Defend Your Base Like You Would the Earth
Earth needs a savior to protect it. Will you be the one to take up arms and stand your ground? In honor of Earth Day this year, we’ve compiled a list of great base defense games to recommend that blend strategy, tactics and action. If we can put as much effort into protecting the environment as we do in protecting our towers and bases from waves of enemies, then the sky’s the limit. Build, upgrade and prepare to carve out some free time for these five addictive base defense games.
Developer Ninja Kiwi’s Bloons series is arguably responsible for popularizing tower defense mini games on the internet, and for good reason. Players must strategically place monkeys that throw darts that pop a slew of balloons needed to progress. A variety of different monkeys with unique abilities can be unlocked with purchasable upgrades. With 50 levels and 250 missions, Bloons TD 5 offers a ton of content. Other versions of this game are available on Steam, or mobile devices for a small fee, but you can play it here for free in all of its glory.
Kingdom Rush is a series that warrants continuous praise. The original as well as its follow-up Kingdom Rush Frontiers are both extremely well-polished and captivating tower defense games. Stop waves of oncoming enemies with an assortment of fortifications like archer towers, barracks, cannons and more. Players are given control of the game’s pace with options to speed up waves or use active abilities including calling in reinforcements. Developer Ironhide Game studio have rightfully dominated the genre in recent years with the game’s charming art style and quirky voice acting.
From its early 1900s soundtrack to its eye candy aesthetic, Steampunk tower is oozing with style. Unlike ordinary tower defense games, Steampunk Tower revolves around one singular fort that has different slots to fill weapons with on each level. Depending on where the enemy is coming, weapons can slide and drag to different positions. Weapons like lightning guns and saw blades differentiate the game from the often fantasy theme of other tower defense titles. Addicting gameplay and a unique spin on an established genre provides for a refreshing change of pace and a title worth trying.
Zombo Buster Rising is a defense shooter boasting a cute art style with comedic dialogue. Using your mouse to aim precise shots, fend off hordes of zombies looking to overrun your holdout. Make sure your shots count because reload times can be a killer. However, players can rely on other items like bombs or unlocked partners to get them out of a bind. Similar to other defense games, upgrades to ammo, stats, and weapon damage can be purchased that provides a sense of progression. Can you prove you’re a true survivor, or are you doomed to get your brains munched on?
Man’s best friend is in trouble and it’s up to you to save your canine companion from villainous raiders. Also a defense shooter, Raiders Took My Dog has an auto-shooting mechanic in which the player must move their character up and down to blast away enemies. With a ton of gadgets at your disposal, take out waves of robot raiders in this post-apocalyptic wasteland. Defeat bosses, upgrade weapons and use special abilities to get your friend back and save the day.
Defense games are some of our favorite mini games, combining elements that require brainpower, reaction time and patience. We hope you’ve enjoyed some of our recommendations and have a good Earth Day. Looking for more? Check out our section dedicated to Base Defense Games. Thank you once again for reading, good luck and have fun.