Artisan TD

About

Artisan TD is a single player strategy game with a historical theme. It was developed by 4rtisans and was released on July 22, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In Artisan TD, join the Artisan's Guild to conquer the Archipelago of Chaos, building tower mazes to free corrupted magical warriors' souls and defeating 4 primordial TITANS with a wide range of actions and upgradable towers. Experience 30 unique maps, vanquish specific minions, and manage a small economy, all with handcrafted passion and precision. Playable with a controller and optimized for large screens and 4K.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 606 reviews

gameplay35 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Artisan TD features beautiful graphics and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
The game offers a unique maze-building mechanic that adds depth to the tower defense genre, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans.
The ability to restart from any wave allows for strategic experimentation, making it easier to refine tactics without starting over completely.

The game is heavily puzzle-oriented, often requiring players to find a single optimal solution for each level, which can limit creativity and enjoyment.
Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, with many players feeling that the game becomes overly challenging too quickly, especially on higher difficulties.
There is a lack of progression mechanics, such as tower upgrades or skill trees, which can make the gameplay feel repetitive and less rewarding.

gameplay
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by intuitive maze-building and tower mechanics that encourage strategic thinking, with each level introducing new challenges to keep the experience fresh. However, some players feel the game is overly linear, lacking upgrade mechanics and customization options, which can lead to frustration as it often requires trial and error to discover the optimal solutions. Overall, while the game offers engaging puzzles and solid mechanics, it may not satisfy those looking for more depth and variety in gameplay progression.
- “The maze-building and tower mechanics are intuitive, allowing me to quickly grasp the strategic elements without feeling overwhelmed.”
- “Each level introduces new mechanics and challenges, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are both intuitive and strategic, making each game unique and exciting.”
- “Got the game but refunded it pretty quickly because I am missing upgrade mechanics between the matches.”
- “Completing missions with no lives lost gives you nothing, and there are no points to make your units better, etc. What you see on screen is what you have, so there's no way to develop strategies according to your preferred gameplay.”
- “I don't think this mechanic outweighs the complete lack of enjoyment the player gets by sitting there watching their tower maze not earn money during the round (or at the end of each round for that matter - you don't get round rewards at all).”
graphics
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
22%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, meticulous detail, and unique art style, which many players find enchanting and immersive. While some reviews note a lack of creativity and depth in gameplay, the overall aesthetic is considered a highlight, with comparisons to classic titles like Warcraft 3. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics can feel uninspired or basic in comparison to other tower defense games.
- “The fantastical universe is beautifully crafted, with stunning graphics and meticulous attention to detail.”
- “With enchanting graphics and an immersive soundtrack, this game draws you into a fantastical universe where every decision matters.”
- “Tight experience, great visuals, extremely polished.”
- “This game brings nothing much new to the table except a slightly refreshing and pretty looking art style but then lacks many features some other great tower defense games have, like permanent upgrades for towers as one example.”
- “The art style is pale and uninspired; all towers are unrecognizable. Flash games from over 15 years ago did this better.”
- “The game's graphics are just okay (it's a taste thing, so my opinion is entirely subjective).”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The game's story is minimal, with players noting that missions are designed to be completed in a single, predetermined way, which reduces strategic depth and replayability. While there are some story elements present, many reviewers feel that a more developed narrative would enhance the overall experience, making it more engaging and comparable to other titles in the genre. The lack of progression mechanics and freedom during missions further detracts from the storytelling potential.
- “If this game had a little more storyline - and it does have some story elements, which I like - it'd be close to being on par with Defense Grid.”
- “Another nice thing is that not all missions have the same towers available, so sometimes you will have to find workarounds for not having your heavy hitter or dedicated anti-air.”
- “Finally perfected the main quest on the hardest difficulty without taking any hits.”
- “Every mission has one exact way to complete it, and one way only.”
- “Completing missions with no lives lost gives you nothing, and there are no points to make your units better. What you see on screen is what you have, so there's no way to develop strategies according to your preferred gameplay.”
- “This makes the game basically a puzzle in which you're constantly resetting the mission to yet again try a new tower position until you find the one the developers wanted, then advance some more, then restart again, and again, and again.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
35%
5%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its chill and fitting nature, as well as its ability to enhance the overall experience. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack may feel derivative, particularly referencing a "Jack Sparrow rip-off," the combination of good music and retro art style contributes positively to the game's atmosphere. However, a few critiques highlight that the music, while enjoyable, does not elevate the game beyond a basic experience in the tower defense genre.
- “With enchanting graphics and an immersive soundtrack, this game draws you into a fantastical universe where every decision matters.”
- “I really love the work you've done in all domains (gameplay, visuals, and music).”
- “Artisan TD also has quite okay graphics (nothing phenomenal, but I liked it, especially the backgrounds) and a good sounding soundtrack (I didn't feel the need to mute the game and play something of my own for the whole playthrough).”
- “The soundtrack is a Jack Sparrow rip-off and winning is unrewarding, as there is nothing you get outside of the level, except the progress to the next level.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game offers a highly customizable tower defense experience with optimized paths for each map, particularly challenging at higher difficulties. However, players have reported performance issues, including game crashes, although some users have not experienced these problems themselves. The development team is actively addressing these issues and plans to introduce free content in the future.
- “Amazing tower defense with the possibility of making your own optimized path on every map.”
- “The highest difficulty is extremely hard; it has been made to perfectly fit the most optimized way to do it.”
- “Finally, there are performance issues which include game crashes, as many reviewers have noted.”
- “Note: the game's studio owner has already indicated that his team is still working on this game, which means they are solving lots of performance issues (which I didn't encounter) and that they have planned to add free content down the road.”
- “[td]performance[/td]”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability, with some players appreciating games that offer diverse upgrade options and variants, enhancing replay value. However, many criticize titles that lack meaningful upgrades and balance adjustments, leading to a significant reduction in replayability and overall enjoyment. Overall, while some games in the genre provide potential for replayability, others fall short due to their simplistic mechanics.
- “Others manage to have lots of different upgrade options and different variants, which offers higher replayability.”
- “I think with the right adjustments to tower and mob balance, the game would be immediately more playable.”
- “This also prevents replayability in a game which has the potential to provide hours of fun making new maps and tower combinations.”
- “Towers have no real upgrade (3 levels + 1 mega upgrade for 1 tower per map) so there's not much replayability or things to try.”
- “Great classical tower defense game with zero replayability.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
The game has been criticized for its instability, with frequent crashes and bugs reported by users. However, it appears to run smoothly on the Steam Deck, suggesting that performance may vary by platform.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a stable gameplay experience.”
- “Buggy mess that crashes regularly.”
- “Being forced to find only layout on repeat combined with how buggy it is, is a hard miss.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, highlighting it as a series of engaging puzzles instead. The option to restart from specific waves enhances the experience, preventing potential tedium and frustration, making it a well-balanced challenge for a simple and inexpensive game.
- “That is perfect for a simple and inexpensive game; it is challenging but not to the point of grinding frustration.”
- “The ability to pick which wave you can restart with is a good addition; otherwise, the puzzles would be tedious.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate that character development suffers from a lack of distinctiveness among enemies, making it difficult for players to differentiate them. While the limitations of pixel design are acknowledged, improved character design is suggested to enhance clarity and gameplay experience.
- “It took a long time to be able to distinguish between some of the enemies. I know there's limited pixels to design on such a limited space, but better character design would allow for easier distinguishability.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is characterized by a diverse selection of towers and enemy types, contributing to a relaxed and enjoyable gaming experience.
- “Wide variety of towers, different types of enemies, and a chilled atmosphere.”