Orcs Must Die!

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,812 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • story
Orcs Must Die! Game Cover
Possibly the best of its genre, Orcs Must Die! is clever enough to keep evolving before it ever gets boring.
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In Orcs Must Die!, you are a war mage tasked with defending fortresses from hordes of invading orcs and other monsters. Use a variety of weapons, traps, and towers to strategically eliminate the enemies and protect your stronghold. The game features a campaign mode with multiple levels, as well as a wave-based survival mode for endless replayability.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,812 reviews
humor792 positive mentions
stability24 negative mentions
  • Runs perfectly for a 12 year old game, very straightforward and satisfying to play.
  • Filled with nonstop action, carnage, and fun, making it a great experience for fans of the genre.
  • The game has aged very well, with humor and engaging gameplay that keeps players entertained.
  • Some players experience bugs that prevent them from progressing, such as being unable to open the spellbook.
  • The game can feel repetitive after a while, especially when trying to achieve perfect scores.
  • Lacks multiplayer options, which limits the experience compared to its sequel.
  • humor792 mentions

    The humor in "Orcs Must Die!" is widely praised for its clever and entertaining dialogue, quirky characters, and absurd situations, making it a standout feature of the game. Players enjoy the comedic elements that accompany the over-the-top violence, with many finding the orc banter and the protagonist's one-liners particularly hilarious. Overall, the game's lighthearted tone and humorous approach to tower defense mechanics contribute to a fun and engaging experience that keeps players entertained for hours.

    • “The game has a great sense of humor, with hilarious dialogue and quirky characters that will keep you entertained for hours.”
    • “This game is full of silly humor and over-the-top action that will have you giggling like a madman (or madwoman) in no time.”
    • “The character is hilarious and the traps are really fun to watch as they slaughter millions of orcs.”
  • gameplay662 mentions

    The gameplay of "Orcs Must Die!" is a highly engaging blend of tower defense and third-person action mechanics, offering players a unique experience where they can actively participate in combat while strategically placing traps. Many reviews highlight its addictive nature, humor, and the satisfying challenge it presents, although some players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game is praised for its smooth controls, fun mechanics, and the ability to experiment with different strategies, making it a standout title in the genre.

    • “The seamless blend of tower defense and third-person action creates an addictive and engaging gameplay experience.”
    • “What makes OMD so good is the manic feel of the gameplay, the snappy response of your character movement, the ability to sprint to a new panic spot on the map and flip between weapons to mix in what you need on the spot.”
    • “The gameplay is a mix of tower defense and FPS genres with great graphics, sounds, and a humorous story thrown in to keep the fun coming for hours!”
    • “But seriously, I disliked the gameplay; I guess I dislike tower defense where enemies just run around turrets and through traps, which is most of the genre.”
    • “The gameplay loop often got stale quickly, and I found myself just going through the motions.”
    • “This game leaves a lot to be desired in terms of mechanics/combat; you have a variety of weapons and traps, but the cost/damage balancing draws you back to only using the cheapest items in order to maximize efficiency and control the levels better.”
  • story518 mentions

    The story in "Orcs Must Die!" is generally regarded as simple and lighthearted, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While it features humorous elements and a few engaging characters, many players note that the narrative is sparse and lacks depth, often described as a classic "hordes of monsters are invading" premise. Overall, the comedic tone and quirky dialogue contribute to an enjoyable experience, even if the story itself is not particularly memorable.

    • “The game is fun and charismatic, the art style is great even if the graphics are a little old and there's actually a pretty fun story behind all the funny orcs and dumb/funny main character.”
    • “The plot of the game is surprisingly interesting as well since you play as a war mage who is the last member of an order dedicated to defending the rifts which are sources of magic for the two worlds.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent, but what is there is humorous enough to at least make you crack a smile in most of the level intros.”
    • “The story is very disappointing as it is an afterthought, though it has its small moments.”
    • “The story is pretty much non-existent and the battle-mage's apprentice's humour is not nearly enough to keep it alive.”
  • graphics414 mentions

    The graphics of "Orcs Must Die!" are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish style that has aged well over the years, maintaining a vibrant and colorful aesthetic. While some players note minor graphical glitches, the overall visual presentation is considered smooth and appealing, enhancing the game's humorous and light-hearted atmosphere. Many reviews highlight the effective combination of engaging animations and detailed environments, contributing to a fun and immersive gameplay experience.

    • “The graphics are top-notch, with beautiful, detailed environments and satisfying animations.”
    • “The graphics and humor add a delightful touch to the overall atmosphere.”
    • “What a fantastic game with a perfect combo of tactics, great graphics, action, characters, pacing, and upgrades!”
    • “The issue is that the aesthetics of a game are lacking and it is not colorful at all, which is a huge missed opportunity for a game such as this.”
    • “The graphics in the game are on low settings and still lag whenever I shoot, and yet they wanted me to disable the GeForce driver that is supposed to make games smoother?!”
    • “I'm sorry, the graphics made it a bad experience for me.”
  • music222 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy and dynamic nature, effectively complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall experience. However, some players note that it can become repetitive and occasionally drowns out dialogue, making it difficult to hear voice lines. Overall, the soundtrack is described as fun, fitting the game's medieval theme with a mix of rock and metal influences, contributing to a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The music, sounds, and voice acting are all well done and add greatly to the overall experience.”
    • “The combination of tower defense action and kickass music is what makes this game awesome!”
    • “The hard rock background music adds to the intensity, and there's a nice Plants vs. Zombies style sense of humor.”
    • “The only slight I have against this game is the music; it's good but it's insanely repetitive and feels like the entire game is just the same track (it actually might be, I have no clue, I didn't notice any differentiation in the BGM).”
    • “There is a story, but you can't hear dialogues since the music is way louder.”
    • “The story and music are forgettable.”
  • replayability212 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its multiple difficulty levels, a "nightmare mode," and a scoring system that encourages players to revisit levels for perfect scores and new strategies. Players appreciate the variety of traps and abilities, which allow for diverse playstyles and approaches to challenges, making it engaging even after the main campaign. While some find it relatively short, the depth of gameplay and options for replaying levels keep many coming back for more.

    • “The game has a lot of replay value, with different difficulty levels and endless mode to keep you coming back for more.”
    • “The game has a ton of replay value, either through trying out new traps on old levels to unlock missed skulls or for new high scores, or for testing your skills at a more fast-paced nightmare mode, giving you little to no time to set up traps before the horde is upon you.”
    • “The variety in different ways you can play each level gives it immense replay value.”
    • “Its fun the first time around but it's not super replayable, I find.”
    • “This is fun, although short and not offering any replay value after completing the levels with the best grades, but the nightmare mode offers a few good challenging moments.”
    • “The game's not overly replayable, in my opinion, unless you're going to max out five skulls on every single level on both difficulties, but if you do want to do that, there's plenty of playtime ahead of you.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its light-hearted and comedic tone, enhanced by charming graphics, solid music, and witty dialogue. Players appreciate the blend of tower defense and action gameplay, which is complemented by a fun and upbeat art style that creates an engaging experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as delightful, casual, and immersive, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “The graphics are good, the music is solid and atmospheric.”
    • “The art style, soundtrack, and story (what little story there is) are all fun and upbeat, and create a very enjoyable atmosphere.”
    • “It's an excellent blend of tower defense and action, with an almost comedic atmosphere.”
    • “If you're in the market for a quick and easy to grasp defense game with a relatively casual atmosphere, then this'll sort you right out.”
    • “The dungeon atmosphere really makes it stand out from the growing crowd.”
    • “That's not just the graphics; though the art is highly stylized and very fitting of the game's comical atmosphere.”
  • stability28 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant bugs, including animation issues, enemy glitches, and game freezes that can disrupt gameplay. While some players experienced a relatively smooth experience with quick loading times and minimal glitches, others faced frustrating installation problems and persistent bugs that hindered their enjoyment. Overall, the game appears to have stability issues that may require troubleshooting for a seamless experience.

    • “It's also very stable and bug-free.”
    • “[*] runs great”
    • “[*] runs great”
    • “A buggy mess.”
    • “Very buggy game; enemies get stuck in lava without dying, causing you to lose the level.”
    • “I did experience a few nasty game freezes which Windows 10 struggled to deal with and basically required me to restart my computer.”
  • optimization26 mentions

    The game's optimization is highly praised, with graphics receiving a perfect score for their unique cartoony style that balances lightheartedness with gory elements. Reviewers report flawless and fluid performance, noting no issues with compatibility or stability, and highlight a consistent experience throughout the gameplay. Overall, the optimization contributes significantly to the enjoyment and satisfaction of the game.

    • “Graphics: 10/10 honestly the graphics are very optimized and give a cartoony feeling to the game, which is unique for a game with gore.”
    • “There are no performance, compatibility, or stability issues to note.”
    • “Flawless, fluid performance with great visuals.”
    • “You simply have no way of finding out what a trap really does, and especially in the campaign, you get a new trap after every level and you can upgrade those traps with 'skulls', which you get after each level for your performance.”
    • “Earning skulls is totally dependent on your performance, so by getting 5 skulls in a match, it feels like a forced grind rather than a rewarding experience.”
    • “This review will cover the overall concept in regards to story and downloadable content, gameplay, and to a smaller extent, performance, which seems to be an afterthought.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    The reviews highlight a significant emphasis on grinding, with many players feeling it requires an excessive time commitment, often likening it to needing a "second life." While some find the grinding can lead to rewarding victories and enjoyable gameplay, others describe it as tedious and overly prescriptive, detracting from the overall experience. Games like "Dungeon Defenders" and "Sanctum" are criticized for their repetitive grinding mechanics, while "Orcs Must Die" is noted for offering rewards that mitigate the grind.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “So no, it isn't the opposite of a grind; it's made the entire goal behind the game even more grindy than being able to sit back and handle all the strategy side of things, because not only do you have to click like crazy, but you have to constantly aim at heads and shift around in the same small area to get angles.”
    • “Dungeon Defenders suffers from a Sisyphean feeling of level and item grinding common to MMOs, and Sanctum feels too prescriptive in what approach you need to take to win, like more traditional tower defense games.”
    • “Tedious garbage.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Reviewers note that the game features a familiar storyline of a cocky apprentice taking over from a seasoned wizard, yet it manages to deliver meaningful character development and unexpected plot twists, enhancing the overall narrative experience. The balance of gameplay and visuals further supports this depth in character arcs.

    • “The balance is great, the visuals fresh and smooth, and there’s more of a story than it first seems, with actual character development.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game employs a monetization model that includes real money transactions for in-game purchases, allowing players to buy various items or enhancements.

    • “Does this game use real money for in-game purchases?”
    • “Does this game use real money for in-game purchases?”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is noted to evoke strong feelings, particularly in relation to its conclusion, prompting players to manage their emotions as they anticipate a sequel. Overall, the experience is impactful enough to leave a lasting impression, encouraging players to reflect on their journey.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

Buy Orcs Must Die!

Play time

15hMedian play time
31hAverage play time
8hMain story
28hCompletionist
10-38hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 30 analyzed playthroughs

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