Grow Defense

About

Grow Defense is a single player casual strategy game. It was developed by SoftCowGames and was released on January 10, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Grow Defense" is a tower defense game where players upgrade and defend their castle against hordes of monsters and bosses, earning items and power gems to increase their power and progress through progressively harder zones. A rebirth system allows players to unlock unique and permanent upgrades using rebirth tokens. Unlock and upgrade different tiers of skills and weapons, and see how far you can go!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 457 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

grinding21 negative mentions

The gameplay is somewhat enjoyable and can be addicting, especially for fans of idle and tower defense games.
It's free to play, allowing players to experience the game without any upfront cost.
The game has a nostalgic charm with its simple graphics and mechanics, reminiscent of older flash games.

The user interface is clunky and poorly designed, making navigation frustrating.
Progression can be extremely slow and grindy, with many players feeling that achievements are nearly impossible to obtain.
There are numerous bugs and issues, including problems with saving progress and the game's reliance on microtransactions for meaningful upgrades.

graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
68%
15%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nostalgic pixel art style and charm reminiscent of older flash games. However, several users criticize the graphics as cheap, bland, or poorly executed, often describing them as a significant drawback to the overall experience. While some find the visuals endearing, others feel they detract from the gameplay, indicating a need for improvement.
- “Grow Defense is a charming tower defense game with a nostalgic pixel art style.”
- “This is a very high quality game; the graphics are out of this world and the gameplay is too good to be true. It's just insane!”
- “The artwork has a nice charm to it, and the developer is extremely responsive to community input.”
- “The art style is very basic, and the price tags of some upgrades give the impression that the game was created as a cash grab.”
- “The graphics are... I mean, they're awful.”
- “Terrible graphics, even for flash.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
58%
19%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and accessible, while others criticize its lack of depth and poor mechanics. Many users noted that the user interface and design are subpar, which detracts from the overall experience, but the core gameplay can be engaging, especially for newcomers. However, issues like broken mechanics, limited upgrades, and a tedious progression system have left some players feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.
- “The gameplay is straightforward, making it accessible for newcomers, yet it offers enough depth to keep seasoned players engaged.”
- “Gameplay 5/5 - there are plenty of upgrades and I still have stuff to unlock at this point, so I think there is a lot to do here.”
- “This game is very addicting and very well planned; even though the graphics are a bit 2009 vibes, the gameplay is very good.”
- “On top of it, there are very few upgrade mechanics: the arrows, the laser, the rocket, the missile, the bomb, a very clunky inventory with a couple of slots for rings, something that looks like a battle standard/banner, and then a torch... and the bonuses they give... I mean, it's just ridiculous.”
- “The basic mechanics are very poorly thought out; active gameplay doesn't feel particularly rewarding, but idle gameplay's contribution to progression is marginal.”
- “Gameplay is pretty mindless, not very pleasing to look at either.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
95%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, often describing it as a slog that detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the need for grinding as part of the gameplay, many express frustration over the slow progress and repetitive nature of farming bosses and resources, leading to a feeling of mindless repetition. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant time investment, with some players suggesting it could take years to fully complete the game without active engagement.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “So in the end, the game gets very grindy and the progress is slow as...”
- “The upgrades are fun, but grinding becomes inevitable long before you've unlocked everything, leaving the rest of the game as a slog.”
- “There are 5 'mega bosses' to beat, which can drop legendary items, but the drop rate is abysmal and each one in sequence requires so much more grinding to be able to beat. Grinding feels repetitive and pointless because you don't seem to actually unlock anything new.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it funny and enjoyable, though some critiques mention that microtransactions detract from the experience. The game features a lighthearted tone and amusing dialogue, contributing to its charm and appeal. Overall, it strikes a balance between fun gameplay and comedic elements, earning positive remarks from users.
- “It's a fun game with a lot of heart, and I found it a fun and funny game with its funny-looking style, so yeah, 10/10.”
- “Pretty funny, huh?”
- “Squidward: it was rated 'arr!' [rimshot] [laughing] arr!”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding the single music loop repetitive and accompanied by distracting sound effects from monsters. While one player appreciated the calming effect of the background music, others expressed frustration with technical issues that prevented them from fully experiencing the game. Overall, the music seems to evoke a range of emotions, from relaxation to annoyance.
- “I relaxed for 5 ♥♥♥♥ing minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
- “Radio DJ: [from the radio] and now for the #1 song in Bikini Bottom: 'Electric Zoo.'”
- “I love this young people's music.”
- “Also... the sounds... you have one music loop, and then some awfully weird and annoying noises that I assumed come from the incoming monsters (which are as weird and hideous as the UI).”
- “So I want to play this game, but every time I load it up, it's just a black screen with background music and it doesn't load the game. I'm on a MacBook Air; I would love some info on fixing it.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing frustration over predatory microtransactions and overpriced upgrades that detract from the overall experience. Many feel that the game's simplistic art style and gameplay elements further emphasize its exploitative nature.
- “It's a slap in the face and a cheap cash grab.”
- “The art style is very basic, and the price tags of some upgrades give the impression that the game was created as a cash grab.”
- “Predatory microtransactions that can directly 'fix' balance issues of power gem gain.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's story is noted for its depth and character development, despite being relatively short, conveying a powerful moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life. However, some users feel there is insufficient narrative content to evaluate.
- “Game is a little short, but it makes up for it in depth of storyline and character development.”
- “Moral of the story, you never know what life holds in store for you, and if I would have given up when all the odds were stacked against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Story n/a - can't judge since there is none.”
- “--- story ---”
- “☑︎ story?”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the game's upgrade system, which interrupts the flow and can lead to missed opportunities, creating a sense of emotional disconnect when returning to the game after a break. This mechanic can detract from the overall engagement and emotional investment in the gameplay experience.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users find the game to be highly enjoyable and emphasize its strong replayability, suggesting that it offers a lot of fun experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “Excellent fun, a lot of fun, very replayable.”
- “The game offers endless possibilities, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With multiple endings and diverse character choices, I find myself coming back for more.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's depth of storyline and character development, noting that while it may be short in length, it compensates with rich and engaging character arcs.
- “The game is a little short, but it makes up for it in depth of storyline and character development.”