There are very few video games out there that have managed to reach such a loved and dedicated fan following as PopCap’s Plants vs. Zombies. It seems like every time I log onto Facebook these days, I see fans of the cutesy “flower defense” game posting pictures of PvZ birthday cakes, elaborate zombie setups in their backyards, or their newborn babies dressed up as little Peashooters. Plants vs. Zombies Adventures takes this fun-loving obsession on the open road in a new social setting, and if my time spent with the game is anything to go by, then we’re going to be seeing plenty more creative ways to express our love of this franchise for many miles (and brains) to come.

Sanctum 2 blends the action-packed first-person shooter genre with the strategic elements of tower defense games, and as a "Jack of all trades, master of none," it isn't particularly strong as either. But to employ yet another overused cliché – the whole being greater than the sum of its parts – it nonetheless manages to be an intense and surprisingly fun multiplayer blast-fest.

Anomaly 2 is a well-polished and intense addition to the unusual "tower offense" sub-genre, but while its new "convoy-versus-towers" multiplayer twist is an interesting idea, in execution it leaves a little bit to be desired.

Ninjas can do a lot of cool stuff, but they're not necessarily in their element when it comes to naval battles. Hence, they might need some assistance when Ninja Raft hits iOS and Android later this year. It's tower defense with a wrinkle as the ninjas try to fight off pirates aboard a big freaking raft. How can that last sentence not at least want to make you read on?

Most tower defense games revolve around placing obstacles and weapons along pathways so you can crush your enemy before they make their way to your tower. This formula has worked countless times in the past. What's less common is when your tower is your primary source of offense. Hills of Glory 3D takes the typical tower defense model and turns your defenseless tower into a killing machine.

Japanese game studio Inis has produced some of the best rhythm games in the genre, including Gitaroo Man for the PlayStation 2, Elite Beat Agents for the Nintendo DS, and Lips for the Xbox 360. But sometimes you need to take a break from your favorite records. Inis is hanging up its mandolin long enough to make Eden to Green, a “tower offense” game for iOS and Android.

First-person shooters are cool. Tower defense games are cool. It only makes sense, then, that putting them together will result in coolness squared, which is what Coffee Stain Studio is aiming for with Sanctum 2. 

What’s the biggest casual game of all time?  Believe it or not, that’s surprisingly tough to say.  Bejeweled has held millions of players in its trance for more than a decade.  Tetris has done the same for even longer than that.  But Plants vs. Zombies?  While it may not be greying at the temples like those other classics, it’s seen little resistance in its attempt to take over the gaming world in just a few short years.

Go Home Dinosaurs is a cute little game that channels a serious Plants vs. Zombies vibe into a more conventional tower defense setting. It doesn't have quite the refinement of its world-famous predecessor, but its blend of simple gameplay and family-friendly styling make it worth some attention, especially if you're after some light digital entertainment for your kids that doesn't take itself too seriously.

You know the phrase, “Have fun storming the castle?” That never made much sense to me, because castles really don't seem like they'd be fun to storm. What could be fun is having your own castle and leading knights, wizards, archers and the like to battle, which conveniently is exactly what Castle Champions allows you to do on your iOS device. Build on the homefront and battle in the field with absolutely no storming required.