Can you pause at will?

[Tube Alloy]

Game looks super fun but I can't use my good hand for a few weeks. Do you need to react in real time during some phases?

[minute_of_decade]

Not really. The economic phase doesnt have a timer and you can pause at will during the defense phase. You actually don't need pausing during the defense phase you will do most of your task like building and upgrading towers during the economic phase. Pausing will help you for launching spells on the right place