Tower Defense

Tower Defense is a classic strategy game: build and upgrade towers along a winding path to stop 25 waves of enemies, boss waves included, before they get through. Play Tower Defense online free in your browser, with no download or account. It works with a mouse or keyboard on desktop and with taps on a phone or tablet.

How to play

Enemies march along the path from one side of the map to the other. Each one that gets through costs you a life, and a boss costs five. You start with 20 lives. Survive all 25 waves to win; lose every life and it’s game over.

• Build: pick a tower and tap an empty grass tile beside the path.
• Send waves: press Start Wave when you’re ready. You earn money for every kill, plus a bonus for each wave you clear.
• Upgrade or sell: tap a tower to upgrade it (up to level 3) or sell it for part of what you spent.
• Speed up: use fast-forward once your defence can handle a wave on its own.

The four towers

• Blaster: cheap and fast-firing single-target shots. A good opener.
• Cannon: slow shells that splash, damaging whole groups at once.
• Frost: chills enemies, cutting their speed by nearly half.
• Sniper: huge range and heavy damage, but a slow reload. Built for tanks and bosses.

Strategy tips

• Build at the bends. Towers placed where the path turns can hit enemies for longer, since they stay in range on both sides of the corner.
• Pair Frost with Cannons. Slowed enemies bunch up, which is exactly what splash damage wants. A Frost tower next to a Cannon at a corner is one of the strongest setups in the game.
• Blasters struggle against armour. Tanks and bosses have armour that soaks up part of every hit, so small, rapid shots do little. Answer them with Snipers and Cannons.
• Plan for every fifth wave. Waves 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 bring bosses, and a leaked boss costs five lives. Have Sniper damage ready before those waves arrive.
• Upgrade before you spread out. A level 3 tower at a good spot often beats two fresh level 1 towers in weak ones. Selling only returns part of the cost, so place carefully.

FAQ

Is this Tower Defense game free?

Yes. It’s free to play in your browser with no sign-up, no download and no in-game purchases.

Can I play on a phone or Chromebook?

Yes. On touch screens you tap to build, select and upgrade. On a Chromebook or computer you can click, or use the shortcuts: 1–4 to pick a tower, Space to start a wave, U to upgrade, S to sell and F to fast-forward.

How many waves are there?

There are 25 waves, with a boss wave every fifth one. Clear wave 25 to win, and try for a flawless run with no leaks at all.

Which tower is best?

No single tower wins alone. Blasters are best early, Frost and Cannons handle crowds together, and Snipers are your answer to tanks and bosses in later waves.

Hungry for more? See our pick of the best browser tower defense games, or learn what makes a tower defense game.