Defense Grid: The Awakening

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 289 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 239 out of 289
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 289
  3. Negative: 9 out of 289
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  1. Mikester7
    Feb 9, 2012
    8
    Currently the best standalone tower defence game you can buy. The voice acting and narration are spot on and it provides a substantial amount of levels, towers and basic tower defence game play. A must buy for tower defense fans, but still leaps and bounds behind the quality of TD games available through Warcraft III.
  2. Phillippe
    Sep 20, 2012
    10
    For it's value, this is completely worth it. The game has a lot of replayability then if you add the few dlc, this will give you a lot of hours to play. I have almost 100 hours of play and pay around 15$ for the game and some of the dlc. This is worth it.
  3. chronoT
    Sep 3, 2012
    8
    If you enjoy the whole concept of "turret defense," this game is a must have. It is by far the best single player game of its type, and is addicting. Once you successfully protect your core on one map, you'll want to keep going and going. I also enjoy UMS Turret Defense games that are on Starcraft: Broodwar and Starcraft 2, and Defense Grid uses some of these ideas and builds on them.If you enjoy the whole concept of "turret defense," this game is a must have. It is by far the best single player game of its type, and is addicting. Once you successfully protect your core on one map, you'll want to keep going and going. I also enjoy UMS Turret Defense games that are on Starcraft: Broodwar and Starcraft 2, and Defense Grid uses some of these ideas and builds on them. There are also many ways to play each level, so it remains challenging and refreshing.… Expand
  4. Shtiggy
    Dec 27, 2011
    10
    Excellent tower defense game. This is even more fun than bubble tanks was. Excellent gameplay and graphics. The British computer gets annoying after a while, but so be it. Still a fantastic game with very creative maps.
  5. Pomornik
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    Easily the best Tower Defence game ever made. I can't even come up with any cons here, because everything about it was excellent. The DLC's are very solid either, especially You Monster.
  6. hassenpheffer
    Jan 5, 2012
    9
    I'm a big fan of Tower Defense games. That being said, Defense Grid: TA is one of the best I've ever played. It's simple yet clever design allows the player infinite possibilities for strategies. The enemies come in several distinct variations and the level designs vary in sizes and terrain. The AI voice over is simply terrific as he adds levels of humanity to the stakes. The controls areI'm a big fan of Tower Defense games. That being said, Defense Grid: TA is one of the best I've ever played. It's simple yet clever design allows the player infinite possibilities for strategies. The enemies come in several distinct variations and the level designs vary in sizes and terrain. The AI voice over is simply terrific as he adds levels of humanity to the stakes. The controls are fluid and simple and the music is great but a tad repetitive. There are several DLC that can be purchased so after The Awakening story is completed you can keep playing. It's a true gem.… Expand
  7. GreyCritic
    Dec 31, 2011
    10
    If you are looking for great relaxing game you got it. If you are looking for challenge you got it, again.
    What i'm mean, is that game can give you a great time of slaughtering legions of aliens with good balanced and designed turrets, although good soundtrack, nice graphics and easy controls. About bad in this game, is that when you learn all kinda tricks in game you can get boring, but    If you are looking for great relaxing game you got it. If you are looking for challenge you got it, again.
    What i'm mean, is that game can give you a great time of slaughtering legions of aliens with good balanced and designed turrets, although good soundtrack, nice graphics and easy controls. About bad in this game, is that when you learn all kinda tricks in game you can get boring, but that can be fixed by download content, if you like the original game.    … Expand
  8. jazzboxer
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    Very good game for the price you cannot fault it, good graphics and plays nice and smooth with no glitches, I didnt expect much at the price but was pleasantly suprised, this is a great tower defense game.
  9. KouDy
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    After 3 years out Defense Grid is still probably the best true tower defense game out there. Still receiving love from developers in patches and newly added content even after such a long time. If you love tower defense genre, you will enjoy this game from top down.
  10. Kyalpha
    Aug 26, 2013
    10
    This is THE BEST tower defense game! I've played lost of games of this kind, but none of them can get me so addicted like this one. Gameplay, story, difficulty, music graphic everything is the best of this kind.
  11. Matseb2611
    Oct 23, 2015
    8
    A nice tower defence game. It doesn't differ too much from other TD games, but it's pretty fun once you get a hang of it. Most of the standard mechanics associated with TD genre are here: a good tower variety, a good enemy variety, rock-paper-scissors tactic of using the right tower against the right enemy, scoreboards, and so on.

    Graphically the game is very beautiful. Though at times    A nice tower defence game. It doesn't differ too much from other TD games, but it's pretty fun once you get a hang of it. Most of the standard mechanics associated with TD genre are here: a good tower variety, a good enemy variety, rock-paper-scissors tactic of using the right tower against the right enemy, scoreboards, and so on.

    Graphically the game is very beautiful. Though at times I wished the towers looked a bit more different to one another, otherwise it can get confusing what is what. I do like the whole colour scheme of green towers being basic, yellow advanced, and red the best. The musical side of things could've been a bit better though. Most levels have between 20-30 waves, and can take a while to play through, so it would've been nice to have it spiced up with more memorable tunes. The A.I. narrator most times provides a nice commentary and keeps you entertained with his colourful personality, though at times he can be annoying when he keeps telling you about cores being stolen. *shakes fist*

    Most levels had a very interesting design and forced you to think hard on how to channel enemies down a longer path and where would be the points of highest offense. They provided a nice challenge. A few felt like difficulty spikes and seemed unnecessarily convoluted (looking at you, Waste Disposal), but most were a great fun.

    There were a few aspects that annoyed me slightly, so might be worth mentioning them. First one which I noticed straight away was how much punishment the enemies could sustain before going down. Even the weakest, most basic enemies could absorb a fair amount of damage, which in turn made many towers feel too weak. And this brings me to another one. Majority of towers are very situational and tend to have a lot more shortcomings than strengths. The only tower that I felt was all-round good at just about everything was the Cannon tower, and these usually formed the meat and potatoes of my defence, with all the other towers just acting in supporting roles. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it means there is a bit too little room for experimentation with various setups.

    Aside from the story mode, each map also has a variety of other modes, most providing some form of a new challenge, like enemies being tougher, or the cores which you must protect not going back to their starting location, and so on. So there's a lot of stuff to try out here and the completionists can easily sink tens or hundreds of hours in this game.

    Overall, it's a fun TD game. Don't expect anything new and extraordinary, but if you like the genre, then you should definitely grab this game.    … Expand
  12. Mogul
    Mar 19, 2012
    8
    Ah, raspberries....how I love them. :P For a tower defense game, the voice acting here is amazing, and helps create an enjoyable game world. The gameplay itself is highly addictive and rewarding, with lots of towers that are actually worth building, and several fun challenge modes that help provide variety. I actually think that this is the best tower defense game that I have played soAh, raspberries....how I love them. :P For a tower defense game, the voice acting here is amazing, and helps create an enjoyable game world. The gameplay itself is highly addictive and rewarding, with lots of towers that are actually worth building, and several fun challenge modes that help provide variety. I actually think that this is the best tower defense game that I have played so far, but it still left me wanting a little bit more from it (and not just more levels or "modes" or anything like that).… Expand
  13. scharman
    Aug 24, 2021
    9
    Fun and enjoyable light game. A perfect buy on discount, and a great buy at full price if you enjoy this sort of game. I got it free with Epic, and then ended up buying the entire games plus expansions on steam. Have had 60+ hours of fun - if at times frustration!
  14. kyleb
    Mar 2, 2009
    9
    Great voice acting in a tower defense game? Well...yes. There is a surprisingly involving narrative that plays out in the course of this game. A disembodied British actor who sounds like he stepped straight out of "The Bridge on the River Kwai" narrates the initial tutorials and gives pointers throughout the game. But gradually you learn whatever this being is, he has suffered great loss Great voice acting in a tower defense game? Well...yes. There is a surprisingly involving narrative that plays out in the course of this game. A disembodied British actor who sounds like he stepped straight out of "The Bridge on the River Kwai" narrates the initial tutorials and gives pointers throughout the game. But gradually you learn whatever this being is, he has suffered great loss at the hands of the little buggers you're mowing down. I found myself playing the game more out of curiosity about the narrator as anything else. Huge props to Hidden Path for adding surprising depth to the game through a deftly written script and excellent voice acting.… Expand
  15. Brumbek
    Jul 2, 2011
    10
    I'm a minor fan of Defense games, but Defense Grid is absolutely tremendous! It's so well-devised, has great graphics, and the best voice actor ever! For the price, this game is a great value. It's got lots of fun extra modes for each level which is nice as well. Overall, this is the blueprint for how to create a defense game. Truly worthy of universal acclaim.
  16. screenjab
    Oct 27, 2011
    9
    A classic that has yet to be outdone. The attention to detail, engaging game-play, sound and voice acting, all nicely combine to easily lift Defense Grid to reigning king of the TD genre. Now if they can just port this over to the iPad, I'll be all set.
  17. Viruz32
    Dec 7, 2011
    10
    Fantastic game! By the looks of it, I never thought I'd find myself playing this kind of game, but it sort of has the "plants vs zombies" feel to it. The point is to stop the enemy form getting to the end, and as you progress you get a variety of better weapons and upgrades to do it with. In the meantime, the aliens (or zombies if you prefer) are also starting to range in types, fromFantastic game! By the looks of it, I never thought I'd find myself playing this kind of game, but it sort of has the "plants vs zombies" feel to it. The point is to stop the enemy form getting to the end, and as you progress you get a variety of better weapons and upgrades to do it with. In the meantime, the aliens (or zombies if you prefer) are also starting to range in types, from stronger to faster; from slow to ones that fly. All around, this game is fantastic and I can't believe it got a measly 81/100, I'd give it a solid 9.5 just because it's plain fun!… Expand
  18. Kenmei
    Dec 23, 2011
    6
    Good game but it does nothing to distinguish itself from the numerous other tower defense games out there. It can keep you busy and it's not a horrible game by any means. But there are better tower defense games out there. However the graphics and voice acting are very well done, which bumps the score up from average to just barely above-average for me. It's not a bad game by any means andGood game but it does nothing to distinguish itself from the numerous other tower defense games out there. It can keep you busy and it's not a horrible game by any means. But there are better tower defense games out there. However the graphics and voice acting are very well done, which bumps the score up from average to just barely above-average for me. It's not a bad game by any means and buying it won't set you back too much but you can easily find a better tower defense game out there for the same amount of money.… Expand
  19. GaryR
    Jan 4, 2010
    9
    Very fun, strong, challenging game. Learning each level can take some time, and determining the proper tower usage takes some forethought. Overall a very high quality game.
  20. DavidD
    Aug 5, 2009
    9
    Deeply strategic game with surprisingly gorgeous graphics. Insanely addictive, and refreshingly good voice acting. Control is a little wonky, but isn't a problem once you become accustomed to it.
  21. JAnselment
    Jan 15, 2010
    8
    If you like tower defense you will like this one. For the price you can get it on steam ,it's a steal.
  22. JaniGG
    Jan 19, 2010
    9
    Simple, Fantastic game. Way too short anyway.... needs desperately more content...
  23. JonathanC
    Jan 20, 2009
    7
    Defense Grid is a worthy retail version of classic Tower defense that belongs in anyone's Digital Locker. However, its only a tower defense game, and aside from visuals and 'power spheres' and a talking computer to keep your attention, it still fails to bring anything revolutionary to the genre. A map/game editing tool would have made the purchase seem a bit more worthwhile.
  24. FergusL
    May 9, 2009
    10
    This game is not just tower defense. It comes with an enthralling narrative that most games would struggle to match, never mind one that is based upon an old classic without any sort of story! The game play is highly addictive and leaves you constantly coming back for more. Get it for £3.50 on Steam while you can.
  25. ShnoogleDoogle
    Jul 31, 2009
    9
    Considering the price and what you get, this game is a worthy collection to your hard drive. Some will finish every level and leave. Others will get the most out of it, trying to get high on the Leaderboard (online score board to your friends and rest of the world). This is where the game shines and you soon realize, to be a master of a map takes some thought. Every map looks great and Considering the price and what you get, this game is a worthy collection to your hard drive. Some will finish every level and leave. Others will get the most out of it, trying to get high on the Leaderboard (online score board to your friends and rest of the world). This is where the game shines and you soon realize, to be a master of a map takes some thought. Every map looks great and the game play works really well. The "speed up time" button is a worthy addition too. There are some things that still need work. Some of the mod's for the game such as "Grind" (99 levels of continuous spawns) is far too easy and needs to have a major update. Challenge mode (levels on hard) has to be the most fun and getting a high score here or beating friends is what keeps me occupied.… Expand
  26. SamEvans
    Dec 18, 2008
    9
    I am a fan of the genre, but have stuck to the free TD games in past. This is the first one I've actually paid money for, and it was worth every cent. First, it's beautiful; second, it's well balanced -- fun for the novice TD player as well as an expert one like me. I loved the challenge modes too - great fun. Nice work, Hidden Path!!
  27. lildanny
    Nov 13, 2011
    8
    One of the best tower defense games I've ever played. There are many levels and campaigns to choose from, and a lot of towers/upgrades purchasable to defeat the enemy. A lot of fun when you're looking for something to do.
  28. cambria
    Dec 6, 2011
    9
    From the beginning, beautiful graphics and a fluid camera with depth-changability sets this game up as a step above the rest. Then throw in a diverse array of maps with space for tons of different strategic design ideas, about 10 turrets with upgrades reflected in design and projectile type, and you've got a great single player campaign. The voice acting is a 6 or 7, about as good as anyFrom the beginning, beautiful graphics and a fluid camera with depth-changability sets this game up as a step above the rest. Then throw in a diverse array of maps with space for tons of different strategic design ideas, about 10 turrets with upgrades reflected in design and projectile type, and you've got a great single player campaign. The voice acting is a 6 or 7, about as good as any modern AAA title gets, but the coherence of the story is about an 8.5, and the voice isn't at all what ends up carrying it. About a dozen maps, then DLC that is cheap and offers infinitely unique new options and maps, ie, the open square designed level with two entrances and one exit. This game is still receiving updates and it's been pretty bug free from the start, no crashes or freezes for me, over 80 hours on two pcs. The campaign and DLC now also have CHALLENGE modes which are true to their title, and I'm having all kinds of fun finding out how un-pro all the tactics I barely scraped by with before ended up being. The better to think new solutions! It is the essence of strategy gaming, and this game is implemented very well with lots of content and plenty of replay value, some of the best I've seen from a single player indie/strategy title, and definitely the best tower defense game I've ever played this long.… Expand
  29. mpr
    May 29, 2011
    8
    Neat little game that got me addicted for a few weeks, sometimes spending hours on a single level searching for the optimal solution. Happy to have it in my Steam collection.
  30. JonesR
    Mar 7, 2012
    7
    I was never really a big fan of the tower defense genre until I played Defense Grid. The developers have really done everything right to make it addictively enjoyable. It provides a wealth of different game modes on top of its great story mode. But what really sets it apart from the competition is the extremely intuitive user interface--it is literally just one click control for everythingI was never really a big fan of the tower defense genre until I played Defense Grid. The developers have really done everything right to make it addictively enjoyable. It provides a wealth of different game modes on top of its great story mode. But what really sets it apart from the competition is the extremely intuitive user interface--it is literally just one click control for everything and has a great tutorial approach. I definitely recommend picking this one up.… Expand
  31. Aleior
    Apr 16, 2011
    8
    Plays out very strategic and balanced. The levels progress very interestingly and always offer different strategical elements. The game proves very tough.
    The replay value is pretty low, once youve seen a level you may hunt several medals or play it in different modes, but once you find a tactic it isnt as interesting as first playing it.
    Alien waves become stronger over time. There is a    Plays out very strategic and balanced. The levels progress very interestingly and always offer different strategical elements. The game proves very tough.
    The replay value is pretty low, once youve seen a level you may hunt several medals or play it in different modes, but once you find a tactic it isnt as interesting as first playing it.
    Alien waves become stronger over time. There is a "endless" mode for certain levels, but once past the "normal" length the strategical balance is lost. That means, Aliens dont become stronger, and your Towers are upgraded to the max, gameplay is getting zero.
    Essentially ,the game is real good, but short.    … Expand
  32. Jinx
    Sep 5, 2011
    8
    Excellent tower defense strategy game. Not sure about the DLC, but it took me about 15 hours to beat the base game's campaign and bonus levels on regular difficulty. While the graphics are a bit drab, the gameplay is smart, challenging, and addictive. The voice acting gives the game a bit of character, and the music and sound effects are solid. Overall a solid package. I'd love to see aExcellent tower defense strategy game. Not sure about the DLC, but it took me about 15 hours to beat the base game's campaign and bonus levels on regular difficulty. While the graphics are a bit drab, the gameplay is smart, challenging, and addictive. The voice acting gives the game a bit of character, and the music and sound effects are solid. Overall a solid package. I'd love to see a sequel with improved visuals, as they are the main thing holding the game back.… Expand
  33. shoebelt
    Apr 21, 2011
    10
    One of the best tower defense games, ever, period. I don't like making such 'profound' statements, but this game has been my favorite of all time since i first picked it up over a year ago. The game has great graphics, good voice over acting, a solid story for a tower defense game, and extreme replay value. This tower defense game has paths that are predetermined and you just have toOne of the best tower defense games, ever, period. I don't like making such 'profound' statements, but this game has been my favorite of all time since i first picked it up over a year ago. The game has great graphics, good voice over acting, a solid story for a tower defense game, and extreme replay value. This tower defense game has paths that are predetermined and you just have to build towers to kill them as they pass, areas where you can create mazes, and also areas where you can force them to take different routes altogether. As far as vareity goes, this has game has plenty of it. Lastly, one of my favorite features is the point system, which rewards players for spending less money, and therefor being more effecient. So, if you have competitive friends, and think you are better than them.... its a good place to show it. Conclusion: A must for anyone who claims to like tower defense games. The solid amount levels, and gameplay modes allows the game to remain entertaing for a very lengthy time.… Expand
  34. Jellye
    Jul 1, 2011
    9
    Perhaps the best Tower Defense there is. A bit too easy if all you care about is beating the game, but can give you a nice challenge if you try to maximize your score and play the other game modes. Surprisingly good presentation for this genre, complete with decent voice acting and a nice storytelling that gives life to the game without getting in the way of it.
    Some 8h of gameplay if you    Perhaps the best Tower Defense there is. A bit too easy if all you care about is beating the game, but can give you a nice challenge if you try to maximize your score and play the other game modes. Surprisingly good presentation for this genre, complete with decent voice acting and a nice storytelling that gives life to the game without getting in the way of it.
    Some 8h of gameplay if you just want to beat the storymode, many dozen hours if you're a score perfectionist.    … Expand
  35. virtueone
    Jul 2, 2011
    9
    I love this game! The environment, vocal narration, and music successfully set the mood for the entire game. As a newbie, it was really easy to pick-up and learn. The layout of the levels make it seem more like an actual puzzle at times, and it offers up lots of various ways to build defenses and replay the different maps. I have an older video card, yet with the proper configuration,I love this game! The environment, vocal narration, and music successfully set the mood for the entire game. As a newbie, it was really easy to pick-up and learn. The layout of the levels make it seem more like an actual puzzle at times, and it offers up lots of various ways to build defenses and replay the different maps. I have an older video card, yet with the proper configuration, the game still looks great and runs smooth! The only reason I dont give this game a ten, is because I want more... I played through the entire game in basically one sitting. More maps, more aliens, more options - a little more would have made it perfect.… Expand
  36. Subby
    Sep 8, 2011
    10
    This game does exactly what is has set out to do perfectly. I used to enjoy TD mods on Warcraft 3, so it was a real joy to find this and I'm having fun playing it.
  37. sinadoom
    Oct 24, 2011
    7
    Very simple tower defense game. The variation of modes and maps, aliens and towers, combinations etc. make this game a credible pay-toplay game. It's so arcade and easy to play yet it can be infinitely complex depending on what you want to acheive. Certainly worth a try.
  38. comscier
    Sep 27, 2011
    10
    Highly recommended.
    Voice acting is surprisingly good for a indie game.
    Huge maps collection with addition DLCs maps pack.
    One of the best TD game I ever played.
    money well spent!!
    if they have implemented multiplayer, this would be the perfect standalone TD game in existent
  39. Stevros
    Nov 16, 2011
    9
    An absolutely superb tower defense game. Levels require a higher level of intelligent strategy as you progress and there are many ways to play many of the more difficult levels. Highly addictive and a great challenge!
  40. Onetime
    Jan 16, 2011
    5
    I am a big fan of the Tower Defense genera. At first glance this looks like a great concept. Very good eyecandy and interesting storyline that you usually don't find in the TD games online. It also has a very well balanced variety of monsters and Towers that allow for all sorts of strategies. (GAME TIP: Although in the end I found that CANNONS and COMMAND towers were the strategy thatI am a big fan of the Tower Defense genera. At first glance this looks like a great concept. Very good eyecandy and interesting storyline that you usually don't find in the TD games online. It also has a very well balanced variety of monsters and Towers that allow for all sorts of strategies. (GAME TIP: Although in the end I found that CANNONS and COMMAND towers were the strategy that would get me through. The AI tended to rely heavily on shielded, hidden monsters that only were susceptible to those two tower types) Unfortunately Replay value is next to nill. There are only 25 levels, with at most 30 waves in each.
    The Grinder Mode (99 levels) which could have expanded the replay value into the hundreds of hours is BOGUS. After wave 30 or 31 the monsters just repeat the same wave over and over and over with no change. If you have built correctly, you can leave your computer after level 32 and not come back until the 99th. In short, this could have been great, and really has the edge in graphics and storyline,
    but there are so many TD games online for free with much better replay value. If you find this in the bargain bin, its worth about 8 hours of play. I got it for $2.99 which was about the right price.    … Expand
  41. eggmcterrace
    Jan 1, 2010
    8
    I hate the tower defense genre, both what i've experienced in modded blizzard RTS games and random internet flash games. This game is far superior to any tower defense game you will find because of the level of customization and variety of strategies. Whereas most tower defense games involve jamming corners full of whatever the best available tower is, this game employs real I hate the tower defense genre, both what i've experienced in modded blizzard RTS games and random internet flash games. This game is far superior to any tower defense game you will find because of the level of customization and variety of strategies. Whereas most tower defense games involve jamming corners full of whatever the best available tower is, this game employs real geometry: most towers need line of site to fire, requiring the player to throughly scout a map before building. Many maps also have large open tile sections, meaning the player must create the best possible enemy path using the right kind of towers. Combining all that, this game is as much a puzzle game as a tower defense game, and like a puzzle game, finding the right combination of towers is very satisfying. All towers can be upgraded and have performance well-balanced to price. The control system will at first feel extremely non-intuitive: the player does not have a free cursor, but rather a fixed reticle at the center of the screen. Every movement of the mouse moves the camera; the camera cannot be fixed in place with the player able to click on enemies and towers. The camera also cannot be rotated. This slows down the player considerably, but the gameplay does not really call for rapid buying and selling of towers like a lot of tower defense games do. The mouse scroll uses a ton of acceleration, so pick a setting that feels right. The most frustrating thing is probably the lack of hotkeys for building: the player must scroll using up/down keys or the mouse to select from about 10 towers after entering the buy screen, and the selection response can be a bit delayed. When in a hurry, it is too easy to accidentally build the wrong tower, but a little attention overcomes this. I bought this for $2.50 on steam during a sale and it was a steal for that price. GOOD = price, depth. BAD = fixed camera.… Expand
  42. BillDoe
    Jan 5, 2009
    10
    Wow, just wow. Love this game! Think I found my new favorite genre :) Now all I need is an expansion with more maps, hehe. I sat down and couldn't stop playing this until it was finished. Might actually purchase this a second time when it releases on 360 just to support the developer and pick up some gamerscore.
  43. BradG
    Jan 7, 2010
    10
    Even if you don't know what tower defense games are, this game will have you hook, line and sinker. It's an incredible title and well worth the budget prices you find it for.
  44. DavidH
    Oct 12, 2009
    10
    Addictive and well done. Replayed on harder levels. Wish there was even more levels or add on pack!
  45. JonathanW
    Jan 23, 2009
    9
    This is a new and innovative take on tower defense games. Yes, there are some nice visuals, but even deeper than that, as you progress you'll find this is no run of the mill Flash TD game. You're forced to come up with effective ways not only to kill the oncoming horde of creeps, but how to route them and stall them, and there's not just one simple solution to every map. This is a new and innovative take on tower defense games. Yes, there are some nice visuals, but even deeper than that, as you progress you'll find this is no run of the mill Flash TD game. You're forced to come up with effective ways not only to kill the oncoming horde of creeps, but how to route them and stall them, and there's not just one simple solution to every map. Several different challenge levels for each map and an achievement system give this title plenty of replay value. This game would be upgraded to a 10 if a map editor were ever to be included.… Expand
  46. EricMunz
    Mar 22, 2009
    9
    This is a great game with a lot of replay options due to tower placement, weapons selection and timing. It is very engrossing, immersive and just plain fun. It's somewhat of a chess game, of sorts, as you have to plan your offensive and defensive strategies in real time. All the above plus nice visuals and voice acting make it a winner in my book.
  47. HermanP
    May 4, 2009
    10
    Best game of its type, for $20. For so little money I got so many hours of game play. The variety of towers makes the game and forces you to employ strategy as well as brute force. The aliens walk a path and you either have to pummel them to death or shape their path then pummel them to death. Seriously you will not be going to sleep the first night you get this game...So don't Best game of its type, for $20. For so little money I got so many hours of game play. The variety of towers makes the game and forces you to employ strategy as well as brute force. The aliens walk a path and you either have to pummel them to death or shape their path then pummel them to death. Seriously you will not be going to sleep the first night you get this game...So don't download cause you'll probably get fired from work. … Expand
  48. CokoBWare
    Dec 29, 2009
    10
    I'm not a fan of tower defense games in general, but this game just might make me a convert. I have all the excitement of an RTS without the resource management and attention deficit anxiety associated with said RTSs. Learning how to use the units is essential Defense Grid, and it certainly can be a nail-biter when you're running close to one powercore left. It satisfies all my I'm not a fan of tower defense games in general, but this game just might make me a convert. I have all the excitement of an RTS without the resource management and attention deficit anxiety associated with said RTSs. Learning how to use the units is essential Defense Grid, and it certainly can be a nail-biter when you're running close to one powercore left. It satisfies all my quick impulse playing requirements, but I can get lost in the game for hours if I want to as well. Graphics are amazing for such a simple game, as the low poly counts make for decent gameplay on lower spec'd systems. Get this game!… Expand
  49. Gungah
    Jul 25, 2011
    6
    It's just another tower defense game. Meaning.. you can play basically the same game online for free. It has better graphics, it actually has a story but all-in-all same game play, and same types of towers. It took me about eight hours to beat it so it has a decently long campaign, little replayability although different modes do add to the fun. In the end, it is a fun game, but in realityIt's just another tower defense game. Meaning.. you can play basically the same game online for free. It has better graphics, it actually has a story but all-in-all same game play, and same types of towers. It took me about eight hours to beat it so it has a decently long campaign, little replayability although different modes do add to the fun. In the end, it is a fun game, but in reality you're paying for something you don't have to. It provides nothing more (besides a **** story) than an online TD game. Another bummer is that the towers seem to be unbalanced. More expensive towers aren't necessarily worth the money and by the end of the game I was using the same couple of towers in mass. Buy this game if you love TD's and you can get it for two or three bucks but other than that, play VR tower defense.… Expand
  50. CrossheadMarhok
    Jan 2, 2009
    10
    Sehr spaßiges Spiel mit Suchtfaktor, gerade wenn der Schwierigkeitsgrad steigt und die letzten Level nahen.
    Logisch Denken zu können ist eine Voraussetzung, wie vorauszuplanen um die meist knappen ressourcen optimal einzusetzen. Alle 10 Türme die das Spiel bietet haben einzigartige fähigkeiten und müssen situationsbedingt und Levelabhängig platziert werden,    Sehr spaßiges Spiel mit Suchtfaktor, gerade wenn der Schwierigkeitsgrad steigt und die letzten Level nahen.
    Logisch Denken zu können ist eine Voraussetzung, wie vorauszuplanen um die meist knappen ressourcen optimal einzusetzen. Alle 10 Türme die das Spiel bietet haben einzigartige fähigkeiten und müssen situationsbedingt und Levelabhängig platziert werden, manchmal muss auch für die anstürmenden Gegner-Horden ein Irrgarten gebaut werden, um einen möglichst langen Weg zu erschaffen und das erreichen der eigenen "Basis", den Power-Cores, herauszuzögern und dabei möglichst viel Schaden anrichten zu können. Doch vorsicht: Manche gegner rufen verstärkung, andere sind getarnt oder vom einem leistungsfähigen Schild umgeben.

    Alles in allem ist dieses Spiel sein Geld mehr als Wert, wenn man dieses genre mag.    … Expand
  51. ScottW.
    Jan 4, 2009
    4
    Very mediocre for a tower defense game. There are far better Flash games available in the genre for free, as well as custom games for Warcraft 3. The game just doesn't have the depth to make it very interesting. The visuals are nice, and if you like eye candy then this game might be what you're looking for. However, if you're looking for engaging TD gameplay, look elsewhere.
  52. Shinigurai
    Dec 11, 2011
    4
    This game can be best described in one word: frustrating. It's simply too difficult and with no way to adjust the difficulty setting the game rapidly becomes unplayable for all but the most hardcore gamers. If you want a challenge, then this is the game for you. If you just want to have fun, then save your money for something else.
  53. MikkelO.
    Jan 4, 2010
    9
    This is just marvelous! It is an excellent little game, and I am not a fan of Tower Defense - but because you towers cannot be destroyed, and you seldom have the option of creating a maze to slow down the waves, it just becomes an excellent little action-puzzle. Comes highly recommended.
  54. RogerS
    Oct 23, 2009
    8
    This game is solid and had me in it's grip from the start. Each level forces you towards thinking more strategically as the levels get tougher. Defend or die ! .....going down in ...five....four....three...
  55. JohnMise
    Feb 4, 2009
    9
    I'm not much into the Tower Defense games but this is by far the best one I have ever played. I like the idea of having some control over the paths of your enemy and being able to direct them to their demise. It was easy to learn and the visuals are good. Even after completing it, I still go back to see if I can do better on some levels. For something not to intense and relaxing,I'm not much into the Tower Defense games but this is by far the best one I have ever played. I like the idea of having some control over the paths of your enemy and being able to direct them to their demise. It was easy to learn and the visuals are good. Even after completing it, I still go back to see if I can do better on some levels. For something not to intense and relaxing, Defense Grid is the game.… Expand
  56. NateT
    May 7, 2009
    10
    I've been waiting for a game like this for a long time. Playing Tower Defense maps in Starcraft was great, but this takes it to the next level. There is a decent balance for all the weapons. I found the first couple levels can be tough until the game unlocks more towers, then it is a blast to play. A nice touch putting in the Challenge mode to really test you.
  57. MattS
    Dec 7, 2009
    9
    Warning: This game can be addictive. I didn't realize how badly until Steam told me how many hours I had dropped of my life into the game. While the initial Storyline will take 2 or 3 days to play through, it is the replay value with the various challenge modes and the leaderboards that will suck you in to constantly rework your strategy on the maps. I would have gave it a 10, except Warning: This game can be addictive. I didn't realize how badly until Steam told me how many hours I had dropped of my life into the game. While the initial Storyline will take 2 or 3 days to play through, it is the replay value with the various challenge modes and the leaderboards that will suck you in to constantly rework your strategy on the maps. I would have gave it a 10, except for the kind of odd user interface that troubled me on more than one occasion and strong wish for more maps that still remains unanswered. In terms of value, this game places a strong second to PvZ and cements my newly found love for casual games. Here's hoping for a repeat in the near future.… Expand
  58. PaulF
    Feb 4, 2009
    8
    I played this for a couple of days before completing it. It was very addictive until I completed it. Once you figured out which towers to use, it was quite easy. Some of the towers are pretty useless and I am sure they are just there to add a bit of variety. The graphics are excellent and if you don't mind the price for a couple of days play then it is worth it.
  59. AndrewC
    May 12, 2009
    9
    I've been playing lots of tower defense games lately, First Pixel Junk Monsters, then Savage Moon also on the PS3. Now I have Defense Grid for my PC and I'm hooked. The load times are seriously quick, being able to backup a minute or so to correct recent mistakes is genius, the graphics are well done. The only thing I would like to see added is the ability to swivel the camera I've been playing lots of tower defense games lately, First Pixel Junk Monsters, then Savage Moon also on the PS3. Now I have Defense Grid for my PC and I'm hooked. The load times are seriously quick, being able to backup a minute or so to correct recent mistakes is genius, the graphics are well done. The only thing I would like to see added is the ability to swivel the camera around the battlefield.… Expand
  60. movm
    Feb 24, 2009
    9
    It's a good fun game which requires timing and strategy to get the best scores which adds depth if you like leaderboards, cause the more resources you have the more interest you get, each tower also loses 25% value once built so you need to minimize your spending and build at the last second for the best scores.
    The leaderboards however have some hackers on them, i would wait for    It's a good fun game which requires timing and strategy to get the best scores which adds depth if you like leaderboards, cause the more resources you have the more interest you get, each tower also loses 25% value once built so you need to minimize your spending and build at the last second for the best scores.
    The leaderboards however have some hackers on them, i would wait for xbox 360 version.    … Expand
  61. BillGR17
    Dec 23, 2011
    4
    i have play a more than 50 free tower defense games and well i have buy this coz i am fan of this type of games but this one its not a game for buying it c mon wake up this is a good game but it doesnt have anything special from the free ones exept the voice and some funny story !
    u need to play 9 euro and then more for the dlc ?!?!?!
    u can buy dungeon defense orcs must die and a lot of    i have play a more than 50 free tower defense games and well i have buy this coz i am fan of this type of games but this one its not a game for buying it c mon wake up this is a good game but it doesnt have anything special from the free ones exept the voice and some funny story !
    u need to play 9 euro and then more for the dlc ?!?!?!
    u can buy dungeon defense orcs must die and a lot of other games on that price
    u can find a lot of games like this on the internet browser and better than this this is the tower defense for ppl who got the money.......    … Expand
  62. generaljaxon
    Mar 4, 2014
    9
    Several reviewers said that there are better tower defense games out there but I think anyone would be hard pressed to find one with more playability than this. By playability I mean the ability to come back to this game time and time again in an attempt to beat your own or someone else's high score. I am proud of the few accomplishments I have made in this game and I am excited every timeSeveral reviewers said that there are better tower defense games out there but I think anyone would be hard pressed to find one with more playability than this. By playability I mean the ability to come back to this game time and time again in an attempt to beat your own or someone else's high score. I am proud of the few accomplishments I have made in this game and I am excited every time I get a new high score. I haven't felt that since I played pinball at the arcade and tried to beat the high score. The scores are high enough to be a challenge but not impossible to reach. Steam is the perfect platform for this type of game. There are enough competitors out there so that when my ranking improves I am proud enough to brag...if I were a bragging person. Don't take my word for it. Dig in deep and find out what it is all about before the new version comes out this year.… Expand
  63. ave
    Feb 7, 2015
    9
    Defense Grid : The Awakening has anything I could wish from a Tower Defense :
    - a variety of multipurpose towers with strengths and weaknesses, that can upgraded and sold,
    - a level layout that allows you to carefully plan where and when to build towers, - a diversity of enemies with strengths and weaknesses, that always challenge your initial strategy and forces you to think deeper, -    Defense Grid : The Awakening has anything I could wish from a Tower Defense :
    - a variety of multipurpose towers with strengths and weaknesses, that can upgraded and sold,
    - a level layout that allows you to carefully plan where and when to build towers,
    - a diversity of enemies with strengths and weaknesses, that always challenge your initial strategy and forces you to think deeper,
    - a good level of pressure and the ability to speed up the game.

    I've played it twice, and will certainly replay it at least another time :)    … Expand
  64. Quellor
    Oct 20, 2013
    10
    Fun and addictive. At this point it's nearly free on steam. Just get it, seriously! If you like strategy and addictive puzzle-like gameplay, it satisfies. Hours of gameplay with more DLC available.
  65. GolovA
    Jul 16, 2013
    8
    A solid 8/10. This game kept me up for long hours of enjoyable playing. It accomplished that, probably due to its excellent balancing: you use defense towers (guns) to hold off enemy attacks. Each tower has its own strength and weakness, and combinations of them on the map are really limited only to your imagination. Excellent graphics, awesome voice-acting (even though only of oneA solid 8/10. This game kept me up for long hours of enjoyable playing. It accomplished that, probably due to its excellent balancing: you use defense towers (guns) to hold off enemy attacks. Each tower has its own strength and weakness, and combinations of them on the map are really limited only to your imagination. Excellent graphics, awesome voice-acting (even though only of one character), superb re-playability. Prepare for sleepless nights! … Expand
  66. chevmech
    Feb 2, 2013
    10
    Best tower defense game ever created. Mob pathing adds a ton of strategic variety to the levels. The graphics are great- zooming in on a well fortified bottleneck provides great satisfaction. The variety of different game modes makes for interesting challenges level after level. Most TD games I get bored with after a short while, but DG keeps me engaged- sometimes for longer than IBest tower defense game ever created. Mob pathing adds a ton of strategic variety to the levels. The graphics are great- zooming in on a well fortified bottleneck provides great satisfaction. The variety of different game modes makes for interesting challenges level after level. Most TD games I get bored with after a short while, but DG keeps me engaged- sometimes for longer than I would like! I would love to see a sequel!… Expand
  67. keefbaker
    Oct 31, 2013
    8
    One of the best tower defense games ever made and one that manages to comfortably hold a plot together. For pure tower defense with clear and flexible tactics you can't go wrong.
  68. JimCorbett
    Nov 20, 2014
    7
    A good TD game that boasts a large number of levels and numerous modes which means the game has over 150 different variations to test your skills on. Great story and soundtrack only makes it better.
  69. fartheststar
    Sep 17, 2012
    9
    Edit: upping my score on this to a 9 after over 100 hours of play. There is so much to this game, and so many approaches to try out long after playing the levels. I learned alot by completing some challenges that required me to build with only 10 towers, or without certain towers available. Playing the different challenge modes requires you think hard about the strengths and weaknessesEdit: upping my score on this to a 9 after over 100 hours of play. There is so much to this game, and so many approaches to try out long after playing the levels. I learned alot by completing some challenges that required me to build with only 10 towers, or without certain towers available. Playing the different challenge modes requires you think hard about the strengths and weaknesses of towers and use them optimally. Yeah, you can win without optimum setups, but to do it with less and get gold medals and even higher scores requires serious thinking and learning from the process.

    original review: I found myself often thinking about a particular level long after I finished playing it, trying to find better strategic and tactical approaches to improve performance. It's the epitome of easy-to-play / hard-to-master in that you can can have fun from the first game, but still find increased fun days later by learning much more through gameplay and experience. The game gives you time to seriously think about next moves in a real time context. If you like watching the progress of the battle and making macro level decisions that shape the battle then this game will appeal. If you prefer "twitchy" games and want to instead be the creatures running through the maze shooting everything, then this game is _not_ for you. I actually like being the general on the hill watching the battle and deciding where to deploy my resources. Other nice things: The talking computer brain is entertaining, the medal system encourages you to do better via replayability, and the global ranking system lets you know if your solution for particular levels is one of the better ones compared to other players. Score:8 well above average. fun from day 1 w/ high replayability.    … Expand
  70. Hatred
    Oct 5, 2012
    9
    *this game is a great game for those who love tower defence* *strategy is needed to get past the many levels**each level slightly harder then the last* learning curve scales nicely* nice sense of achievement once completed a level**after completing the game you find yourself trying to beat your old scores for satisfaction**
  71. gendu
    Oct 16, 2012
    10
    Towerdefense game at its best, I picked it up last Christmas period on Steam for less than 3
  72. 4dagamer
    Nov 13, 2012
    7
    I like this game, the graphics are good, there is re playability but no multiplayer, The game have a nice variety of levels,monsters and modes and great history line.
  73. suneater
    Dec 11, 2012
    8
    Best tower defense game I've played. Very clean UI with a long main campaign and many side things to do after everything is done. Replay value comes with trying to get perfect scores to 100% maps, more difficulties and game modes. A good first choice to pick up if you haven't played a game in the genre before since it introduces new mechanics slowly enough, but keeps a tight grip onBest tower defense game I've played. Very clean UI with a long main campaign and many side things to do after everything is done. Replay value comes with trying to get perfect scores to 100% maps, more difficulties and game modes. A good first choice to pick up if you haven't played a game in the genre before since it introduces new mechanics slowly enough, but keeps a tight grip on difficulty to give tower defense pros a workout.… Expand
  74. Borrelia
    Dec 30, 2012
    8
    This game is fantastic and very addictive. I didn't care that much for the storyline, but the levels looked very nice and the voice-acting was okay too. I wasn't really into tower defense games until I played this game. I got it in one of the many indie bundles and I thought I would not like it. I was so wrong. The levels are diverse and it never really gets boring. There is a good varietyThis game is fantastic and very addictive. I didn't care that much for the storyline, but the levels looked very nice and the voice-acting was okay too. I wasn't really into tower defense games until I played this game. I got it in one of the many indie bundles and I thought I would not like it. I was so wrong. The levels are diverse and it never really gets boring. There is a good variety in towers, although I usually just use a few of them. I think the gun tower is a bit too powerful though. The developers are constantly improving this game, making it effectively better. The DLC's are cheap too and provide many extra hours of entertainment. It's good value for money. I highly recommend anyone to try this game. You won't be disappointed.… Expand
  75. MightyThor
    Nov 6, 2013
    8
    At first glance this looks like just another run of the mill tower defense with pretty graphics. But the game is actually surprisingly complex if you are going for the highest scores and hardest achievements.

    First the things that stood out to me are no resource collectors. You get resources by killing enemies primarily and a tiny amount of interest based on how much you have saved in    At first glance this looks like just another run of the mill tower defense with pretty graphics. But the game is actually surprisingly complex if you are going for the highest scores and hardest achievements.

    First the things that stood out to me are no resource collectors. You get resources by killing enemies primarily and a tiny amount of interest based on how much you have saved in the bank. The second thing was towers are invulnerable. Some tower defense games are like this, some aren't. While it seems like these two changes would overly simplify a game like this, the other features of the game add plenty of depth.

    The main feature, and what makes this game amazingly awesome is the AI pathing. Many levels have multiple entry and exit points for the enemy aliens and many are giant open areas. The trick is you can place towers to strategically block off certain routes, make choke points, etc. There are thousands of ways you can beat levels. This isn't anything like plants vs zombies where you have 6 lanes and that's it. There's tons of tower placement options. The maps are very well designed imo.

    Not so unique is the types of towers, though they are very well done. There's about 10 types, ranging from flame throwers to giant cannons. There's also upgrades. At first I thought the game was too easy. Once I got to the levels where cannons were available I just build tons of them and beat the game with minimal scores. But then I went back and tried to get gold medals on each level and man! It is hard! You definitely need very good tower placement and to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each type, as well as understand the cost/benefits of upgrading vs building more towers. I found it very addictive and fun. I have 20 hours played in two weeks and I got the game on sale for under $5. Well worth it. Even if you don't try for any achievements the game should last you 4-5 hours which isn't bad for this price.    … Expand
  76. stranglehold
    Oct 19, 2013
    8
    Defense Grid's excellent personality and gameplay make it both a great game for experienced tower defense fans and an excellent starting point for new players.
  77. Fraz
    Apr 29, 2013
    8
    This game is a great tower defence game, although it is not unique in any way, it feels well made and also gives you a challenge and makes you think how you are going to go about playing it. It has a narrative with this game having a voice actor which honestly I did not list to much as he just kept droning on about different enemy's and towers. It is defiantly worth the price of a coupleThis game is a great tower defence game, although it is not unique in any way, it feels well made and also gives you a challenge and makes you think how you are going to go about playing it. It has a narrative with this game having a voice actor which honestly I did not list to much as he just kept droning on about different enemy's and towers. It is defiantly worth the price of a couple of pounds and can keep you playing for hours. I would recommend to any tower defence players.… Expand
  78. AWG
    Jul 31, 2013
    7
    There are dozens of Tower Defense strategy games out there and I'm not expert enough to assess the genre in general. What I can say is this game is a really good and funny game and I highly enjoyed playing it. Graphics are cool and gameplay is very intuitive. 7.4 out of 10, wouldn't uninstall after taking all its Steam Trading Card drops.
  79. TheLagbringer
    Jul 28, 2013
    6
    This tower defense is extremely old school. The game is really old actually, so really don't expect innovations. If you are aware of today's tower defenses and played some of them, you are going to say "meh". For me, it was "not so bad, but not so good either".
  80. Niumen
    Aug 7, 2013
    10
    Tower defense games should stay from where there came simple flash games, like Gemcraft or so. BUT! Defense Grid: The Awakening push all boundaries to provide true masterpiece among tower defense games. Great graphics, great plot, great narrator, great DLC's everything is great in this game. Tons of fun and repeatability. This is "must have" for everyone. Period.
  81. IcecreamSnowman
    Mar 11, 2014
    5
    I liked the story, the voice acting, the slightly cob-web-minded AI telling you what's going on and I like tower defense games. So why didn't I like this much overall? Maybe because I paid money for it and expected it to be better than free flash games. You can't give your towers any instructions of what or where to attack, i.e. first enemy, strongest, weakest etc. Such controls add soI liked the story, the voice acting, the slightly cob-web-minded AI telling you what's going on and I like tower defense games. So why didn't I like this much overall? Maybe because I paid money for it and expected it to be better than free flash games. You can't give your towers any instructions of what or where to attack, i.e. first enemy, strongest, weakest etc. Such controls add so much more strategy to tower defense and without them this game comes across as rather basic and not all that much fun. The various Bloons TD games from Ninjakiwi are better.… Expand
  82. gloriouspotato
    Apr 2, 2016
    7
    Probably one of the more sophisticated tower defense games around. With different game modes and solid level design, there's a good bit of content for those wanting to rise up in the leaderboards. The main campaign has a pretty barebones story though, and I think the game could do with more varied towers since it does become somewhat repetitive.

    Overall rating - 7.4/10
  83. boyband6666
    Sep 23, 2014
    10
    Fun, addictive,and really well made.

    Also with all the different modes, and challenges to get gold medals (the last ones added 4 years after the game came out), fantastic value.

    A fantastic experience, that I recommend to anyone.
  84. MAKTWEB
    May 22, 2016
    10
    The best defense tower game out there. How anyone could like plants vs zombies above this can only be down to the fact that DG requires some intelligence.
  85. crazymurdock
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    I bought this for 99p, and have since bought 2 expansions (at 99p each I think). Have over 24 hours clocked up and have enjoyed every one of them immensely.

    This is my favourite tower defence game ever (yes, better than it's sequel)
  86. DrMisiaq
    Apr 27, 2021
    6
    A decent tower defense game, well executed and somewhat polished. I felt like I was playing StarCraft 2 custom TD map, which was fine, but Defense Grid unfortunately does not add anything to it, I could even point out a few things that are missing (there are no items, there is only one buff tower, evolution mechanics are very simple and limited). It's still worth it for people who likeA decent tower defense game, well executed and somewhat polished. I felt like I was playing StarCraft 2 custom TD map, which was fine, but Defense Grid unfortunately does not add anything to it, I could even point out a few things that are missing (there are no items, there is only one buff tower, evolution mechanics are very simple and limited). It's still worth it for people who like this genre. A good thing about this one is map design. It's not only pretty, but also requires player to develop his brain to figure out how to use the terrain to his own advantage. The place you choose for a new turret matters a lot. Oh yea, the voice acting was good, but jokes weren't funny at all tho.… Expand
  87. MaxmilianKohler
    Dec 31, 2020
    6
    Has the potential to be a good game, but has some significant deficits.

    Checkpoint system needs improvement. Being able to tell what height level your guns can hit. The different types of towers look too similar. More speed settings. Zoom out more or a minimap. More obvious whether upgrades or more guns are better. 6/10 but could be 8-9/10 with a few improvements. It's a good game if    Has the potential to be a good game, but has some significant deficits.

    Checkpoint system needs improvement. Being able to tell what height level your guns can hit. The different types of towers look too similar. More speed settings. Zoom out more or a minimap. More obvious whether upgrades or more guns are better.

    6/10 but could be 8-9/10 with a few improvements. It's a good game if you like to test lots of things numerous times.

    EDIT: Massive discovery - you can hit the reload checkpoint button twice to go back two checkpoints. That's huge. If the game told you that I'd raise my rating. Had to find it out by pure luck though.    … Expand
  88. Orey-eyed
    Dec 20, 2020
    9
    You plop down towers, upgrade them, and try to stop waves from taking your thingies. Among the best straightforward tower defense games, without the "do you also want to play an action game at the same time" fad of newer TD games. It nails the basics of the genre, but is elevated by better-than-average graphics and stellar narration.
  89. cezar88augusto
    Mar 11, 2022
    8
    There is no much to say about this game. It's a Tower Defense Game style with some variety of phases. Over the time the game phases becomes harder and you just give up to finish.
  90. Demiurge11
    Jan 1, 2022
    8
    A birds-eye-view real-time tower defense game. I spent an enjoyable 10 hours or so playing (poorly).

    THE GOOD: - Very intense, nail-biting gameplay! - Surprisingly deep strategy derived from very simple principles (like the line of sight of guns, or the enemy path-finding around towers) - There seem to be lots of special game modes, and extra non-story missions, for completionists    A birds-eye-view real-time tower defense game. I spent an enjoyable 10 hours or so playing (poorly).

    THE GOOD:
    - Very intense, nail-biting gameplay!
    - Surprisingly deep strategy derived from very simple principles (like the line of sight of guns, or the enemy path-finding around towers)
    - There seem to be lots of special game modes, and extra non-story missions, for completionists (caveat: I didn't try any of them)

    THE BAD:
    - There's *technically* a story. I'm not sure it makes any sense (see MINOR SPOILERS for details).
    - I found it difficult to come up with winning strategies because there is a large lag between making a strategic choice and seeing the result. Although, I could usually muddle my way through after a few retries.

    THE UGLY:
    - Nothing! I found no bugs or glitches in this game.

    MINOR SPOILERS:
    - The plot is fluff that makes no sense. For some reason, aliens need to march across your indestructible walkways, and bear the fire of your indestructible guns, only to arrive at a convenient fueling station full of your precious power cores. Why didn't you cover the power cores with the same indestructible material you use for the guns and walkways?    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best PC Game of 2008
24
#24 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
41
#41 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. GamePro
    90
    It's amazing what a little touch up in graphics and sound can do for a tower defense gameplay-based title. And Hidden Path Entertainment's Defense Grid: The Awakening is a prime example of that sudden transformation of taking a unoriginal. well-known style of video game and turning it into a masterpiece for your PC.
    Read full review
  2. Destructoid
    70
    If you like tower defense games and have $20 to spend, Defense Grid: The Awakening is absolutely worth checking out and will provide you with some solid entertainment - just don't expect to get 40 hours of playtime out of it.
    Read full review
  3. Gamervision
    80
    The later of the 20 unique levels can grow frustratingly difficult, but the amount of replayability due to different challenges and scoreboards are more than enough to justify picking it up, or at least buying it when it eventually makes its way to Xbox Live.
    Read full review
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