TDS: Tower Destiny Survive

What happens in play

The idea of TDS is a mix of tower defence and driving. Instead of a fixed tower, your base is a cart that moves through a zombie-filled city. Before and during a level you add blocks to the vehicle, place weapons on it, and decide how the whole thing is laid out. The weapons Poki names are flamethrowers and traps, so part of the game is working out which ones go where.

Energy is the second resource to watch. Weapons draw on it, so a cart packed with guns is not automatically a strong cart. The level is cleared when your build holds up against the waves, which makes the order of your choices matter as much as your reaction time. You click or tap to choose options and to shoot, so the same play works with a mouse and with a finger. A sensible first level is to keep the build small, learn what each weapon does, and see how energy runs down when the waves arrive. Once you know the pattern, rebuild with the lessons from that attempt. This loop of build, test and adjust is the core of the game, and it explains why the same level can feel different on a second try. It also means a failed attempt still teaches you something useful.

Between waves you collect coins for the zombies you bring down, and you spend them on upgrades for the cart and its gear. The game gets harder the further you go, so an upgrade that felt generous in the first levels will not carry you for long. Expect to rebuild your layout several times as the waves change. It helps to think of each level as a small design problem. The cart is your only base, so every block you add changes what you can fit on it, how much energy it needs and how well it copes when zombies reach it. Poki lists other SayGames titles such as Decor Life, My Perfect Hotel and Johnny Trigger, which gives a sense of the studio's focus on easy-to-pick-up mobile-style play.

Buttons you need

• Click / tapChoose options and shoot

Small advice

1. 1Treat energy as a budget: before adding another weapon, check that the ones you already have can still be powered.
2. 2Mix weapon types. Poki lists flamethrowers and traps, and a layout that relies on one kind leaves gaps.
3. 3Spend coins on the cart itself as well as on gear; a stronger base gives your layout room to grow.
4. 4If a level ends badly, change one thing in the build and try again, so you can see what made the difference.
5. 5Shoot with purpose rather than constantly; use the moments between waves to rearrange.

Right for

Players who enjoy building and tuning a setup, and who are happy to work through a few attempts at a level. It also fits anyone who wants an action game that does not rely on fast aiming. It is also a sensible choice for a phone or tablet, because the only input is a click or a tap.

Downsides

— The game gets harder as you progress, so early levels are not a good guide to later ones.

— Upgrades are paid for with coins earned in play, which can mean repeating levels to afford the next step.

— Poki shows a short ad break around play sessions.

— The zombie theme and combat may not suit everyone.

— Because the game keeps getting harder, a layout that worked once may need to be reworked, which some players find tiring and others find the best part.

Questions

Games on a nearby sheet

• Cars Thief →Another game where a vehicle carries you through a city, with a very different aim.
• Hill Climb Racing Lite →Also built around earning coins and upgrading a vehicle between runs.