Dot Defense provides a minimalist entry to the TD genre

Published by at

Dot Defense, published late last week by Turboshroom, is a new entry in the Tower Defense genre (build weapons towers, kill baddies), which caught our eye thanks to its minimalist design style (and a welcome email from the developer). There are many games of this type available for Windows Phone, but it's always refreshing to see a fresh take on an old favourite.

In Dot Defense both towers and baddies take the form of simple dots, set in a similarly bland landscape. By cutting down on the graphics frills, there's a pleasing sense of focus on the core game play. It also makes for a gentler entry into the Tower Defence genre for gaming novices because there are less extraneous elements to distract your attention.

Dot Defense

Dot Defense has three different towers available: blue (slow down enemies), red (shoots exploding bullets), and green (creates poisonous clouds). Each of these types can be upgraded up to a maximum level of 8. As with other games of this type the trick is combing towers (and upgrades) together, such that none of the enemies make it to the exit.

You start with a limited supply or cash, enough to buy your first three towers, in preparation for the first wave. Killing enemies earns you cash, which can be used to buy additional towers or upgrade existing towers. Each wave of enemies consists of ten dots and their power (capability to take destruction) increases by 20% in each successive wave.

Dot Defense

Dot Defense may not have the fancy graphics of other gaming titles, but there's a lot to be said for the less is more approach. That said, it would be good to see a few more tower types and a bit more diversity in the type of enemies you face off against. Nonetheless, if you like your games with a focus on substance over style, this is a recommended download.

Windows Phone Store description:

Dot Defense is an endless tower defense game, where you build dots to shoot other dots in the face. Test the limits of your strategies and see how long you can last. And then tell your friends that you're better than them in this game (if you're not then just lie that you are).

May the dot be with you!

Dot Defense is a free download from the Windows Phone Store. The game is ad-supported. However, there's also a premium version of the game, Dot Defemse DD which is ad-free and includes an extra track.