The IPad’s easy to use touchscreen controls and sharp retina display have made it a perfect platform for strategy games. Since the iPad’s release developers have released a slew of strategy games that include tower defense, traditional turn-based and real-time strategy games. The best of them come from all three of these categories, and range from the deeply complex and tactical to more lighthearted games with a sense of humor.
Army of Darkness Defense
Fans of Bruce Campbell’s Evil Dead series will love this tower defense game that takes place after unlucky grocery store clerk Ash accidentally releases a horde of undead soldiers that besiege the castle. Army of Darkness Defense is an excellent tower defense title that implements RPG elements such as up-gradable units and a main character, Ash, whose abilities include the Boom Stick. And of course, the game is littered with memorable quotes from the movie. Whether you are a die-hard Evil Dead fan or a veteran of tower defense titles you will not want to miss this one.
Civilization Revolution
Civilization Revolution brings Sid Meier’s classic series to the iPad in a form that is simplified for casual gamers and yet retains much of the deeper strategy elements for the hardcore gamer. The developers clearly wanted to make a game that was easy to learn but difficult to master, and it must have been no easy task. But they succeeded. Civilization Revolution has hours of fun for those new to strategy games and the hardcore strategy game veteran who has played the PC Civilization series for years.
Great Little War Game
Great Little War Game introduces real-time strategy elements in a turn-based environment. You must collect gold and build troops just like in a standard RTS, but the turn-based context forces you to build your army intelligently rather than just massing up as many units as you can. Each level introduces new scenarios and strategies that ensure the game never gets boring. The graphics are cartoony and charming, but don’t let them fool you into thinking Great Little War Game is just for kids. Adults and veteran strategy gamers will find something to love here, too.
Legendary Wars
This castle defense game implements real time strategy elements such as resource gathering in a way that is really unique to the genre. In addition to building your army you must also mine gems, giving Legendary Wars a level of micromanagement not often seen in tower defense games.
The game play is simple at first but can become quite complex. The graphics are decent enough, although nothing to write home about. What puts Legendary Wars on this list is its unique twist on tower defense genre that makes it perfect for gamers tired of the same old, same old.
Sid Meier’s Pirates
Sid Meier’s Pirates is a title that goes all the way back to the Stone Age of gaming in the days of Commodore 64. The remake for the iPad has all of the charm and strategy of the original title, but adds modern graphics and new gameplay elements. Anyone who loved the original Pirates will want to play this reboot.
Medieval HD
Medieval HD takes the classic tower defense formula and adds an offensive element. You must not only defend your own castle but assault the opposing one as well. Medieval also adds interesting tactical elements and a physics-based combat engine that makes it a fun and unique addition to your strategy game collection.
Battleheart
Battle heart is a hybrid action RPG and real-time strategy game that starts the player off as a single knight. The real-time strategy elements begin to appear as you recruit more and more mercenaries to your side. The game consists of a series of battles punctuated by intense and memorable boss fights. The controls are tight and intuitive. Battle heart is great game for those who like a little bit of action RPG mixed in their strategy.
Tower Madness
Tower Madness is quite possibly the best castle defense game on the iPad. In Tower Madness you must defend earth’s sheep from the invading alien hordes using a variety of towers such as the artillery tower, the electrocution tower, and towers that amplify the range and damage of other towers around it.
Tower Madness is the closest thing to “pure” tower defense on this list, and it executes flawlessly. It is the perfect game both for newbies wanting to get a taste of the genre and for veterans looking for the best of the best.
This article is written by Jason Phillips. He is a guest blogger, freelance writer and father of two. His sons love to play games at www.tomandjerrygames.co
