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Defender II vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Defender II's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Defender II
This App
Grow Castle
Nemesis
Stickman Defense: Cartoon Wars
Contender
Archer Forest: Idle Defense
Contender
Wild Castle TD
Contender
Days Bygone - Castle Defense
Contender
Summoner's Greed
Peer
Rush Royale
Peer
Bloons TD 6
Peer
Kingdom Rush Vengeance
Peer
Core Identity
DeveloperDROIDHEN LIMITEDYONG OK PARKOneSoft GlobalGame DuoFunovus LLCFuzhou 8864PixioMY.GAMESNinja KiwiIronhide S.A.
CategoryGamesGames--Games---GamesGames
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, Android--Android, iOS---iOS, AndroidiOS
Store Metrics
Rating4.2 / 54.5 / 5--4.9 / 5---4.9 / 54.8 / 5
Ratings Count1,0712,191--3,879---337,77839,342
PriceFreeFree--Free---$6.99$4.99
Release DateSep 10, 2012Jul 18, 2016--Nov 10, 2020---Jun 14, 2018Nov 22, 2018
Last UpdatedApr 1, 2025Jan 7, 2026--May 6, 2026---Apr 22, 2026Mar 16, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentmixed---positive---excellentexcellent
Score65/100---85/100---85/10090/100
Praises
  • Nostalgic core gameplay loop provides long-term entertainment value for returning players
---
  • Simple and addictive tower defense mechanics provide an effective way to pass time
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  • Ad-Free Experience
  • Gameplay Depth and Replayability
  • Strategic depth of tower combinations
Complaints
  • Lack of cloud save or account binding causes permanent progress loss when switching devices
---
  • Aggressive monetization and paywalls hinder progression for free to play users
---
  • Forced Online Updates
  • Technical Performance and Crashes
  • Difficulty spikes in later stages
Requests
  • Implementation of cloud saving or account synchronization to protect player progress
---
  • Improved tutorial sequences for new players to better explain core game mechanics
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  • More frequent content updates
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Nostalgic core loop sustains decade-long retention
  • High-impact combat feedback drives immediate gratification
  • Massive hero roster (80+ units) providing deep strategic variety
  • Long-term stability and dedicated legacy player base since 2016
  • Optimized 2D performance with low hardware requirements
--
  • Idle-friendly resource loops maximize daily active habit
  • High-fidelity visual presentation sustains casual appeal
---
  • Deep meta-progression via Monkey Knowledge and Paragon systems
  • Strong brand equity as a 'no-ads' premium experience
  • Robust UGC ecosystem through the Content Browser
  • Offline-first architecture removes connectivity friction for mobile users
  • Narrative-driven campaign structure creates a distinct identity vs sandbox rivals
Weaknesses
  • No cloud-save despite high user request volume
  • Aggressive ad-monetization degrades core experience
  • Dated visual aesthetic compared to modern 3D competitors
  • Complex UI for managing large unit rosters
  • Lack of modern live-ops features like seasonal battle passes
--
  • Offline resource generation bugs erode user trust
  • Aggressive monetization limits free-to-play progression
---
  • Forced update loops hindering offline play
  • Late-game performance lag (Round 200+)
  • Chromebook compatibility issues
  • $4.99 entry price limits new user acquisition
  • Lack of social multiplayer features reduces long-term retention
Pricingfreemiumfreemium--freemium---paidpaid
MomentumMaintenanceMaintenance--Active---IntenseIntense
Update Cadence2 versions, ~371d avg1 versions--5 versions, ~6d avg---5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~15d avg5 versions

Compare Defender II head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Defender II, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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