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Kingdom Rush is a single player tactical real-time strategy game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Ironhide Game Studio and was released on January 6, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Kingdom Rush" is a defense strategy game where players protect their kingdom from invading forces across various landscapes. Players can utilize a variety of tower upgrades and abilities, as well as command troops and summon reinforcements, to fend off 61+ types of enemies. The game boasts hand-drawn cartoon art and promises hours of addictive gameplay.

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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,778 reviews
graphics240 positive mentions
monetization8 negative mentions

  • Kingdom Rush is widely regarded as one of the best tower defense games ever created, offering a perfect blend of strategy and fun.
  • The game features charming graphics, a variety of heroes, and engaging gameplay that keeps players coming back for more.
  • With multiple difficulty levels and challenge modes, Kingdom Rush provides a satisfying experience for both casual and hardcore players.
  • Some players find the difficulty spikes in later levels frustrating, making it challenging to achieve perfect scores.
  • The game lacks a speed-up option, which can make replaying earlier waves tedious.
  • While the game is enjoyable, some feel it is overpriced compared to the free flash version available online.
  • graphics
    425 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many reviewers appreciate the vibrant colors, attention to detail, and humorous animations that contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, making it visually appealing despite being relatively simple. While some note that the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are deemed sufficient and enjoyable, with many considering them a significant part of the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The exquisite graphics and interesting system are the most outstanding among all the tower defense games I've seen.”
    • “The art style is fantastic.”
    • “It's undoubtedly the best tower defense franchise out there; the graphics, art style, and animations aren't over the top and are nice and simple, which add to the overall aesthetic of the game and don't distract too much from the gameplay.”
    • “The graphics aren't great but they are good enough.”
    • “It crashes over half the time I try to open it, and the graphics are unreliable and glitchy when it does run.”
    • “Extremely average tower defense game, complete with childish graphics and overly optimized difficulty that requires grind.”
  • gameplay
    325 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Kingdom Rush is widely praised for its engaging and addictive nature, combining simple mechanics with deep strategic elements that cater to both newcomers and veterans of the tower defense genre. Players appreciate the variety of towers, heroes, and enemy types, which contribute to a dynamic and challenging experience, while the charming visuals and soundtrack enhance the overall enjoyment. Despite some critiques regarding the lack of innovation and occasional difficulty spikes, the game is recognized for its polished mechanics and replayability, making it a standout title in its category.

    • “The gameplay is very satisfying, the towers and heroes are very diverse and fun to use, banger soundtrack and a gorgeous hand-drawn art style!”
    • “Gameplay is easy to learn but somewhat hard to master.”
    • “Kingdom Rush has amazing and innovative strategic mechanics that allow a lot of different ways to approach each stage.”
    • “Unless you want to see different gameplay styles, if you don't use the weak ones, you are left with 2 or 3 heroes.”
    • “The difficulty, mechanics, limited tower placement, and map design make this a chore to play.”
    • “But all the Kingdom Rush tower defense games are pretty much identical in gameplay, so if you already have another Kingdom Rush game, you're just paying for some new maps.”
  • story
    208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in this tower defense game is generally considered simple and somewhat forgettable, serving primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the light narrative and humor, many agree that the game excels more in its mechanics and level design than in storytelling. Overall, the narrative is seen as adequate for the genre, providing a basic framework that enhances the experience without being overly complex or essential to enjoyment.

    • “Even when the main story of the game is over, different stories and battles emerge to enrich the lore of this world.”
    • “Its straightforward yet engaging story, well-balanced difficulty curve, diverse level designs, and exhilarating boss battles make it an absolute must-play for tower defense enthusiasts.”
    • “The story, while not very innovative, is interesting in that it feels like a classic fantasy epic adapted to be a video game, and yet it has its own feel, style, characters, and world.”
    • “The story is very forgettable, but this game isn't really about the story anyways.”
    • “It doesn't have much of a plot -- and, in any case, a story is not necessary here.”
    • “The main campaign probably has a storyline, but I wasn't paying attention.”
  • music
    125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its high quality, catchy tunes, and ability to enhance the overall gameplay experience, with many players noting its memorable and engaging nature. While some reviews mention that the music can become repetitive over time, it is generally considered to fit well with the game's atmosphere and art style, contributing to a charming and immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is regarded as a standout feature, complementing the game's fun visuals and gameplay mechanics.

    • “The best tower defense game ever, with an amazing soundtrack.”
    • “Some of the music in the late game will stay with you for life.”
    • “The art style and the soundtrack are both awesome and mesh amazingly well together.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is pretty nice, which is heavily influenced by the unique art style; music, on the other hand, is just okay, as though there are a few good compositions, most are forgettable.”
    • “My only gripe is perhaps the low variety of music, which became grating very quickly.”
    • “The only criticism I can bring is the missing endless mode which is something that should be here since it's a standard game mode in tower defense and the music is a bit on the boring side; it's not bad but it doesn't stand out either.”
  • humor
    117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, featuring a mix of witty references, pop culture nods, and amusing character interactions that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the cartoonish art style and engaging voice acting, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere without overwhelming the gameplay. Overall, the humor is described as well-balanced, entertaining, and a key factor in the game's addictive nature.

    • “Fun towers, interesting enemy designs, mind-bending defense strategies, plenty of challenging enemy waves, lots of funny references and iconic achievements to collect.”
    • “The art style is charming, the sound effects and music are both really well done, the subtle nerd references are funny, and it has a great replay value, since it's been pulling me back again and again over the years.”
    • “The artwork is great, and the voice overs are funny and full of pop culture easter eggs that remind me of Warcraft 2.”
  • replayability
    78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game exhibits a high level of replayability, with many players praising its multiple difficulty settings, challenge modes, and the ability to strive for perfect scores. While some reviews note a lack of online multiplayer and limited replay value for casual players, the majority highlight the game's dynamic gameplay and diverse strategies as key factors that encourage repeated playthroughs. Despite a few criticisms regarding certain limitations, many players find the replay value to be excellent, making it a worthwhile purchase.

    • “It has high replay value as well, being able to strive for perfect scores, completing challenges, and clearing out the post-game content it unlocks.”
    • “The art style is charming, the sound effects and music are both really well done, the subtle nerd references are funny, and it has a great replay value, since it's been pulling me back again and again over the years.”
    • “Completionists can expect to get dozens of hours out of the game, and the replay value here is sky high.”
    • “Replayability is not its strong point or intention!”
    • “The only downside is the fact that Kingdom Rush has zero replayability.”
    • “It doesn't have enormous replay value but there are 20+ maps, each with three play modes and three difficulty settings.”
  • monetization
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game has been positively received, with users praising the absence of microtransactions and in-app purchases in the Steam version compared to its mobile counterpart. Players appreciate that all content, including heroes, is unlocked through gameplay without additional costs, making it a complete and enjoyable experience for a one-time purchase. Overall, the removal of microtransactions has been seen as a significant improvement, enhancing the game's balance and strategic depth.

    • “I am glad Ironhide didn't sell out to make this game with microtransactions and DLCs, giving the full game experience with one purchase.”
    • “All of the content is unlocked within this one purchase and there are no microtransactions to be seen here.”
    • “They've obliterated the microtransactions in the game and it legitimately feels like a tower defense game for the PC.”
    • “The developers used this as a one-time cash grab and now they have washed their hands of Steam altogether.”
    • “Microtransactions can add up real quick and before you know it, you've spent more than the $10 it costs to buy the game on Steam.”
    • “The one problem with the iOS version was that (as is sadly standard for the platform) it had microtransactions - there was a store that let you buy consumables (for gold you earned in-game or purchased) to use in levels, as well as one-time purchases to unlock hero characters.”
  • atmosphere
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Kingdom Rush Tower Defense is widely praised for its captivating and engaging qualities, featuring a charming fantasy setting enhanced by unique art styles, colorful graphics, and a playful soundtrack. Players appreciate the game's ability to maintain interest through its gradual complexity and the delightful integration of pop culture references, making it an addictive and enjoyable experience. Overall, the atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's entertainment value, often overshadowing initial frustrations.

    • “Although I have listed numerous features, I personally recommend playing Kingdom Rush Tower Defense primarily for its captivating atmosphere, which can engross you for hours on end and provide an immense amount of entertainment.”
    • “Very charming atmosphere with its music, character designs, and voice lines.”
    • “Overall, the atmosphere of the game probably made up for the initial frustration that I had.”
    • “The graphics do a good job of establishing a lighthearted, fantasy adventure atmosphere.”
    • “It has a beautiful cartoon environment that changes as the game proceeds, with great tower and enemy art, and the soundtrack fits the atmosphere.”
  • grinding
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a significant source of frustration, with players often feeling that the need for backtracking and repetitive level restarts detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the variety in game modes and upgrades, many find the experience tedious and overly reliant on trial and error, leading to a loss of interest. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major drawback, with some players opting to uninstall the game due to its repetitive nature.

    • “Games are short but fun, which makes it not grindy and repetitive.”
    • “There is no grinding involved since the heroes start over at level 1 every campaign mission.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game itself, though, feels tedious to play.”
    • “What started out as fun ended in tedious frustration.”
  • stability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is notably problematic, with frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and various bugs affecting gameplay and the user interface. While some players enjoy the overall experience, the persistent issues, particularly on certain platforms like Mac, detract significantly from the enjoyment. Overall, the game is described as fun but marred by instability and technical flaws.

    • “Unfortunately it's very buggy on my MacBook, but otherwise I love this game.”
    • “Crashes most of the time you try to launch, and even when it doesn't, it has terrible graphical glitches and will often crash to desktop.”
    • “The game works fine and is great fun to play, but the main menu is buggy as hell.”
  • optimization
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is highly optimized, particularly for mobile and Steam Deck, with excellent technical performance and minimal bugs, earning high ratings for its efficiency. Players report smooth gameplay without stuttering, even during intense action, making it accessible for lower-end systems. However, some criticize the game's graphics and difficulty balance as overly simplistic.

    • “The game is well optimized and does not demand much performance as it was designed with mobile in mind.”
    • “Technical performance, bugs: 9/10”
    • “[u]Performance[/u] - [b]9.8[/b]”
    • “Extremely average tower defense game, complete with childish graphics and overly optimized difficulty that requires grind.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers praise the game's character development for its impressive visual style and charming character designs, highlighting the engaging atmosphere created by the music and voice lines. The incorporation of pop culture references adds an extra layer of appeal to the characters.

    • “I really like the visual style and character designs.”
    • “It's got great character design, useful towers, and pop culture references galore.”
    • “Very charming atmosphere with its music, character designs, and voice lines.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional engagement with the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the challenge and improvements, they do not feel a strong emotional investment in the experience. Frustration with certain levels, particularly in the DLC, can detract from overall enjoyment, though the game remains enjoyable for its mechanics and performance.

    • “Most of the normal levels felt challenging while fair, but a couple of the last DLC levels got very frustrating and made me feel stuck.”
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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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21h Median play time
38h Average play time
11-40h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Kingdom Rush is a tactical real-time strategy game with fantasy theme.

Kingdom Rush is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Phone and others.

On average players spend around 38 hours playing Kingdom Rush.

Kingdom Rush was released on January 6, 2014.

Kingdom Rush was developed by Ironhide Game Studio.

Kingdom Rush has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its monetization.

Kingdom Rush is a single player game.

Similar games include Kingdom Rush, Kingdom Rush Frontiers, Kingdom Rush Origins, Kingdom Rush Vengeance, Kingdom Rush Origins TD and others.