Tower defense games give a whole different meaning to the phrase “stand your ground”; this popular genre of semi-casual strategy games has been around for decades. The earliest tower defense game is probably Rampart, which debuted in 1990, or even Space Invaders from the 1980’s. Modern trends in gaming have brought tower defense to every platform, including mobile, PC, XBOX, PlayStation, and more.
RELATED:Best RTS Games Of All Time, Ranked
There’s a lot more that goes into a tower defense strategy than putting up defenses. With the rise of indie developers making it big, there’s been a rush of tower defense games in the last decade to make a splash.
10They Are Billions
Metacritic: 72
They Are Billions
It can be easy to forget that,technically,tower defense games are also real-time strategy games. Tower defense has really settled as its own genre. Numantian Games' tower defenseThey Are Billions makes good use of the real-time strategy aspect of the tower defense genrewith itsrandomly generated maps, unique steampunk atmosphere, and a branching technology tree. There’s also zombies, which tend to make a game pretty likable.
They Are Billions is relatively limited in platforms, with only Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The graphics of the game are above average for the genre, but the steampunk aesthetic is what makes They Are Billions stand out. They Are Billions is a relatively hardcore real-time strategy game, which might be challenging for players new to the genre, but the grueling learning curve is worth it for a serious sense of accomplishment.
9X-Morph: Defense
Metacritic: 75
X-Morph: Defense
With an impressively high rating on Steam and a healthy host of platforms,X-Morph: Defense is a no-brainer on the list of best tower defense games.X-Morph: Defense brings an air of originality to a relatively saturated field of tower defense games by combining elements of top-down shooters with tower defense strategies. The graphics of X-Morph: Defense hold up quite well considering the game was released in 2017.
Bonus points for getting to be the villain: an alien invading Earth to harvest resources and transform the planet to fit your needs. X-Morph: Defense lets you play around in an impressive build mode to prepare for the incoming onslaught of desperate humans. The unique combination of genres leaves X-Morph: Defense fresh in the mind after sifting through seemingly endless tower defense games.
8Dungeon Defenders
Metacritic: 77
Dungeon Defenders
Dungeon Defenders may look cartoony and cute, but adding co-op into the mix makes the strategy element of tower defense a special challenge. Players have to work together to protect crystals from increasingly difficult waves of enemies, including unique bosses.Dungeon Defenders has a fairly approachable difficulty curveinvolved with the campaign, which drives you to constantly improve your strategy and teamwork to survive the next challenge.
A hardcore mode makes things even more challenging for experienced tower defense players. Dungeon Defenders has awealth of platforms and relatively low spec requirements for PC, meaning it’s widely accessibleand holds up to the server task of hosting co-op games online.
7Bloons TD 5
Metacritic: 79
Bloons is required to be in any compilation of tower defense games.The Bloons TD franchise has been around since 2007and continues to produce well-made tower defense games. The standout star of the Bloons series is Bloons TD 5, which was released in 2011 as a Flash game. Being played with Flash on a browser meantthe game doesn’t need an expensive console or computer to enjoy it.Bloons TD 5 offers daily challenges that keep gameplay fresh as the years go by.
RELATED:Best Main Characters In Gaming History, Ranked
The gameplay in Bloons TD 5 is straightforward, appealing, and walks the line between boringly simple and prohibitively challenging. Any type of player can enjoy Bloons TD 5 without needing to be a hardcore tower defense expert, but those hardcore experts will also find unique challenges and evolving gameplay enjoyable without feeling watered down.
6Orcs Must Die! 2
Metacritic: 83
Orcs Must Die! 2
Orcs Must Die! is another tower defense game that borders on classic.The second installment of Orcs Must Die! actually ties with The Riftbreakerwith a Metascore of 83, but Orcs Must Die! 2 has a barely lower user score. This is a direct sequel to the smash hit Orcs Must Die! and was released in 2012, making itone of the older, more accomplished tower defense games out there.
Orcs Must Die! 2 makes use of online and LAN co-op to pit you and a friend against hordes of orcs desperate to break through your guarded rifts. The fantasy aesthetic of Orcs Must Die! 2 is reminiscent of other blocky, cartoonish fantasy games, but the gameplay itself pushes Orcs Must Die! 2 ahead. Orcs Must Die! 2 is a direct sequel to the original game. The ‘Endless’ mode and weekly challenges make Orcs Must Die! 2 feel fresh even years later.
5The Riftbreaker
The Riftbreaker
The Riftbreaker doesn’t call itself a tower defense game; maybe that’s why it’s such a good one. Described as a base-building strategy game,The Riftbreaker combines RPG elements and tower defensein a gorgeous sci-fi atmosphere. There isn’t much time for relaxation in The Riftbreaker.
You’re assaulted by waves of local alien fauna on a strange planet whenever you’re not desperately trying to improve your base to survive the next waves. But the game isn’t too stressful; in fact,The Riftbreaker gives players just the right amount of fun, anxiety, and anticipationto keep you on your toes even during your downtime. Battles in The Riftbreaker feel important. They’rehuge. There’s a sense of purpose and intimidation when playing The Riftbreaker that’s hard to contend with.
4Kingdom Two Crowns
Metacritic: 85
Kingdom Two Crowns
It’s unusual for a relatively new game to beconsidered one of the best in its genreand even more so when it isn’t even the first installment in a series. Kingdom Two Crowns is an indie side scroller with a local co-op, meaning it isimmediately unique and exciting to play.Kingdom Two Crowns capitalizes on the kitschy indie aesthetic of pixel art and roguelike game mechanics to make gameplay feel unique.
Kingdom Two Crowns was originally slated to be just an expansion to Kingdom: New Lands, but creator Thomas van den Berg wanted to give Kingdom Two Crowns a life of its own. Kingdom Two Crowns is available on pretty much every platform and can be played alone, but why would you adventure solo when you can drag a friend along?
3Plants Vs. Zombies
Metacritic: 87
Plants vs. Zombies
Plants Vs. Zombies is a classic. It’s one of the oldest tower defense games, having been released in 2009. The gameexploded into a franchise that’s still hugely popularand recognizable, with comics, spin-offs, and music videos to round out a portfolio of foliage-infested undead. Plants Vs. Zombies isavailable on anything that can run a video game and has appeal for all ageswith its cartoony joke-horror setting. It was created by an impressively small team of developers and artists.
Gameplay is still fun and exciting even when compared to modern tower defense games with flashy graphics and unique twists on the genre. Plants Vs. Zombies is a quintessential tower defense game and has the award nominations to prove it.
2Kingdom Rush
Metacritic: 89
Kingdom Rush
Kingdom Rush has been described as a classic. Cute graphics make it memorable in a sea of hyperrealistic hardcore real-time strategy games. Even though maps are pre-determined, gameplay in Kingdom Rush doesn’t ever seem to get stale.Kingdom Rush doesn’t overwhelm playerswith too many branching upgrades or options while simultaneously avoiding neutering gameplay before it gets good. It’s available on just about any platform, including browsers, and is enjoyable for all gamers of all ages and abilities. Don’t let the adorable sprites fool you, though: Kingdom Rush is not an easy game. In fact,the difficulty of its gameplay is one of the reasons it’s a classic. By being just a little too hard, Kingdom Rush makes you really feel relief and accomplishment when you finally make progress, which is an addicting recipe for replayability.
Metacritic: 90
The mother of all tower defense games is a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena). With a whopping Metascore of 90 and more than two million reviews on Steam, Dota 2 is an accomplished tower defense game with a massive player base, eSports presence, lore, anime series, and merchandise.
The only criticism of Dota 2 is howsteep the learning curve is for even experienced MOBA and tower defense players.But if you make it through the grueling learning curve without your brain melting, you’re rewarded withcompelling multiplayer action and a wealth of playable heroes.With constant updates and adjustments, gameplay never gets old. There are seemingly infinite ways to play Dota 2. Quite simply, you’ll never get bored. It’s easy to start a game in the morning, blink, and realize you’ve lost an entire day to Dota 2.
