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
Endzone - A World Apart
Endzone is a post-apocalyptic survival city builder, where you start a new civilization with a group of people after an ecological disaster. Build them a new home and ensure their survival in a shattered world, threatened by constant radiation, toxic rain, sandstorms and droughts.
Stronghold: Warlords
Besiege Great Khans, Imperial warlords and Shōgun commanders in Stronghold: Warlords, the latest 'castle sim' from Firefly Studios. Command AI warlords across the battlefield as you build a castle economy and new gunpowder-fuelled siege engines!
Curse of the Dead Gods
You seek untold riches, eternal life, divine powers - it leads to this accursed temple, a seemingly-infinite labyrinth of bottomless pits, deadly traps, and monsters.
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.
Drone Swarm
Drone Swarm is a very unique take on tactical games. Control 32,000 drones in quick, fast-paced fights. Combine your swarm abilities and counter constantly evolving attacks of your opponents. Survive varying enemy waves, get upgrades to your swarm, and make it to the next system alive!
Iron Harvest
A classic real-time strategy game with an epic single player campaign, multiplayer & coop, set in the alternate reality of 1920+
Transport INC
Become the manager of the largest transport corporation ever! Create new planes, bus, trains and truck connections. Optimize them to ever-changing demands and adapt to unexpected events. Beat the competition. Connect cities all around the real world map!
Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition
From gliders and helicopters to wide-body jets, fly highly detailed and accurate aircraft in the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition. The world is at your fingertips.
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.
Rakion Chaos Force
A Free to Play Online Action RPG. Rakion focuses on intense battles with RPG style characters and settings to provide an engaging fighting experience. Build your character, improve your combat skills, summon creatures as allies and work out clever strategies to win the battle alone or as a team.
Submarine Titans
Submarine Titans is a real-time strategy video game that takes place in the year 2115 after a comet has struck Earth, driving two human factions, the militant White Sharks and the scientific Black Octopi, to establish underwater bases and fight for dominance over the oceans.
Invasion Machine
Modern-warfare RTS/sandbox game inspired by the real conflicts in the Middle East. Fight a counter-insurgency war, protect the civilian population, casevac your wounded and decide how the world sees your struggle. And remember - no one gets left behind.
Railroad Corporation
Relive the pioneering spirit of the Golden Age of Steam by establishing your own railroad empire across 19th century North America. Bring settlements together, produce and trade goods and develop new technologies to stay ahead of the competition. Want more? RAILROAD CORPORATION 2 Out Now!
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
42 Civilizations, 229 Campaign Missions, Singleplayer, Co-Op, Multiplayer, In-Game Editor, Mods, Cross-play...It is good to be the king.
AI War 2
The most devious and acclaimed artificial intelligence in strategy gaming is better than ever. A grand strategy/RTS hybrid that reverses many conventions of both genres. Take territory without attracting attention, build your empire with care, and adapt to an ever-evolving galactic battleground.
Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare
In the anarchic world of Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare, only the mightiest warlord rules. Start with a pistol and a few militias, you will set yourself on a wild and ambitious journey towards world domination. Enjoy the immersive combination of intense FPS and sandbox strategy.
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.
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires, the pivotal real-time strategy game that launched a 20-year legacy returns with modernized gameplay, all-new 4K visuals, 8-person multiplayer battles and a host of other new features. Welcome back to history.
Dungeon Of Dragon Knight
Dungeon of Dragon Knight is a retro dungeon crawler RPG in modern visual design. Pointed by a mysterious witch, your party will descend into a dungeon with traps and monsters in search of the evil Dragon Knight and his treasure weapon. Or, are you fooled by the witch?
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.
Dark Future: Blood Red States
Step into the extraordinary, dystopian world of Dark Future, filled with danger, chaos and adventure. A game of both action and strategy unlike any other, featuring a unique time dilating command mode to help you make tactical decisions on the dangerous highways of this world.
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?
The World Next Door
An addictive mix of lightning-fast puzzle battles, powerful storytelling and immersive visual novel elements, The World Next Door follows Jun, a rebellious teen girl trapped in a parallel realm inhabited by magical creatures, who must find her way home before time runs out.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€