Kingdom Rush Origins

Kingdom Rush Origins took a different path than the previous two games in 2014 – instead of continuing the story, it offered a prequel set in the ancient history of the elven kingdom, long before the events of the first game. This let Ironhide Game Studio deploy an entirely new set of towers, heroes, and enemies matching the elven, magic-infused aesthetic, without having to worry about continuity with the already established story.

The basic tower defense mechanics remained untouched – placing towers along the enemy's path, upgrading them, and deploying heroes at the right moment – but the new setting brought towers based on nature magic and a different visual language than the more austere kingdom of the first game. Touch controls again stuck to the series' proven standard, so switching between installments was seamless for players and required no new getting used to the controls.

Origins was especially appreciated by series fans for offering a fresh take on the same mechanics without risking unnecessary experiments with the core gameplay. For newcomers to the series, it could also serve as an entry point thanks to its independence from the main storyline, without the player losing the feeling of seeing a complete and well-thought-out piece of a fantasy world with everything that comes with it.

Why play it: Suitable both for series fans craving a fresh aesthetic and heroes, and for newcomers who want to try Kingdom Rush without needing to know the previous games.