It’s no secret that I’m a massive Tower Defense fan. The pace of the games is generally… perfect. You start off easy, gradually learning the mechanics of the individual game. You clear wave after wave of enemies, upgrading your defenses. All of a sudden, you’re overwhelmed by mobs, unable to upgrade in time as you desperately drop more and more towers. It’s this style of constant “kill, upgrade, repeat” system that draws me in – probably why I’m such a fan of MMOs.

Tower Defense games pit you in charge of placement of “towers” or other types of defenses, which (generally) automatically attack constant waves of oncoming enemies. They enter one side of the screen and try to make their way to the other side – and it’s your job to stop them. There are two distinct types of Tower Defense games: 1. Open-field where the enemies have nothing in their way, and it’s up to you to “guide” them to the exit by placing towers (non-linear), and 2. Pathed where there is a set course for the enemies to take and you’re given spots along that path to place your defenses (linear). Each game type requires different strategies and while some titles focus on one or the other, there are a few games that give you a little taste of both.

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