Guardians of Holme is a tower defense game that released its early access version on June 16th, 2023. It seamlessly blends rogue-like and deckbuilding elements. In Guardians of Holme, players must strategically position potent traps to fend off relentless waves of enemies and make good decisions to acquire valuable items, traps, or upgrades after each battle.
Guardians of Holme employs a familiar combat formula, much like other 2D tower defense games. The objective for players is to safeguard their core on the map from hordes of enemies, primarily orcs, which emerge from one or multiple entrances. The game provides a clear pathway for the enemies to follow, allowing players to strategically position a range of traps along the route to deliver devastating blows to the approaching enemies.
A screenshot of Guardians of Holme shows the hint UI of the enemies’ marching route.
What sets Guardians of Holme apart is its incorporation of a deckbuilding system into the tower defense combat. At the start, players draw five traps from their deck, with the ability to draw a new trap after using one from their hand. This means that if the player hasn't optimized their deck, they may find themselves having to place less-effective traps initially and rely on drawing their best traps. Following each battle, players are presented with a strategic decision akin to playing a deckbuilding rogue-like game, where they must carefully consider whether to add, remove, or upgrade the traps in their deck.
A screenshot of Guardians of Holme.
For players who have successfully constructed a strong deck, the combat experience becomes highly rewarding. They can strategically position roadblocks to create chokepoints, deploy oil tar traps to impede the enemy's progress, and mount auto machine guns on walls for a devastating barrage. With numerous trap combinations to explore, players can find their favorite strategies to execute them with precision.
A screenshot of the combat in Guardians of Holme.
In Guardians of Holme, players will encounter an array of challenging enemies that will test their strategic skills. These foes include powerful wizards capable of healing their orc allies, flying units that can find alternate routes to evade defenses, and heavily armored bosses with incredible durability. As a rogue-like game, each combat encounter in Guardians of Holme incorporates random elements, making every battle unique and keeping the game fresh. Players must be prepared for unexpected challenges, as there are no second chances. Failure to adapt to unforeseen obstacles will result in defeat when the situation takes a turn for the worse.
A screenshot of the enemy codex in Guardians of Holme.
Guardians of Holme is in the early access stage with two characters, Seth and Nicole. Each one has a large number of traps and relics, providing unique playstyles. The development team is committed to continuous improvement and will eagerly incorporate feedback during the early access phase. Plans for new characters, traps, artifacts, and game modes are in preparation.
Source: Steam