Grow Defense
- January 10, 2021
- SoftCowGames
- 348h median play time
"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!
Reviews
- The game is simple and fun, making it a great way to pass the time.
- It has a nostalgic feel reminiscent of older flash games, which many players find charming.
- The gameplay is surprisingly addictive, with a good balance of active and idle mechanics.
- The game suffers from poor graphics and a lack of polish, making it feel low quality.
- Progression can be extremely slow and tedious, especially in the late game, leading to frustration.
- There are numerous bugs and issues with saving progress, which can result in lost game data.
- graphics38 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic charm reminiscent of old flash games, while others criticize them as cheap and poorly designed. Many users note that the visuals feel outdated and lack polish, detracting from the overall experience. Despite the varied opinions, the consensus leans towards the graphics being a weak point, often described as bland or subpar.
“It has both a good art style and great graphics.”
“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.”
- gameplay27 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its originality and depth in mechanics, while others criticize it for lacking rewarding active gameplay and depth in the later stages. Many users noted issues with automation and progression, particularly with the "boss cave" mechanic and rebirth tokens, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, some players found the gameplay addictive and engaging, particularly in the context of clicker and incremental genres.
“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.”
“Very nice and complete clicker game; it's obvious the developer is passionate about this project and knows a lot about the underlying mechanics of a clicker/incremental game!”
“Idler is also a stretch for this game given its 'boss cave' mechanic has no way to automate it, which is where certain items are from and for one of the achievements.”
“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.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely viewed as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to leave the game running for extended periods to farm resources and progress. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, many express frustration over the repetitive nature and the slow pace of unlocking content, with some estimating it could take years to fully complete the game without active participation. Overall, grinding is seen as an inevitable part of the experience, with mixed feelings about its impact on enjoyment.
“Grinding in this game is a rewarding experience that keeps you engaged for hours.”
“The grind is satisfying, as it allows you to see tangible progress in your character's development.”
“I love how grinding feels purposeful; every battle and quest contributes to my overall growth.”
“Game should be called active defense; basically, you have to farm bosses every 30 minutes to get rebirth coins. You have to leave the game open to farm gold and bosses every 30 minutes to get rebirth coins, or you can rebirth an absurd number of times to get small amounts of rebirth coins to make slightly more progress. I play it idle style, so it will take me like 4 million years to complete the game without actively farming the bosses every 30 minutes to speed up rebirth coins.”
“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. Each one in sequence requires so much more grinding to be able to beat, which feels repetitive and pointless because you don't seem to actually unlock anything new.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it fun and entertaining, often highlighting its quirky visuals and lighthearted jokes. However, some critiques mention that the humor is overshadowed by issues related to microtransactions. Overall, the game delivers a mix of amusing moments and playful banter that resonates with many players.
“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!”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is noted to be brief but rich in depth and character development, offering meaningful themes about perseverance and life's unpredictability. 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?”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some users enjoying the background tunes and finding them relaxing, while others have experienced technical issues that prevent them from fully engaging with the game. Notably, references to specific songs, like "Electric Zoo," highlight the game's appeal to younger audiences. Overall, the music seems to be a positive aspect, though overshadowed by loading problems for some players.
“Radio DJ: [from the radio] and now for the #1 song in Bikini Bottom: 'Electric Zoo.'”
“I love this young people's music.”
“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.”
“Mr. Krabs: How about a little music to count my money to?”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized for its predatory microtransactions and high upgrade costs, leading many players to perceive it as a cash grab. The basic art style and gameplay frustrations further contribute to this negative impression, suggesting a lack of genuine effort in its development.
“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.”
“It feels like a cash grab, and I keep getting frustrated with the gameplay elements.”
“Grow Defense is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the game's upgrade system, which interrupts the flow and can lead to missed opportunities for progress, creating a sense of emotional disconnect and disappointment when returning to find their efforts wasted. This mechanic detracts from the overall engagement and emotional investment in the game.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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 countless ways to approach each level, making it incredibly replayable.”
“With multiple endings and character choices, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game may be brief in length, but it compensates with a rich storyline and well-developed characters, enhancing the overall experience.
“The game is a little short, but it makes up for it in depth of storyline and character development.”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-written, making each journey feel personal and impactful.”
“I was genuinely invested in the characters' growth, and their choices felt meaningful throughout the game.”