Here we rank some of the greatest tower defense games available. Tower defense is one of the most gratifying gaming genres out there.
Long-running series like Age of Empires and Civilization offer what many consider to be the best of the genre, and strategy games have always appealed to a wide range of players. Those games, with their emphasis on medium-to-large-scale combat and base development, may be a bit too complex for the more casual players.
This is where the strategy subgenre of tower defense games comes in, when players are tasked with defending their chosen base rather than attempting to expand their base-building endeavors. Since enemies usually choose distinct routes to attack, mounting a defense against them is made easier. Of course, that narrowed focus has its own set of rewards and difficulties, and the tower defense game genre, like the broader strategy game genre, has produced a good number of diamonds. Here is our list of some of the greatest ones, ranked by us.
Updated by Jacob Whaling on October 14, 2023: More fantastic tower defense games have been added to our list; these include base-building and even action role-playing games. There is undoubtedly something here for you if you’re searching for a challenging tower defense game to spend your time with.
Best 14 Tower Defense Games Ever Made
In this article you can find out the best Tower Defense Games ever Made list below;
14. SteamWorld Tower Defense
A gameplay screenshot from SteamWorld Tower Defense: While Image & Form is most recognized for its other well-known titles in the SteamWorld series (SteamWorld Dig 1 & 2), the story really started in 2010 when this charming little tower defense game was released on DSiWare.
Dungeon of the Endless, The Last Friend, PixelJunk Monsters, and OTTTD Related Tower Defense Switch Split Image Feature
In the game, players assumed the role of a sheriff tasked with defending his town’s gold mines from a wave of intruders. They accomplish this by deploying a variety of robot turrets along the routes that lead to the mines, utilizing the Nintendo DS’s bottom screen’s touch capabilities, and adding additional objects like bombs and fully functional nuclear weapons.
13. Sanctum 2
Coffee Stain Studios created Sanctum 2, a first-person shooter with tower defense features. The game, which debuted in 2013 on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, is about a group of people in a futuristic sci-fi environment who are known as Core Guardians.
Players must protect their oxygen-producing Cores from attempts by local creatures to remove them on this alien planet where the action is set. Players can actively participate in the defense of their base by switching to a first-person view after erecting towers and other defense systems.
12. OTTTD (Over The Top Tower Defense)
An image displaying Over The Top Tower Defense gameplay
Fans of the genre should also play the tower defense game Over The Top Tower Defense, or OTTTD. The game, created by Death Squared’s SMG Studios, is set in the year 2317 following an unintentional rift’s opening, which opens the door for a massive extraterrestrial invasion. You can direct particular party members, such as an engineer who bolsters your defenses, in addition to setting up turrets throughout your base.
As the title implies, things occasionally get a little too dramatic, particularly in the later rounds when the level of difficulty increases significantly. The task is somewhat easier to handle because, happily, you can replay previous stages until you get enough points to level up your party members.
11. Defense Grid: The Awakening
One excellent tower defense game is Defense Grid: The Awakening. The game plays incredibly well and still has a great visual aesthetic despite its age. The gameplay centers on tower placement and resource management to protect your core from waves of aliens, with each level requiring a different approach.
There are a ton of maps available, and each one has difficulty variables to add intrigue to repeated runs. Defense Grid: The Awakening offers hundreds of hours of content if you purchase the different DLC packs.
10. Dungeon Defenders
In 2010, Dungeon Defenders—a tower defense game with action RPG components—was first released for mobile devices. Using melee and ranged attacks along with obstacles like towers and traps, up to four players must defend against waves of orcs, goblins, and other monsters.
Searching for a fresh iOS or Android tower defense game to play? These are the top mobile tower defense games available.
2011 saw the release of versions for the PC, Xbox Live Arcade, and PlayStation Network. Although there have been other successors to the game since then, the original is still regarded as the finest.
9. Creeper World 4
In the original tower defense game Creeper World 4, your goal is to repel the constantly advancing Creeper flood. You will fend off the liquid as it approaches your base with a variety of towers, posing a danger to flood the entire map.
Tower defense, real-time strategy, base construction, and physics-based systems are all combined into one game in Creeper World 4, which also features a map editor, a ton of story maps, and almost endless replayability.
8. Orcs Must Die! 3
As a direct sequel to Orcs Must Die! 2, the third game in the series is actually the fourth overall, with its events occurring 20 years after those shown in the first game.
Once again, players take control of one of two war mages (two players can play collaboratively). Their task is to defend their castle by fending off waves of attacking orc armies with a variety of weapons, traps, and special powers. With the release of the new game, players can now engage in larger-scale battles (including up to 1,000 orcs) and utilize massive traps known as War Machines in the War Scenario game option.
7. GemCraft – Chasing Shadows
In the challenging and entertaining tower defense game GemCraft – Chasing Shadows, you can build and design your own special towers with gems. Planning, competence, and focus are necessary during battles because there is always something to manage or do with each wave of enemies.
For fans of tower defense who want to immerse themselves in a new game, GemCraft is ideal because it offers a ton of material and a strong emphasis on replayability. It can be played for hundreds of hours.
6. Mindustry
A hybrid of tower defense and resource management games, such as Factorio, is Mindustry. You can build facilities to automate your tower defense manufacturing by gathering a variety of resources from the planet’s surface.
The lowest dungeon town, Solasta conflict, and a Disgaea character engaged in combat
Many people enjoy playing strategy role-playing games, so let’s look at the top dark fantasy ones available currently.
In addition to offering an extensive campaign with a ton of levels to play, Mindustry also features a level editor that lets users create custom situations and maps. Mindustry is the ideal combination of resource management and base-building games if you enjoy both kinds of games.
5. The Riftbreaker
Base-building, strategy, action, and tower defense are all combined in The Riftbreaker. You’ll have to start over in a hostile new environment via dimensional rifts to travel to new worlds; your AI mecha companion will be your only source of support.
As with Mindustry, your task is to gather resources from the planet and then fortify your stronghold to fend off waves of invading aliens. The Riftbreaker’s gameplay loop is really satisfying, and its gorgeous graphics make it simple to lose yourself in the game’s environment.
4. Kingdom Rush
With several excellent titles, the Kingdom Rush series is among the most well-liked in the tower defense genre. Even with its straightforward design, Kingdom Rush has more challenging areas that must be cleared strategically.
There are a ton of heroes that you may unlock who can alter your strategy and provide you different approaches to kingdom defense. The series offers a number of games to pick from, but none of them are particularly bad.
3. Plants Vs. Zombies
Despite having a silly premise, Plants vs. Zombies’ quirky characters and gameplay are endearing throughout. Its vivid and colorful style is largely responsible for its appeal, but don’t allow the game’s kid-friendly graphics deceive you into believing it doesn’t provide any difficulty.
Searching for the scariest, most entertaining zombie games on the PS4 and PS5? The best zombie-killing games are right here, so stop searching elsewhere.
The front yard of your home serves as the battlefield for the fight between the game’s titular fighters, who stagger over one of five lanes. Every round adds a new variety of zombie to the mix and gives you a fresh plant to use in the next round. Even though the gameplay loop is straightforward, the entire package manages to provide both casual players and seasoned tower defense strategists with hours and hours of entertainment.
2. Legion TD 2
A tower defense game with a multiplayer emphasis, Legion TD 2 offers endless replayability. Once a Warcraft 3 mod, Legion TD has evolved into one of the most intricate, strategic, and customizable tower defense games available today. With more than 100 towers available across eight distinct Legions, you’ll need to adjust to every scenario as it emerges in order to defeat your rival.
The main mode of play in Legion TD 2 is multiplayer, with 2v2 or 4v4 battle forms. You can send minions to your opponent’s side to create sections of the wave that they must destroy or lose their king. Legion TD 2 is an excellent option if you’re searching for a challenging tower defense game with lots of depth.
1. Bloons TD 6
With more monkeys, new heroes, and dozens of stages and tasks to finish, Bloons Tower Defense 6 is the finest game in the series. With the greatest content of any game in the series and constant updates, Bloons TD 6 is the definitive Bloons experience.
Once more, players must stop a number of balloons from reaching the end of a predetermined course in order to win the game. They have to use a variety of turrets in addition to monkeys with weapons to achieve this.