Combat in the Missile Age
From the lead designer of Cold Waters, Sea Power lets you control NATO and Warsaw Pact forces in modern naval conflict campaigns. Use your advanced naval weaponry and sensors to respect rules of engagement and defeat the enemy forces in a tense fight for initiative and air/naval supremacy.
Age of Mythology: Retold
From the creators of the award-winning Age of Empires franchise, Age of Mythology: Retold goes beyond history to a mythical age where gods, monsters, and humans collide.
Endzone 2
Endzone 2 is a post-apocalyptic survival colony builder, where you embark to secure humanity's survival after a cataclysmic disaster. Discover and repopulate the last habitable grounds, while the survival of your people hinges on your wits, foresight, and resilience in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Battle for galactic dominance in this real-time 4X strategy game with unrivaled scale! You’ll explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate through military force, diplomacy, trade, culture, influence, and other underhanded tactics.
Mini Settlers
Mini Settlers is a minimalistic city builder! Settle islands, construct cities, and design efficient logistic networks to fulfill your buildings' needs and fuel population growth to adventure into new worlds.
Nevergrind Online
Nevergrind Online is the ultimate dungeon-crawl multiplayer blobber RPG focused on treasure hunting and slaying monsters! Create your hero and start climbing the ladder in normal mode—or, for those seeking the ultimate challenge, hardcore mode! No microtransactions ever!
TFC: The Fertile Crescent
The Fertile Crescent is a captivating reimagining of classic base-building RTS, inspired by the epic struggles of growth, advancement, and conquest in the cradle of civilization.
Godsworn
Godsworn is a classic mythological RTS. Experience an epic fantasy retelling of the Baltic Crusades, where pagan gods and their tribes clash against crusaders and armies of heaven. Choose a divine hero, rally worshippers alongside mythical creatures, and smite the unworthy!
Necrosmith 2
Like a dead man reanimated by dark sorcery, the necromancer simulator is back! Give the undead the ability to fly over mountains and swim across rivers, explore a fully generated world at night and fend off enemy hordes during the day. Start a new, uhm, life.
Builders of Greece
Immerse yourself in the beautifully recreated golden age of Hellenic city-states. Builders of Greece is a city management game that lets you display your strategic and economic mastery. Build your Polis from scratch, make meaningful decisions, trade, fight and expand to become the ultimate ruler.
Empires and Tribes
Empires and Tribes is a unique hybrid of a medieval city builder and a role-playing game. You will undertake the duties of a mayor in the 13th century and manage the expansion of your city, ensure the production of resources and raise a powerful army to protect yourself from rival principalities.
Executive Assault 2
The RTS/FPS phenomenon has moved into space! Build your base on an asteroid, command fleets of starships for epic battles, pilot fighters, mine and trade resources, assemble robots to defend or assault other stations. Take sole command or share the glory as you fight for control of the quadrant.
Sumerians
Sumerians is a city building game set in ancient Mesopotamia. Attract new citizens and grow by expanding your irrigation system, building walls, palaces, temples and ziggurats. Research new technologies, manage your production, hire workers, and trade.
RAILGRADE
RAILGRADE is the train RTS game! Construct dense vertical railroads, build cities, construct vast factory chains with train automation! Restore an off world colony's economy all in the intense story driven campaign or relaxing sandbox mode!
EMERGENCY
Save lives – be a hero! Join forces against the chaos in the newest title of the award-winning EMERGENCY series. Take up your shift as incident commander and coordinate with other players to fight fires, arrest gangsters and rescue injured civilians. Your city needs you!
BattleGroupVR
BattleGroupVR is a first person real-time space strategy where you lead a fleet of powerful warships into battle from the bridge of your own flagship. Assemble your fleet, upgrade your load-outs, train your captains, engage the enemy and secure the sector. Try not to go down with the ship.
Ikki Unite
SUNSOFT relapses... The legendary Bad Game Hall of Famer "Ikki" is back, and this time it's a multiplayer experience! You can't start a riot with just one or two people! Enlist up to 16 friends in this Roguelite madness... Ikki but united!
Fire Commander
See what it means to face the fire. Command a firefighting unit in an exciting tactical RTS. Save lives, manage your water supplies and care for your team in 30+ missions. Be a real hero!
Starship Troopers: Terran Command
Lead the Mobile Infantry in this RTS game set in the Starship Troopers film universe. Balance your army composition with a diverse set of unit types, overcome line-of-sight and line-of-fire challenges through tactical positioning, and use special abilities to smash the Arachnid hordes!
Dice Legacy
Dice Legacy is a dice-based survival city builder set on a mysterious ringworld. Your ship has reached the shore of an uncharted continent. Roll and use your dice to gather resources, expand and defend your settlement, survive the winter and interact with the strange inhabitants of this eerie world.
Airline Manager
Create and manage your own airline. Create both passenger and cargo routes all over the world while you upgrade and expand your fleet of airplanes and airports. Airline Manager is among the most realistic of its genre - so prove yourself and beat your friends and other real life managers.
Castle Flipper
Castle Flipper is your unique chance to become a medieval royal craftsman. Build your own Kingdom and re-arrange the castle at your own discretion. Breathe a whole new life into the old rooms and maybe one day you will become a King!
Cosmodread
Cosmodread is a VR survival horror roguelike about escaping a dying spaceship filled with nightmares. Stranded in a hostile universe, you must explore, survive, and find your way back to the safety of Earth.Most played real-time games on Steam
Take a look at the top real-time games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 15th 2025.
1. Per Aspera
Make Mars your own! Take control of the world’s most sophisticated AI (AMI) and terraform the surface of the Red Planet for a city-building experience on a planetary scale. Transform this barren world into a lush paradise and explore the surface for any ancient secrets that may be waiting. Per Aspera is a online co-op, real-time and management game developed by Tlön Industries and published by Raw Fury. Released on December 03rd 2020 has received 5,423 reviews of which 4,118 were positive and 1,305 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played real-time game, thanks to its 207 peak concurrent players over the last day.
7.4
4,118
1,305
207
players
2. Cossacks: Art of War
Cossacks: The Art of War continues the history of the great battles of XVII–XVIII centuries Cossacks: Art of War is a crpg, wargame and turn-based tactics game developed by GSC Game World and published by GSC World Publishing. Released on August 26th 2011 has received 332 reviews of which 267 were positive and 65 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played real-time games.
7.5
267
65
35
players
3. Necrosmith 2
Like a dead man reanimated by dark sorcery, the necromancer simulator is back! Give the undead the ability to fly over mountains and swim across rivers, explore a fully generated world at night and fend off enemy hordes during the day. Start a new, uhm, life. Necrosmith 2 is a tower defense, strategy and rogue-lite game developed and published by Alawar. Released on March 27th 2024 has received 1,149 reviews of which 904 were positive and 245 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played real-time games.
7.5
904
245
21
players
4. Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity®
In Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity, you are the leader of a civilization embroiled in a galactic war, fighting for the survival of your entire race against relentless foes. Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity® is a 4x, pvp and pve game developed by Stardock Entertainment and Ironclad Games Corporation and published by Stardock Entertainment. Released on November 16th 2011 has received 790 reviews of which 610 were positive and 180 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played real-time games.
7.4
610
180
16
players
5. Krush Kill ‘N Destroy 2: Krossfire
Krush Kill 'N Destroy 2: Krossfire is a fast and furious post-apocalyptic real-time strategy game where you have to be quick or be dead. Play as one of three unique factions in the struggle to seek out and conquer oil fields to fuel your army. Krush Kill ‘N Destroy 2: Krossfire is a strategy, retro and real-time game developed by Beam Software and published by Ziggurat. Released on July 23rd 2020 has received 330 reviews of which 233 were positive and 97 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.7 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played real-time games.
6.7
233
97
7
players
6. 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. Cursed Treasure 2 is a strategy, tower defense and indie game developed by IriySoft and published by Armor Games Studios. Released on July 21st 2017 has received 508 reviews of which 418 were positive and 90 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played real-time games.
7.7
418
90
6
players
7. Earth 2160
After the destruction of the EARTH in 2150, the leaders of the Eurasian Dynasty escaped on board an evacuation fleet. Now they are fighting for the survival of the human species. Their base is one large building comprising of smaller variable parts. Earth 2160 is a base-building, space and rts game developed by Reality Pump Studios and published by TopWare Interactive and ACE. Released on April 01st 2006 has received 1,396 reviews of which 990 were positive and 406 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played real-time games.
6.9
990
406
6
players
8. Dice Legacy
Dice Legacy is a dice-based survival city builder set on a mysterious ringworld. Your ship has reached the shore of an uncharted continent. Roll and use your dice to gather resources, expand and defend your settlement, survive the winter and interact with the strange inhabitants of this eerie world. Dice Legacy is a city builder, survival and strategy game developed by DESTINYbit and published by DESTINYbit and Amplifier Studios. Released on September 09th 2021 has received 1,015 reviews of which 701 were positive and 314 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.7 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played real-time games.
6.7
701
314
3
players
9. Siege of Centauri
Defend against thousands of enemies in this explosive tower defense game. Deploy upgradable towers and unleash powerful orbital abilities as you try to protect Earth's first colony world from destruction. Siege of Centauri is a tower defense, real time tactics and pve game developed and published by Stardock Entertainment. Released on September 12th 2019 has received 436 reviews of which 285 were positive and 151 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played real-time games.
6.3
285
151
2
players
10. Arcade Moonlander
Explore space and race against the clock in this retro styled adventure game. Arcade Moonlander is a racing, exploration and flight game developed by Daniel Paul Griffin and published by Back Of Nowhere Studios. Released on October 25th 2017 has received 1,163 reviews of which 1,078 were positive and 85 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played real-time games.
8.8
1,078
85
1
players
Best deals on real-time games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of real-time games available on Steam right now, updated on April 15th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted real-time games.
1. Per Aspera
Make Mars your own! Take control of the world’s most sophisticated AI (AMI) and terraform the surface of the Red Planet for a city-building experience on a planetary scale. Transform this barren world into a lush paradise and explore the surface for any ancient secrets that may be waiting. Per Aspera is a online co-op, real-time and management game developed by Tlön Industries and published by Raw Fury. Released on December 03rd 2020 has received 5,423 reviews of which 4,118 were positive and 1,305 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. Featuring a massive 88% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for real-time category.
7.4
4,118
1,305
-88%
29.42€
3.53€
2. Cossacks: Art of War
Cossacks: The Art of War continues the history of the great battles of XVII–XVIII centuries Cossacks: Art of War is a crpg, wargame and turn-based tactics game developed by GSC Game World and published by GSC World Publishing. Released on August 26th 2011 has received 332 reviews of which 267 were positive and 65 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 78% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in real-time games.
7.5
267
65
-78%
5.00€
1.10€
3. Dice Legacy
Dice Legacy is a dice-based survival city builder set on a mysterious ringworld. Your ship has reached the shore of an uncharted continent. Roll and use your dice to gather resources, expand and defend your settlement, survive the winter and interact with the strange inhabitants of this eerie world. Dice Legacy is a city builder, survival and strategy game developed by DESTINYbit and published by DESTINYbit and Amplifier Studios. Released on September 09th 2021 has received 1,015 reviews of which 701 were positive and 314 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.7 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 74% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in real-time games.
6.7
701
314
-74%
14.77€
3.84€
4. WAR PARTY
War Party is a strategy game where you enter a prehistoric world of Dinosaurs, Cavemen and Magic! Build up your chosen faction, gather resources, explore the land and command them against enemy tribes and wildlife! Will your story be about Life, Death or Balance? Can you survive? WAR PARTY is a strategy, rts and base-building game developed and published by Rogueside. Released on March 28th 2019 has received 447 reviews of which 307 were positive and 140 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 70% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for real-time games.
6.6
307
140
-70%
9.90€
2.97€
5. Necrosmith 2
Like a dead man reanimated by dark sorcery, the necromancer simulator is back! Give the undead the ability to fly over mountains and swim across rivers, explore a fully generated world at night and fend off enemy hordes during the day. Start a new, uhm, life. Necrosmith 2 is a tower defense, strategy and rogue-lite game developed and published by Alawar. Released on March 27th 2024 has received 1,149 reviews of which 904 were positive and 245 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a 23% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for real-time games.
7.5
904
245
-23%
7.78€
5.99€