Tide and Tower

Tide and Tower is a strategy game about defending shoreline settlements against waves that rise and recede. What sets it apart is that the map itself changes with the tide, opening and closing paths, so a wall you placed perfectly can become useless an hour later.

You manage resources, decide where to build, and react to enemy waves that escalate cleverly. Early levels ease you in, then it starts asking real questions about your priorities. I lost a few maps simply because I over-invested in one flank.

Sessions can run a bit long compared to the other games here, so it's more of a lean-back-at-home pick. But the puzzle of reading the tide never got old for me.

What we liked

• Shifting maps keep you adapting
• Smart, escalating waves
• Rewards planning over spamming