Tower Defense
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Tower defense is a subgenre of strategy games where players protect their territory against waves of enemy attackers.
Defend!
Use resources wisely to survive all waves of increasingly difficult enemies.
Everyone Can Play - Main player actions are placing units
Play for Long - Many levels and difficulties, new releases, endless mode
Flexible Play Modes - Multiplayer with humans or singleplayer with NPCs
Below is a general game loop diagram for this genre. Your game's loops may vary.
Consider ways to add to or change the core structure of this game type to challenge and motivate players differently.
PRACTICE: Modify the Life Jumper template to increase the fun:
Tower abilities
Passive/idle resource generation
Open the Game Maker Tower Defense Template for logic included in the tutorials below.
View Tower Defense Game Jam entries in the Game Maker Gallery for examples of this genre.
& (varied tower )
logic (sub-genre)
NEED TO HAVE
Logic to place/spawn towers
Spawning and pathing for enemies
Varied tower types and enemies
NICE TO HAVE
Resource Farming - Harvest resources (building materials, currency, etc)
Research - Unlock new tower types or abilities through research
Real-Time Strategy (RTS): Players make decisions in real-time, managing resources and armies.
Turn-Based Strategy (TBS): Players take turns making strategic decisions and controlling units.
4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate): Empire-building and grand strategy.
MAIN OBJECTIVE
đĄī¸ Build enough defense to explore & loot
âī¸ Vs enemies or teams
RAMP OF DIFFICULTY
âī¸ Craft rather than buy
đ˛ Randomized patterns
CORE DECISIONS
đ Turn based or constant
âī¸ Weather impacts
âī¸ Precise tower variations
ENEMY WAVES
TOWER STRATEGY
GAME MAKER TEMPLATE
LOGIC TO EXPLORE
Enemy waves
Gaining resources
Buying towers
Pathing
Variety (health, number, loot, etc) Increasing difficulty (type, number, etc)
Placement
Variety (attack strength, type, size, etc)
Buy towers / Build with resources
Upgrade towers
Unlock new types
