Tower Defense Gets a Crowd: Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted and a Latest Challenger

The lane-based tower defense genre is experiencing a resurgence, with recent releases including Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, Heroes Battle Awakening, and Defending Camelot – Tower Defense Action. Whereas Defending Camelot offers a substantial amount of content, its execution feels dated and lacks the polish of its contemporaries.

A Familiar Formula

Defending Camelot – Tower Defense Action, initially released on PC in 2018 and recently brought to Xbox, immediately feels familiar to fans of Plants vs. Zombies. Players defend five lanes against waves of enemies, deploying units like farmers (currency generators), knights (ranged attackers), scarecrows (blockers), and magi (slowers). The game features 44 units, including variations, and 160 levels, offering a considerable amount of gameplay.

Content Rich, But Lacking Polish

Despite the sheer volume of content, Defending Camelot suffers from control issues and a lack of refinement. Cursor placement on console is described as fiddly and inaccurate, leading to frustrating misplacements during intense moments. The game’s randomness in enemy wave composition also detracts from strategic depth, as players cannot reliably memorize patterns or leverage knowledge to their advantage.

Brutal Difficulty and RNG Dependence

The game’s difficulty is high, often requiring players to rely on luck and persistence to overcome challenging levels. The reliance on random number generation (RNG) can develop some levels feel impossible without favorable enemy spawns. A limited in-game currency system for power-ups further exacerbates the difficulty, often requiring players to grind older levels to progress.

Comparison to Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted

Reviewers have noted that while Defending Camelot offers more content than Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, it doesn’t necessarily offer a better experience. The control issues, randomness, and brutal difficulty of Defending Camelot make it feel ungainly and less enjoyable, particularly on console. Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, a remaster of the 2009 classic, features upscaled HD graphics, new game modes, and local co-op play, released in October 2025. Learn more about Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted.

Key Takeaways

• Defending Camelot – Tower Defense Action offers a large amount of content with 160 levels and 44 units.
• The game suffers from control issues, particularly on console, and a reliance on random number generation.
• Its high difficulty and limited currency system can lead to frustrating gameplay.
• Compared to newer titles like Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, Defending Camelot feels dated and lacks polish.

Defending Camelot – Tower Defense Action may appeal to hardcore tower defense fans seeking a challenging experience, but its flaws prevent it from reaching the same level of enjoyment as more refined titles in the genre.