Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap: A Fresh Take on Tower Defense Chaos

I haven’t played a tower defense game in almost a decade, but Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap quickly brought back the old reflexes as I faced down hordes of orcs trying to storm my rift. This latest entry in the series expands upon the franchise’s signature blend of third-person action and strategic tower defense while adding more layers of cooperative mayhem.

For those unfamiliar, Orcs Must Die! tasks players with setting traps and taking direct action to protect a rift from waves of rampaging orcs. The original Orcs Must Die! was widely praised for its mix of strategic planning and frantic combat back in 2011, and its 2012 sequel improved upon that formula. However, it seemed the world had moved on—so much so that I didn’t even realize Orcs Must Die! 3 had come out in 2021. But here we are again with Deathtrap, bringing that old formula back with a fresh twist.

The biggest new feature in Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is the jump from two-player co-op to four-player co-op, which introduces an extra level of chaos to the game. Each war mage has unique abilities that bring variety to the battlefield, like healing trees or massive area-of-effect attacks. As waves of orcs pour in from multiple entry points, players must deploy new perks and traps to slow, redirect, and obliterate their enemies. By the final waves, the battlefield can turn into a laser-filled death gauntlet reminiscent of the trap-laden scenes from Resident Evil.

Despite its nostalgic roots, Deathtrap feels fresh, offering modern twists and frantic energy that make it feel new. If Robot Entertainment can hook new players while recapturing the old fanbase, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap could be a major success when it launches early next year