10. Arknights
If you’re looking for evidence of how much mobile games have changed since the tower defense games of old, look no further thanArknights.
There’s plenty of traditional tower defense gameplay here, but it’s all wrapped up inside a game filled with gacha mechanics.
Because these types of games want to keep you playing, there are constant updates to keep you playing. The game starts off relatively easy, but it can get tough quickly!
9. Plants vs. Zombies
Plants vs. Zombiesis, without a doubt, among the most-played mobile games of all time—certainly if you only look at the games on this list.
This game dates back to 2009, but you can still find up-to-date versions available to play today, along with sequels and spin-offs, which shows just how popular this franchise has stayed over the years.
While the actual tower defense gameplay gets more difficult as the game goes on—it almost starts to feel puzzly—the friendly aesthetic and simple mechanics make it easy for anyone to get into.
Related:The Best Offline Mobile Games for Android and iPhone
8. Defenders 2: Tower Defense CCG
As you can likely tell from the name,Defenders 2: Tower Defense CCGis a mashup of two genres: tower defense and collectible card games.
On paper, it makes a lot of sense. After all, these are two of the most popular mobile gaming genres of all time—surely there’s a lot of greatness to be had by combining them into one package.
That said, whileDefenders 2: Tower Defense CCGis technically free to play, it suffers from some of the same issues found in many CCG games: the microtransactions can be a bit much at times.
7. Infinitode 2
Many of the best modern mobile tower defense games have some sort of twist that helps them stand out from the competition.
In the case ofInfinitode 2, one of its standout features is the ability to create your own maps and share them with other players! There’s a lot of variety and replayability because of this.
That comes with a trade-off, of course. The graphical fidelity ofInfinitode 2is much lower than many other modern mobile games. But for me, that trade-off is definitely worth it.
6. Last Hope TD
Last Hope TDisn’t the first tower defense game to have you fighting off hordes of zombies, and it certainly won’t be the last!
That doesn’t get in the way of it being a fun game, though, plus it’s free to play and contains more than 100 levels of zombie-fighting action.
Here you’ll choose from a variety of heroes, each with their own skills and abilities, while fighting more than 50 different enemy types.
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5. Iron Marines
Iron Marinescomes from Ironhide Game Studio, whose best known for theKingdom Rushseries, one of the most popular tower defense series ever.
While this game keeps the same bright, colorful aesthetic, it has a more generally tense atmosphere than theKingdom Rushgames.
This game sees you defending against alien invaders. What I like best is that these aliens are tough, yet they also look like they wouldn’t be out of place in anInvader Zimtower defense game.
4. 2112TD: Tower Defense Survival
If you’re looking for a tower defense game where you need to pay more attention to upgrading your various units,2112TD: Tower Defense Survivalis a great match worth trying.
It doesn’t sacrifice tower defense gameplay for the other gameplay elements—building up your individual defenders is just as important as placing them in the right spots.
LikeIron Marines, this game takes place during an alien invasion. The way it’s handled here leads to circumstances that feel dire in a way that tower defense games are rarely able to pull off.
3. Mindustry
Mindustryis a combination of two big genres: first, it’s a tower defense game, but second, it’s a construction and management game with elements that feel similar toSatisfactoryorFactorio.
The inclusion of base building and factory management means that this is a complex game—one that will either overwhelm you with its many options or completely take over your life for the next several weeks.
While the visuals are minimalist and simple, it’s not a big deal since you aren’t here for the graphics. You’re here for the deep gameplay and the steady stream of content from the developer.
Related:The Best Free Mobile Games Without Ads or In-App Purchases
2. Kingdom Rush Frontiers TD
TheKingdom Rushseries is so well-regarded that even people who don’t typically play tower defense games have played this series!
There are several different games to choose from if you want to dive into theKingdom Rushfranchise, but I recommendKingdom Rush Frontiersif you’ve never played a single game yet.
You start with just a few main towers, which you can then develop in different directions, with multiple unique paths for each type.
Kingdom Rush Frontiersis fast-paced enough for killing five minutes, but engaging enough that you can spend an entire weekend with it.
1. Bloons TD 6
TheBloonsseries might just be the greatest tower defense series of all time. It started as a simple Flash game back in 2007 and has evolved into a series beloved by millions around the world.
Bloons TD 6is the newest game in the series, released in 2018. It’s a few years old at the time of this writing, but the game is far from dated because it has seen multiple updates since its initial launch.
TheBloonsseries is a lighthearted take on tower defense—the whole thing revolves around popping balloons—but that doesn’t mean the game doesn’t offer a sizable challenge, especially in later levels.
If you’re looking for a fantastic mobile game that’ll keep you busy for months, it really doesn’t get better thanBloons TD 6.
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