Line #7 Main/TowerDefense


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/DefenseGridTheAwakening https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/defense_grid.png]]]]
5
6	Tower defense games are a SubGenre of [[StrategyGame strategy games]] where you [[ProtectionMission defend a building from monsters and/or other enemies]] using other buildings, sometimes with a unit or two to back you up. Similar to MultiMookMelee, Tower Defense games have you facing [[ZergRush wave upon wave]] of "creeps"[[note]]("Creeps" being the term used for random monsters in ''VideoGame/WarcraftIIIReignOfChaos''; as a lot of Tower Defense maps were made for [=WC3=], the name stuck.)[[/note]] until a given number reach their goal, or you survive the final wave.
7
8	Creeps will move along the path that is either:
9	* Static: Creeps move along the same paths.
10	* Dynamic: The placement of towers will determine the paths which creeps move along. Dynamic paths usually create a strategy called "mazing", allowing the player to make long, winding paths that force the enemy to take the longest possible route to their destination, all the while being blasted by the towers herding them.
11
12	A typical Tower Defense game will have:
13	* Creeps that behave differently. Some are {{Fragile Speedster}}s or {{Mighty Glacier}}s, some are {{Asteroids Monster}}s, others [[AirborneMook can fly]] over towers and [[DungeonBypass bypass most of your defenses]], etc.
14	* "Boss" creeps on certain waves.
15	* A strategy that requires a balance of producing more towers and upgrading existing ones. More important in dynamic path type ones.
16	* Balance between different towers. Ideally, none of the tower types should be completely useless.
17	* Commonly, a "survival" mode in which each level retains the towers you built in the previous level and/or the enemies get tougher as the game progresses instead of simply increasing in number.
18	* HoldTheLine as its core element.
19
20	As of lately, a trend in this genre has started to develop where the games will feature the ability for the player to be the attacking force pitted against the towers. This sub-genre within the Tower Defense genre has been called "Reverse Tower Defense", "Tower Attack", and "Tower Offense". Some games in the genre get to the point of devoting themselves entirely to this, eschewing the defense element altogether. It is also the basis of the MultiplayerOnlineBattleArena, with ''VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients'' being basically born as a 5 vs 5 reverse tower defense using ''VideoGame/WarcraftIIIReignOfChaos''[='=]s hero mechanics.
21
22	Another form of Tower Defense features a single tower or gate on one side of the screen, which is then beset by the Creeps marching forth to destroy it. The player is usually given one or more weapons directly controlled by them, while upgrades may add automatic defenses and defenders.
23
24	The third form of defense game is the "Tug-of-War"/BeamOWar style. In which there are two towers or bases at each end of one or more paths, and the player(s) and AI send different units down the path to attack the enemy base(s). Opposing units that meet will fight each other, and the object is to push the enemy force back to their own side and destroy their base(s).
25	----
26	!!Examples of Tower Defense as a Full Game:
27	[[index]]
28	* ''VideoGame/AegisOfEarthProtonovusAssault''
29	* ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresCastleSiege''
30	* ''VideoGame/AlienCreeps [=TD=]''
31	* ''VideoGame/AlwaysCellsAtWork''
32	* ''VideoGame/{{Antbuster}}''
33	* ''VideoGame/{{Arknights}}''
34	* ''VideoGame/AttackOfTheMutantPenguins''
35	* ''VideoGame/TheBattleCats''
36	* ''VideoGame/BeachInvasion1944''
37	** ''VideoGame/BeachInvasion1945Pacific''
38	* ''VideoGame/BloonsTowerDefense''
39	** ''VideoGame/BloonsMonkeyCity''
40	** ''VideoGame/BloonsAdventureTimeTD''
41	* ''VideoGame/BrightestKingdom''
42	* ''VideoGame/BubbleTanks'': [[http://www.kongregate.com/games/HeroInteractive/bubble-tanks-tower-defense Tower Defense]], [[http://armorgames.com/play/6338/bubble-tanks-TD-1-5 1.5]] and [[http://armorgames.com/play/13734/bubble-tanks-tower-defense-2 2]]
43	* ''VideoGame/CapsuleServant''
44	* ''VideoGame/CartoonWars''
45	* ''Castle Doombad''
46	[[/index]]
47	* ''Castle Panic'': A ''[[TabletopGames board game]]'' tower defense game. Can be played solo or co-op.
48	[[index]]
49	* ''VideoGame/CityConquest''
50	* ''VideoGame/CometCrash''
51	* ''Create-Your-Own Tower Defense''
52	* ''VideoGame/CreeperWorld'', a GenreMashup of Tower Defense and RTS in which the creeps have [[GreyGoo fluid-like mechanics]] rather than distinct units.
53	* ''[[http://armorgames.com/play/12044/crush-the-castle-td Crush The Castle Tower Defense]]''
54	* ''VideoGame/CursedTreasure''
55	* ''VideoGame/DeadAheadZombieWarfare''
56	* ''VideoGame/DeadEndSt''
57	* ''VideoGame/DefendersQuest'' (with features of a traditional RPG)
58	* ''VideoGame/DefendersQuestII''
59	* ''VideoGame/DefenseGridTheAwakening''
60	* ''VideoGame/DefenseWitches''.
61	* ''VideoGame/DesertMoon''
62	* ''VideoGame/DesktopTowerDefense''
63	* ''VideoGame/DillonsRollingWestern'' (which also mixes in Action elements)
64	* ''VideoGame/DungeonDefenders''
65	* ''VideoGame/DungeonOfTheEndless'' (combined with {{Roguelike}})
66	* ''VideoGame/{{Dwerve}}'' (combined with DungeonCrawling {{RPG}})
67	* ''VideoGame/EndlessDungeon'' (combined with {{Roguelike}})
68	* ''VideoGame/EvilDefenders''
69	* ''VideoGame/{{Fantasica}}''
70	* ''VideoGame/{{Fieldrunners}}''
71	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChroniclesMyLifeAsADarklord''
72	* ''[[VideoGame/CrystalDefenders Final Fantasy Crystal Defenders]]''
73	* ''VideoGame/FlashElementTowerDefense''
74	* ''VideoGame/FreakingMeatbags''[[/index]]
75	* Website/FunOrb's ''[[http://www.funorb.com/info.ws?game=orbdefence Orb Defence]]''[[index]]
76	* ''[[VideoGame/GemCraft [=GemCraft=]]]''
77	** ''[[http://armorgames.com/play/3527/gemcraft-chapter-0 Gemcraft: Chapter Zero]]''
78	** ''[[http://armorgames.com/play/10317/gemcraft-labyrinth Gemcraft Labyrinth]]''
79	** ''[[http://armorgames.com/play/15760/gemcraft-chasing-shadows [=GemCraft=] 2: Chasing Shadows]]''
80	* ''VideoGame/GhostHacker'' and its sequel
81	* ''{{VideoGame/Glissaria}}''
82	* ''VideoGame/GoblinDefenders'' Steel 'n' Wood
83	** ''VideoGame/GoblinDefendersII''
84	* ''VideoGame/GunsNGlory''
85	* ''VideoGame/GrimGrimoire''
86	* ''VideoGame/HeroicArmiesMarching''
87	* ''VideoGame/HyperchargeUnboxed''
88	* ''VideoGame/ImmortalDefense''
89	* ''VideoGame/{{Infinitode}}''
90	** ''VideoGame/Infinitode2''
91	* ''VideoGame/IronBrigade'' (formerly known as ''Trenched'')
92	* ''VideoGame/{{Junkworld}}''
93	* ''[[http://www.kongregate.com/games/nerdook/kill-the-heroes Kill The Heroes]]''
94	* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfTowers''
95	* ''VideoGame/KingdomRush''
96	* ''VideoGame/LastHope [=TD=]''
97	* ''VideoGame/LocksQuest''
98	* ''VideoGame/MechsVKaijus''
99	* ''VideoGame/MetalSlugDefense''
100	** ''VideoGame/MetalSlugAttack''
101	** ''VideoGame/MetalSlugInfinity''
102	* ''VideoGame/MiniRobotWars'' (known as Tiny Defense on the iOS system)
103	* ''VideoGame/MondayNightCombat''
104	* ''[[http://www.kongregate.com/games/fortunacus/mushroom-revolution Mushroom Revolution]]''
105	* ''VideoGame/NaticaAndSandyUnderwaterRescue''
106	* ''VideoGame/NinjaTown''
107	* ''VideoGame/Onslaught2''
108	* ''VideoGame/OrcsMustDie''
109	** ''VideoGame/OrcsMustDie2''
110	** ''VideoGame/OrcsMustDieUnchained''
111	** ''VideoGame/OrcsMustDie3''
112	* ''VideoGame/OsomatsuSanHesokuriWarsBattleOfTheNEETs''
113	* ''[[VideoGame/PatchCon PatchCon! Defend the Library!]]'' is a ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' fan game that has elements of Tower Defense games except characters can move. It also has an actual tower defense mode that plays it straight.
114	* ''VideoGame/ThePerfectTower'' (with a hybrid of IdleGame)
115	** ''VideoGame/ThePerfectTowerII''
116	* ''VideoGame/{{PixelJunk Monsters}}''
117	* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies''
118	** ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies2ItsAboutTime''
119	* ''VideoGame/PokemonTowerDefense''
120	* ''VideoGame/PrimeWorldDefenders''
121	* ''VideoGame/ProtectMeKnight''
122	* ''VideoGame/{{Rampart}}''
123	* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFullFrontalAssault''
124	* ''VideoGame/RealmDefense''
125	* ''VideoGame/RevengeOfTheTitans''
126	* ''VideoGame/{{Riftbound}}''
127	* ''VideoGame/TheRiftbreaker''
128	* ''VideoGame/RWBYAmityArena''
129	* ''VideoGame/{{Sanctum}}'' (combined with first-person shooter)
130	* ''VideoGame/SandyBeach'' a tower defense game on the WiiWare that featured crabs and was published by Konami
131	* ''VideoGame/SavageMoon''
132	* ''VideoGame/SilverFallsGaidenDeathlyDelusionDestroyersAndRubyRiver''
133	* ''VideoGame/SolSurvivor''
134	* ''VideoGame/{{Soulcaster}}''
135	* ''VideoGame/SteamDefense''
136	* ''VideoGame/SteampunkTower''
137	** ''VideoGame/SteampunkTowerII''
138	[[/index]]
139	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' [[IntentionalEngrishForFunny ''Let's Go Tower Defense Play!'']]
140	[[index]]
141	* ''VideoGame/SpaceRun''
142	* ''VideoGame/StarFoxGuard''
143	* ''VideoGame/StickmanTowerDefense''
144	* ''VideoGame/SystemProtocolOne''
145	* ''VideoGame/TowerBattles''
146	* ''VideoGame/TowerDefenseSimulator''
147	* ''VideoGame/TowerMadness''
148	* ''VideoGame/ToySoldiers''
149	* ''VideoGame/ToysVsNightmares''
150	* ''VideoGame/WarDragons''
151	* ''VideoGame/WatcherOfRealms''
152	* ''VideoGame/WorldWarVII''
153	* ''VideoGame/UnstoppableGorg''
154	* ''VideoGame/VectoidTD3D''
155	* ''[[http://www.candystand.com/play/vector-td Vector Tower Defense]]''
156	* ''VideoGame/WhatDidIDoToDeserveThisMyLord''
157	* ''VideoGame/WhiteboardTowerDefense''
158	* ''VideoGame/{{Wrack}}: Exoverse''
159	* ''VideoGame/XenoTactic''
160	* ''Videogame/XMorphDefense''
161	* ''VideoGame/YukiYunaIsAHeroASparklingFlower''
162	[[/index]]
163
164	!!Examples of Tower Defense as a MiniGame:
165	* Some user-created maps for other RealTimeStrategy games follow this style.
166	* ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresII: Age Of Kings'' (and the expansion pack ''Conquerors'') had a "Wonder Race" game type, in which you are required to build a wonder and defend it for 200 years before your opponent(s).
167	* "Red's Mighty Feathers" from ''VideoGame/AngryBirds'' adapts the ''Angry Birds'' formula for the Tower Defense genre. The pigs are advancing upon the egg using their vehicles, and the Red Bird must protect the egg by popping the pigs with his new homing power.
168	* ''VideoGame/AnimalJam'' has "Pest Control", in which the player uses biological pest control[[note]]Venus fly-trap, frog, lizard, snake[[/note]] to prevent the pests[[note]]Ant, fly, cricket, dragonfly, beetle, spider, rat[[/note]] from reaching the end of the static path.
169	* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'' had Den Defenses, where Templar soldiers assault one of dens controlled by the Assassins. Ezio is responsible for organizing the defense by placing barricades in the streets and various types of Assassins on the rooftops firing down upon them.
170	* Creator/BlizzardEntertainment:
171	** The TropeMaker was the various user-made defense maps in ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' - "Sunken D," "Turret D," [[GoodBadBugs "Stacked]] Photon D," etc. The ''Starcraft'' editor did not allow you to create new units or buildings, so they usually made much more use of mobile units than most current Tower Defenses. See, for example, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpgj_1dGlEw this video]] of "Weed D," which is recognizably a fixed-path Tower Defense game except that [[UnbuiltTrope the "towers" being "built" are Mutalisks]].
172	** The TropeCodifier was Tower Defense maps for ''VideoGame/WarcraftIIIReignOfChaos''. The editor was much more sophisticated than ''Starcraft'''s, allowing for greater variety in towers. Multiple subgenres appeared and proliferated, such as the "Wintermaul" clones. By the time the ''Frozen Throne'' expansion came out, Blizzard included an ''official'' Tower Defense map as an Alliance campaign bonus level.
173	* ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}} IV'' came with a "Civ Defense" mod, in which one starts with a certain number of cities, spends money (rather than the usual "hammers") to add to their fortifications and defenses, and then horde after horde of barbarians come at you.
174	* ''VideoGame/ClubPenguin'' had "System Defender", in which the player has to set up cannons to stop the MechaMook from destroying the EPF Mainframe computer. Interestingly, while threats could be simulated by all players, there would be live threats that could be handled by members only.
175	* The action-RPG ''VideoGame/CrossCode'' had 2 connected sidequests (+ a challenge quest for each) in the city of Basin Keep that were basically a tower defense minigame on top of the normal combat. The heroine Lea has to defend a point against waves of enemies with the help of turrets, which can be activated in neutral and elemental modes. Additionally, all the enemies have strong shields that only the turrets in the (otherwise weaker) neutral mode can break.
176	* "Englos Defense", a bonus level in ''[[VideoGame/DeadlyRoomsOfDeath DROD]]: The Second Sky''.
177	* ''VideoGame/ExodusBorealis'' is a combined city builder and tower defense game, where a colony of FoxFolk has to build a tower maze in front of a demon gate in order to protect their settlement, while also constructing the buildings they need for their own survival and producing the resources for those towers.
178	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' are probably the {{Ur Example}}s:
179	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has an event similar to this halfway through the first part of the game; there's a difference in that you battle the mooks using the standard battle system, but otherwise the execution is the same.
180	** The Fort Condor mini-game in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' is essentially a tower defense game.
181	* ''VideoGame/GameOfWarFireAge'' has a tower defense minigame.
182	* Version 1.3 of ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' has the "Theater Mechanicus" event, in which you can plant different kinds of "towers" to defeat waves of incoming enemies. The enemies won't attack you or the towers, but will keep walking towards the "exit" which you have to defend. You can attack the enemies, but they'll take no damage from your attacks, nor will your energy get charged; however, you can still exploit elemental effects and reactions to support your towers. This can also be played with another player. Completing a level unlocks materials you can use to upgrade the towers, as well as higher difficulties.
183	* The ''VideoGame/IronGrip'' series is part TowerDefense and part {{FPS}}.
184	* A variation of this appears in Legion's Loyalty Mission in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', where Mooks must march towards you in a fixed path while you have Legion hack a few turrets around the area to shoot at them. Alternatively, you can just cap them yourself.
185	* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise'' has Rampage quests where you take up arms in a stronghold where you can set up armaments like ballistas, cannons, and bombs; some of these installations are controlled by [=NPCs=], while others are controlled by the player(s). Your goal is to fend off an onslaught of monsters who are trying to destroy a heavily fortified gate on the far end of the map. As you fulfill side objectives and defeat monsters, more types of "towers" become available.
186	* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'''s ''Blight'' expansion introduced missions where players had to defend a purifying device from monsters advancing over multiple lanes. While particularly powerful characters can clear them without assistance, usually you'd have to construct towers to damage, debuff and/or stall enemies. Blighted maps take it further, turning an entire location into a huge defense mission with over a dozen lanes and several unique bosses.
187	* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' has two variants of this.
188	** The first is Mining Base, Emergency Quests where players are tasked with protecting towers against increasingly powerful and aggressive waves of Darkers while collecting crystals to unlock new weapons and defensive measures.
189	** The second is Buster Quests, introduced in Episode 5. The first half of these quests entail protecting towers from an onslaught of enemies, albeit with a wider array of weapons and defensive measures available from the start. The players are also tasked with raiding an enemy castle and destroying the boss therein.
190	* ''VideoGame/Progressbar95'' has the Progress Defender minigame, in which the bar can only be moved on the x-axis and you have to protect it from red segments and Clippy that approach it. You need to place one of three buildings on three lanes with five spots each. They are Firewalls which stop Red Segments but are damaged by Clippy, Antiviruses that shoot at Clippy but have to be updated once in a while, and Generators that make 5% progress every couple of seconds. Each building costs 5% progress and you must reach 100% to win. It is intended to be slightly harder than the main game, so you get 1.25x for completing levels in it.
191	* The metagame in ''VideoGame/RimWorld'', where you must occasionally defend your little colony against a raid of foes that vastly outnumber you, favors a "killbox" strategy to funnel and slow foes - perhaps via a narrow, trap-filled maze where they must crawl over sandbags to progress - into a prepared kill zone where turrets and armed colonists can quickly cut down the raiders one at a time. Of course, this only works against enemies that ''don't'' use {{Drop Pod}}s to crash through your dining room roof.
192	* ''VideoGame/SunsetOverdrive'' has seven mandatory "Night Defense" missions where the player fiends off two waves of OD from attacking multiple Vats.
193	* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' comes close to providing a FirstPersonShooter version of a Tower Defense minigame with "Mann Versus Machine" mode, in which a small team of players must defend an objective against waves of robotic attackers. There is/was also a fan-made Tower Defense minigame mod in development.
194	* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'''s 1.2.4 Update introduced a crossover with ''VideoGame/DungeonDefenders'' that provides a 2D example. When the "Old One's Army" event starts, two portals appear a short distance from a stationary objective, which the player has to defend from advancing waves of enemies. While you can fight however you wish, the player is encouraged to use a set of ''Dungeon Defenders''-inspired items to play TheTurretMaster, plopping down summoned defenses to help thin out the marching foes.
195	* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}} Otherworld'' has segments like this, where the player needs to place down towers to defend against monsters attacking the purifying machines.
196	* ''VideoGame/ThreeDDotGameHeroes'' has a Tower Defense mini-game called Block Defense.
197	* "Frontier Defense" from ''VideoGame/{{Titanfall}}'', added in Title Update 8.
198
199
200	!!Examples of Tower Defense games that include the ability to play as the attackers:
201	* ''VideoGame/AnomalyWarzoneEarth'' - Considered by many to be the [[FollowTheLeader first]] Tower ''[[InvertedTrope Offense]]'' games. Here, you upgrade a constantly moving force to [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs attack an enemy base/garrison]] filled with turrets.
202	* ''VideoGame/{{Villainous\|2011}}'' - Also a Tower ''Offense'' game where you play as the villain on his quest to take over the lands.
203	* ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore V'' - A MechaGame where most of the online component consists of you assaulting other team's territories akin to a glorified 3D-Tower Defense game. As with everything else however, being intercepted by that territory's owner and prepare for a Team Deathmatch style game instead, with all the turrets present. Like real Turret Defense games, turrets run the gamut from "squishy little targets" to "hard as a barnacle to remove", and combinations of turrets often give even the most experienced players trouble.
204	* A game literally named ''Anti-Tower Defense''. You select versions of certain robot creeps to casually walk (argh) through a progressively harder tower network.
205	* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'' on the Xbox 360 has the [[CompetitiveMultiplayer 2-player versus mode]]. The zombies' side has you attacking the plants and attempting to get into the house, while defending your targets from the plants' attacks. All the versions of the game have a simpler version of this in the "I, Zombie" minigame, where you have to pick zombies to attack a pre-selected set of plants.
206	* Tower defense makes up half of the gameplay in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''. Towers can dish incredible amounts of damage against heroes, but they will always target creeps first; the goal is to use teamwork, strategy and your minions to take out three enemy towers on each lane, then an Inhibitor that prevents you from spawning super creeps or "winions", then two final towers and finally the enemy's Nexus. Because the other team has the same goal, you play simultaneously as attacker and defender.
207	* ''VideoGame/{{Stronghold}}'', a series of castle-building games which are mostly defensive except for the rare mission where you play an invading army trying to get into an opponent's castle. These also involve setting up a complex supply chain, managing taxes and morale, but for the most part, the aim is to build a big wall around your keep, and stock it with as many archers and crossbowmen as possible to pick off the approaching invaders.
208	* ''VideoGame/DungeonDefenders'' has an event match called 'assault' where, "in an unexpected twist, YOU have to attack THEIR crystal!"
209	* ''VideoGame/PokemonTowerDefense'' also features sections where your 'Mons go on the attack.
210	* ''[[http://www.doggnation.com/ Doggnation]]'' was originally designed as a Tower Defense game, but this eventually changed into more of a puzzle game where you have to help the "Doggs" carry specific blocks to upgrade their castle.
211	* ''VideoGame/DeadSpaceIgnition'' has a HackingMiniGame that is a tower Offense game. You send out an unlimited number of computer viruses to break down the computer firewalls and get to the computer program before time runs out.
212	* GameMod ''VideoGame/RedAlert3Paradox'' is unique in that it has BOTH sides of a tower defense game as RTS factions.
213	* ''Defenders of Ardania'', a Tower Defense game set in the ''VideoGame/{{Majesty}}'' universe, has you do defense with towers and offense with units at the same time.
214	* ''VideoGame/TheMightyQuestForEpicLoot'', at least if you're on the defense.
215	* In ''VideoGame/CityConquest'', both players have a city, and each player switches between offense and defense.
216	* ''VideoGame/GhostHacker 2'' has segments where you place Mooks to collect Data cubes from a security system. In the first game, it was a bonus level. Unlike many examples, your mooks can instantly destroy the enemy towers should they run into them or their "nodes".
217	* ''VideoGame/DragonWars'', when you aren't defending your own base from being attacked. The other point is to attack other players' bases with your dragons.
218	* ''Royal Revolt'' and its sequel are similar. Most of the time, you're using your PlayerCharacter king/queen to attack other players' castles.
219	* A bonus game mode in ''VideoGame/{{Dwarfs}}'', called "Base Defend". In a twist, you have to build the maze beforehand by guiding your digger dwarf properly (although the more complex the maze is, the more expensive it is.)
220	* ''VideoGame/LegoStarWarsBattles'' is a [=PvP=] RTS game where ''both sides'' are the attackers. Thus, you have to defend your base while also destroying the enemy's base. Alternatively, you win by having the most turrets set up at the end of the round.
221

Context Main / TowerDefense