Key Takeaways
- Base defense games combine tower defense, base-building, and RTS elements for addictive gameplay loops.
- Games like They Are Billions and Kenshi offer challenging base defense experiences in different settings.
- Cataclismo and Thronefall provide unique base-building and RTS mechanics with minimalist and accessible styles.
Base defense games offer some of the most addictive gameplay loops around, thanks in large part to the naturally satisfying cycle of building, defending, and re-building a stronghold built from the ground up. These games often include elements from a variety of genres, but primarily take from tower defense, base-builders, and real-time strategy games.
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These games can even play similarly to colony-sims such as RimWorld, tasking players with managing the well-being of their people while defending their base simultaneously. Some real-time strategy games, such as They Are Billions, devote their entire gameplay loop to the act of base defense, while others, such as Kenshi, simply include it as an option in a wider sandbox.
6 They Are Billions
Steampunk Base-Defense Against Hordes Of Zombies
This Steampunk base-defense game tasks players with building and defending a colony from hordes of flesh-eating zombies. These zombies are fast, deadly, and large in number, making it a difficult task to fight them off. It’s easy to lose everything in the blink of an eye when playing They Are Billions, but efficient management and a good strategy can yield successful results.
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Enemy swarms may get a little overwhelming, especially for newcomers, but They Are Billions is mercifully a great real-time-with-pause game, allowing players to construct buildings and give orders even while paused. They Are Billions can get a little repetitive, but its gameplay loop is tremendously addictive. Furthermore, its unique Steampunk art style and blend of base-building and unit management makes for a satisfying experience overall.
5 From Glory To Goo
Minimalist Indie Game With An Addictive Loop
Though it features minimalist pixel-art graphics, From Glory To Goo is a solidly-built indie game that combines elements of the colony-sim, real-time strategy, and base-defense genres. The game features hero units, army management, and base-building mechanics that result in diverse gameplay that can be rather addictive.
From Glory To Goo is currently in Early Access, though its primary gameplay loop — a traditional survival mode — is already fleshed-out. The developer has stated on the game’s Steam page that they plan to add campaign missions to the game eventually, which would give the game some extra replay value. However, as is, From Glory To Goo is relatively replayable thanks to the variety of factions and hero units.
4 Kenshi
Sandbox RPG With Base-Building In A Hostile Environment
Kenshi is a great sandbox-RPG that players control through real-time strategy gameplay, commanding their character and their squad members in real-time-with-pause. The addition of a tactical pause makes Kenshi’s brutal combat encounters much more strategic than they otherwise would be, allowing players to carefully position and command their units stress-free.
Kenshi also features base-building elements, although building and defending a base is no small feat; there’s an ensemble of hostile creatures and factions in Kenshi, and players will have to gather a skilled and well-equipped group of warriors before they can think about defending a base from them. However, successfully building and defending a base is one of the more rewarding activities in Kenshi, and having a place to call home can be tremendously helpful in the game’s harsh and unforgiving wasteland environments.
3 Cataclismo
Modular Base-Building And Swarms Of Enemies With A Gloomy Atmosphere
Cataclismo lives and dies with its core mechanic, a modular building system that allows players to build castles as though they were playing with LEGOs. This freeing system for building makes constructing defenses a joy, providing much of the game’s fun. However, Cataclismo is no mechanical slouch, offering a strategic base-defense experience drenched in a gloomy atmosphere.
Visually, Cataclismo is a treat, featuring a subdued color palette and a cartoon style to its textures. The real-time strategy elements are minimal, with more of a focus on the construction and defense of the base itself, but it’s still a worthwhile foray for fans of the RTS genre.
2 Thronefall
Minimalist Combination Of RTS And Base Defense
This combination of base defense and real-time strategy is a minimalist effort that provides an accessible but stylish experience with an addictive gameplay loop. Thronefall tasks players with defending their keep from waves of enemies, using defensive structures and armies of soldiers in order to do so.
Thronefall handles real-time strategy mechanics in a unique way, giving players control of a character and allowing them to control their units from horseback using intuitive controls. While players aren’t able to micromanage their units as they would in a traditional RTS, this unique method of control results in a wholly accessible experience.
1 Stronghold Crusader
A Tried-And-Tested Classic
In its gameplay, Stronghold Crusader is very much like the original Stronghold, sharing much of its DNA, but Stronghold Crusader features the addition of a skirmish mode, allowing players to load up a custom game and build/defend their castle in a more free-flowing game structure.
Not only does this dramatically improve Stronghold Crusader’s replay value, but it offers a way to enjoy the game for players who dislike the traditional structure and limitations of Stronghold’s campaign missions. In this mode, players can build and defend their castle as they see fit, engaging in the classic “castle-sim” gameplay that Stronghold is known for, managing their defenses, resources, and armies simultaneously.