Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD

Verdict

If tower defence has a house style, Ironhide drew it. Alliance is the fifth Kingdom Rush and the first to let you field two heroes at once and mix towers from both the Linirean and Dark Army sides, so a level might have paladins next to necromancers. The feel is exactly what fans want: readable lanes, chunky towers, comic-timing enemies and a hero you babysit with the mouse.

It is also a short campaign at release, under ten hours for most players, and the three add-on campaigns that followed are the clear answer to that, each a few pounds and a few hours. Taken together it is a very complete game at a very fair price; taken alone it is a lovely weekend.

Towers 17 of 20

Seventeen towers across the two factions, each with two fourth-tier specialisations and three abilities, plus fifteen heroes who level across the campaign. Mixing factions is the new idea and it is a good one, though a few of the Dark towers are plainly better than their counterparts.

Lanes 17 of 20

Twenty-two hand-drawn stages with two or three lanes, flags where paths cross and a secret or two per map. They are read at a glance, which is the series' great gift, and they rarely surprise, which is its limit.

Waves 16 of 20

Enemies telegraph their trick (flying, healing, armoured, splitting) and the campaign climbs steadily to a satisfying last stand. Heroic and Iron challenges add real bite. Boss fights are set pieces more than puzzles.

Economy 18 of 20

Gold from kills, a fixed starting purse per level, and star upgrades between them. Clean and fair, no in-game currency to buy, and the add-ons are priced like add-ons. The only paid thing is more game.

Longevity 15 of 20

Three difficulties, two challenge modes per level and three add-on campaigns. No endless mode, no co-op, and once the stars are collected there is little reason to return.

In pictures

Report written against the Steam build current on 31 October 2026; prices read the same day.