Tower defense games have a smaller but fiercely loyal following. Generally, they require a lot more thinking than actual action and that makes them perfect for those who want something akin to a time waster but with more substance. It also happens to be one of the most popular genres in all of Android gaming so here are the best Android tower defense games.
Anomaly 2
[Price: $4.99]
First up is Anomaly 2. The game is a hybrid of tower defense and tower offense so you’ll get to play both sides of the field at some point. It’s also known for its above average graphics which are further enhanced if you happened to own a device with a Tegra K1 processor. There is a fairly decent story line, online multiplayer mode, and perhaps best of all there are no in app purchases. It’s a solid title and $4.99 really isn’t that much money. It’s worth a look, especially if you own a Tegra K1 device.
Castle Defense
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Castle Defense is a fairly typical tower defense game. There are waves of bad guys that walk along a set path and you must set up troops and defenses to destroy them. The graphics are okay and the game play is easy to pick up. It is free to play with in app purchases and in the tower defense arena, that means you’ll have to do a significant amount of grinding to avoid forking out real money. If you’re okay with the grind or with forking out a few bucks for in app purchases then this is a fun (and free) game to pick up!
Defenders
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Defenders is another tower defense game with above average graphics. Perhaps not as intense as Anomaly 2 but they are pretty decent. This game is a hybrid of collectible card game and tower defense. You unlock towers, spells, etc by unlocking their cards and they can be upgraded up to 25 times. This is also another game that can take advantage of the extra features provided by Tegra devices. It sports a story line complete with boss fights as well as various challenge modes to keep things interesting.
Defense Technica
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Defense Technica starts out as your typical tower defense game and adds some unique features that make it fun. For instance, you can rotate paths to change the direction of your opponents. Much like Defenders above, this also utilizes a collectible card system to unlock and upgrade defenses. The graphics are also pretty decent and it is free to play so it won’t cost you anything to try it. Beware though, we hear the in app purchases are a little rough on this one.
Defense Zone 2 HD
[Price: $2.99]
Defense Zone 2 HD employs a slightly more “realistic” graphic set which is actually kind of refreshing if you tried the bizarre, colorful, explosive titles above. The game play is typical and fans of classic tower defense will feel right at home here. There are no in app purchases so there are no holes to get stuck in. The developers have also added difficulty settings so those who just want to pass the time have something and those who want a challenge have something else. Some people have complained that the game is too hard but frankly games are supposed to be hard so that’s not a terrible thing.
Fantasy Defense 2
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
We initially wanted to put Square Enix’s Crystal Defenders on this list but found that the offering was disappointing. Instead, we opted to go with Fantasy Defense 2 which features similar game play mechanics. In this game, you have heroes instead of towers that line the paths and attack bad guys as they pass. You upgrade your heroes RPG-style and they continue to do battle. It’s a little more simple than some of these but it’s still fun and the graphics are decent.
GRave Defense HD
[Price: Free / $2.99 (both have in app purchases)]
Despite the hilariously bad English translation in the demo video, GRave Defense HD (GRave is not a typo) is a fun and intense tower defense game. The premise is simple. You’re in the midst of a zombie apocalypse and you must defend yourself from wave after wave of the undead. It’s been touted for its story line which is a rarity in the tower defense genre. There are 40 levels, survival mode, and there’s an online leader board to see how you stack up. There’s also a free and paid version.
Guns’n’Glory WW2
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Guns’n’Glory WW2 is a different take on the tower defense game. You set up troops and tanks as your “towers” to do battle with the enemy but in this one, the enemy fires back. That means you’ll also have to employ the medic dynamic to keep your soldiers alive while they defend things. You can also control troops and do battle personally. There is a lot of action in this title and its unique features have earned it one of the highest Google Play Store ratings of any app on this list.
Jelly Defense
[Price: $2.99]
Jelly Defense is a more lighthearted game. The graphics are in the style of the old kids TV show Gumby and features cutesy blobs of jelly that defend their home from bad guys. In terms of mechanics, it’s classic tower defense. You build towers along a path, defend against bad guys, and upgrade as needed. Some have claimed the game is too hard and that the towers are unbalanced but that’s really up to personal interpretation. It’s $2.99 and contains no in app purchases.
Kingdom Rush and Kingdom Rush Frontiers
[Price: $0.99 and $1.99 respectively. Both have in app purchases]
The Kingdom Rush series is one of the most prolific and highly rated games on the list. It’s a classic tower defense game with large maps, plenty of towers, achievements, and even heroes that you can drop to fight alongside your towers. The graphics are decent and things like a competent soundtrack and sound effects create a more well-rounded experience. Some people liked the first one better while others like the second better. Some play both. The button will take you to the developer page on Google Play so you can check them both out.
Plants vs Zombies 1 and 2
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
The Plants vs Zombies series is arguably the most casual gamer-friendly title on the list. It doesn’t look like your classic tower defense but the mechanics are there. You must defend against waves of enemies by planting weaponzied plants in your yard to obstruct their path. It’s one of the more well-known titles on Android and most people have likely already heard of it. Even so, it’s a fun game and one of the most friendly ways of introducing someone to the tower defense genre.
Radiant Defense
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Radiant Defense employs a more minimal look in terms of graphics but makes up for it by being insanely colorful and bright. The classic tower defense elements are all there with one unique exception. Instead of dealing with pre-built maps, you can actually create your own paths for the enemies to walk through. It also includes 9 weapons, 3 super weapons, and 400 waves of aliens. It also has Android TV support and NVIDIA Shield support.
Robo Defense
[Price: Free / $2.99]
Robo Defense is among the highest rated games on this list as well as one of the most popular with over ten million downloads to date. It features simple graphics, open maps, plenty of upgrades and difficulty levels. The free version has only one map and 11 difficulty levels while the paid version offers up four more maps and far more difficulty levels. Robo Defense is a lot of fun but do beware that the game hasn’t been updated since July of 2013. We don’t know if the developers have abandoned ship but any incompatibility issues are likely not to get fixed with Android Lollipop or KitKat. Make sure you try the free version first to make sure it works!
Sentinel 4: Dark Star
[Price: $2.99 with in app purchases]
Sentinel 4: Dark Star is the latest installment of the popular Sentinel series that has been among the best tower defense games on mobile. In this title you’ll see improved graphics over prior iterations and the graphics are pretty good. There are 26 levels and each have an endless mode if you want to grind. The mechanics remain similar from prior titles so you’ll have to pick which towers you take into battle with you and you can still call in support from ship weapons. You can also use drones and nukes. It also has Google Play Games services. It’s the best Sentinel game yet.
Zombie Defense
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Last on our list is Zombie Defense and it’s the second game on this list where you can ceaselessly mow down the undead. In this game, you recruit soldiers and place them much like you would towers. You can also alter the terrain with bulldozers and use weapons like grenades. It focuses a lot more on management rather than actual game play which is kind of a nice change for you thinkers in the audience. There are 40 missions, 4 difficulty modes, and plenty of other content. It’s free to play with in app purchases.
Wrap up
If we missed any epic Android tower defense games, please let us know in the comments!
from Android Authority http://ift.tt/12KmACk
