The rise of smartphones turned titles like Plants vs. Zombies and Kingdom Rush into global phenomena, redefining the genre for casual audiences. 2. Core Game Mechanics
The genre truly defined itself through custom maps in Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games such as StarCraft (1998) and Warcraft III (2002) . The rise of smartphones turned titles like Plants vs
Browser-based games like Desktop Tower Defense (2007) and the original Bloons Tower Defense catapulted the genre into mainstream popularity due to their simple mechanics and accessibility. Core Game Mechanics The genre truly defined itself
The genre is a subgenre of strategy games where the primary goal is to prevent enemies from reaching a specific point by placing defensive structures along their path. Originally emerging from arcade classics and custom map mods, it has grown into a diverse and multi-billion dollar industry. 1. Evolution and History Originally emerging from arcade classics and custom map