Personally, tower defense games aren’t usually my cup of tea, so I approached D.O.T. Defence with no expectations. After spending a few hours with the tutorial and campaign, I found a game that surprised me in some areas while leaving room for improvements in others.

D.O.T. Defence is a 2026 tower defense RTS game, developed and published by Rattleaxe Games. It combines tower defense mechanics with Real-Time Strategy which also visible from its gameplay.

When I first launched the game, it welcomed me with a pixel art style game and an animated background that instantly reminded me of the old, iconic game series, Command & Conquer. The pixel graphics are also a unique choice for a game like this. The game also welcomes you with a simplistic menu UI. On the top side, you can select between the gamemodes, like Campaign, Skirmish and Wave Defence. At first, the game will warn you to not play the last two modes, saying you are not experienced enough. They will automatically unlock once you complete their levels in campaign. Since they are optional, you can totally ignore the warning message and head into them. My main focus was on the campaign, so I wrote this review based on that experience.

INTO THE FIELD

Pressing Campaign will land the player on the tutorial level, which is a quick one to do. Based off of how it looks, the game is based on multiple island levels, which is more of a platformer approach to the game. Clearing each of them will unlock the next level. They cannot be previewed until you unlock them.

The campaign menu features some valuable information. Like the difficult, which can scale from ‘Very Easy’ to ‘Very Hard’, or the Power which is the given ability for the specific level. These power abilities adds a tactical option to the game that changes how you approach the different levels.

Launching a level will welcome you to a nameless military helper who will accompany you throughout the campaign, giving you story context and necessary help. In a level you have to build your base, reinforce it so the enemy forces have a harder time taking it, while maintaining control over the map, and attacking them with your tanks, troops, and power abilities. A level ends once the enemy’s HQ will be destroyed.

CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION

The game starts off nice and slowly, understandable mechanisms and then suddenly at around level 4, you will get stuck. Level 4 tries to introduce ‘Skirmish’, which is one of the modes you unlock in the menu. It’s hard because of the gameplay. You have to aggressively, non-stop pressurize the enemy, leaving no room for error. Your power ability helps you out here big time, because it bombs the enemy, leaving less of their troops alive. But it’s also hard because of the difficulty scale. I tried it a few times on ‘Medium’ difficulty, and didn’t manage to complete the level once. Then I switched to ‘Easy’, which felt like a huge step as it was very easy to complete the level. It’s one difficulty easier, yet felt like a chasm. The level layout is also messy. It has tons of buildings which are obstructing the line of fire for your turrets, and cannons, forcing them to stand idle. This is a returning problem in later levels as well with other elements like trees and rocks.

Once that level is completed, the games keeps this chaotic pace up, throwing a time-based level at you. You have to complete the level in 15 minutes, otherwise the enemy will destroy your HQ with its nuclear bombs. This is a sudden, huge jump in difficulty scaling. The level itself is not difficult, I did it on my first try, but for new players, it can be a very overwhelming experience. This feature is inspired from C&C where nuclear weapons are also available to use in different type of forms.

Lastly, the game has an unclear movement control. The way you control your troops are that you hold your right click on them, and drag your mouse where you want them to go. But the map is full of obstacles, making a clear, straightforward path impossible to make. The map also doesn’t fit the screen, so you will have to move the screen with it by moving your mouse to the edge of your screen. This can make your path erratic, drawing U-turns, making unnecessary extra steps, which can be really frustrating. Zooming in and out is a solution for this, but doesn’t necessarily solves the issue in every scenario.

HOLDING THE LINE

Next to the drawbacks, we have some positive things as well. The game introduces new designs, like railway turrets, which are available in later levels. This shows that the developers care about the game, and try to make it their identity rather than a copy of another game.

The level-end scoreboard also contains valuable information. The layout of it was inspired by C&C, which is noticeable. First comes the player, then enemies defeated, buildings destroyed. Under the player’s stats are the AI stats, which contains the same statistics. It’s nice, clean, and there’s a progression system with it. This progression system is a level-up system. The game gives XP after every try, and level completion. These count towards the progression system, which unlocks new buildings for each modes. I think it’s a cool addition that makes the level completion more rewarding.

MISSION DEBRIEF

Despite the flaws of the game, it is still a very enjoyable game. It combines two genres, taking inspirations, while making it unique with its artstyle and design choices. If you want to play with friends, there is ‘Skirmish’, if you want the traditional tower defense mode there’s ‘Wave Defence’, or if you are looking for a campaign based RTS like Command & Conquer, this game will provide you with its campaign.

In the end, how you think the game is depends on you. I recommend it for people who likes traditional TD games and to those who are looking for a relaxing RTS experience.

Deer & Boy is a cinematic platformer that tells a story of a Deer and a Boy. Developed by Lifeline Games and published by Dear Villagers, Deer & Boy was released on June 23rd, 2026. Players play as Boy, a runaway kid who makes friends with a fawn, Deer. The two cross paths and form a close, dependent bond together—Boy protects Deer and Deer protects Boy. With no dialogue, the story is told through visuals, animated scenes, and sound. Gameplay is quite simple and straightforward. With linear progression, players travel across different settings solving puzzles and using stealth.

Deer & Boy is a good game overall. It plays very similarly to games like Limbo or Inside and holds its own in comparison. There is the extra puzzle solving mechanic of having two characters working together that works well, but overall it is pretty similar. A story being told without dialogue seems common in this style of game. Solving platforming puzzles and using stealth is, again, pretty common. Deer & Boy is simply another one added to the list, but tells its own story. I can definitely recommend picking this one up, but it depends on if you’re a fan of these kind of games or not. Personally, I think they’re alright but they aren’t something I play regularly. Regardless, Deer & Boy does the right things with just a few that I wish were improved. So, get your candles ready, because it’s time to discuss Deer & Boy!

A Runaway Boy and a Magical Deer

The story begins with Boy leaving his house late at night, checking that the person inside watching TV did not notice him leave. In the clear, he walks to a statue. The statue is of a person and a deer with photos, flowers and lit candles like it is a memoriam for someone who has passed. Boy takes a candle out of his bag, lights it and places it down on the ground before it starts to pour rain, extinguishing the flame. Feeling defeated, Boy walks away from the vigil and cuts through an active construction site, hiding from the workers so they don’t catch him.

Once successfully through the construction site, Boy spots Deer, a baby fawn who is running fast towards an oncoming car. Thankfully, the car misses Deer and Boy keeps walking on towards a bus stop. At the bus stop, Boy begins to cry before he hears a strange rustling behind him. Deer comes from behind the bus stop seemingly tired and wearingly slumps down inside the stop near Boy. Boy tries giving Deer half of his snack but Deer does not come. Eventually, Boy falls asleep.

That is just the beginning of Deer and Boy’s story. They meet again later on and after experiencing a tragedy, the two form a bond. At first, Boy carries Deer in his backpack even though the weight makes Boy unable to jump or pull himself up onto ledges. Boy must occasionally put the bag down to tackle certain puzzles, yet he refuses to wander far from it. When you try to leave Deer behind, purple shadows creep across the screen to show his rising fear. I know many of these types of games take a supernatural/horror approach. I was thinking that this would be the first (that I know of) that keeps things “in reality”, simply about the bond that a Deer and Boy make as they go on an adventure.

Needless to say, I was quite surprised when a boar sank into a strange purple goo and emerged as a huge, hulking beast. Having gone in blind, I was not expecting this sudden twist into the supernatural realm. There’s a long section where Deer and Boy hide from the boar. When Boy is face to face with the boar, Deer comes to his rescue as his antlers spark with blue light. They shine brightly against the boar and in a flash, the beast is gone. This is Deer’s magical ability—the power to remove the purple goo, also known as dark matter. This is important because if Boy stands in the dark matter for too long, he lets out a cry before falling over. In later sections, Deer will need to use his magic to remove the dark matter and clear a path.

The dark matter can seemingly infect creatures and create beats that are a danger for Boy and Deer. Strange one eye insect-like creatures crawl around the sewers and shoot laser beams out of their eyes to harm the duo. A dark matter child proves somewhat useful in being able to launch the pair over gaps or up high. A mystery of what the dark matter is and where it came from can be discovered along the way.

Over time, Deer grows up. When he matures, Deer is more graceful, able to jump further and higher than Boy. Deer has strong antlers not only with their magic but also in being able to push things to assist Boy. The nature somewhat shifts from Boy protecting Deer to Deer protecting Boy. And I must say the montage that plays when Deer grows up is quite touching.

In fact, the story overall is touching and that’s probably the best part of the game—the actual reason for playing. Sure, the puzzles and platforming is fine, but its the game’s story that carried the drive for me to play. The story has heart. It just as easily could have been a short cinematic film. With the simple gameplay mechanics, the game is almost just watching the events unfold as the pair go from one section to the next. The fact they tell the story without dialogue is yes, common for the style, but also really well done here. By the end, the game had answered all my questions and left me feeling fully satisfied.

Sound, Settings, and Simplicity

Of course to tell the story without dialogue, Lifeline Games needed to show the story through sound and settings. I have mostly only praises in these regards. The sound design shines. The forest rustles, the sewers echo, and the dark matter squelches under Boy’s steps with satisfying clarity. Even the few sounds Boy and Deer make—a sigh, a call, or Deer’s… well, deer noise—land with intention and charm. The world feels alive with sound.

The actual settings have depth. Though the path is quite linear, the surrounding area clearly has depth to it. The game doesn’t feel flat, even though it just as easily could be. Though this is common for these types of games, one thing that Deer & Boy does have is color. At times, it’s bright with color, especially in the outside areas. Visually the game is quite pleasing to the eye. The linear path blends beautifully in with the rest of the environment, though occasionally it may blend in a little too much. Sometimes it was a little difficult to know exactly where to go. The below picture is a good example. Instead of trying to jump across, you are actually supposed to climb down to the other ledge. It seems obvious now, but at the time, I was unsure of how to proceed.

Overall, Deer & Boy is detailed in sound and design, but it has that simplicity that I can appreciate. I love how both Boy and Deer look as characters and the simple design choices the developers used. They didn’t even give Boy a proper name, which I love! The game uses sound with real purpose, and the environments create a sense of depth that makes the world feel three‑dimensional even though the gameplay stays mostly two‑dimensional. A few routes blend into the scenery more than they should, but that minor flaw hardly detracts from my time with the game.

Platforming Puzzles and Stealth Sections

There isn’t a whole lot to say when it comes to the game’s puzzles and stealth sections simply because for the most part, they don’t feel any different from games of similar style. Gameplay is done by going from left to right with only a few moments where that differ. Some sections require the pair to clear a path. Boy can rip down boards, push/pull certain objects, climb up ledges and ladders, and jump a reasonable distance. When Boy is carrying Deer as a fawn, he can no longer pull himself up onto a ledge or jump, but can still perform other actions. Once Deer is travelling beside Boy, Boy can guide Deer to squeeze under gaps and interact with objects, such as buttons, that Boy can not get to. By guiding Deer, the two work together which feels different from other games as many only feature a solo-character.

In stealth sections, the duo will need to hide from sight of something in the background, like adults or the boar. Players will need to time their actions to know when to hide and when to sneak past. Sometimes this might involve some trial and error, but personally I prefer the stealth sections over the platform puzzles. There is a heightened tensity to these moments that I enjoy, especially when it is one of the dark matter creatures you are hiding from. In fact, I wish there were at least one or two more stealth sections. The game could have used the extra oomph to tensity at specific moments. Other moments do require you to run away from something chasing you, which also have this tensity to them, but the stealth sections were preferable.

Gameplay does change up a bit near the game’s end with the inclusion of a third, the dark matter Boy, a segment of walking around looking for memories, and traversing upward. However, none of these make a huge impact on the gameplay. At its core, the mechanics are something I was expecting with this type of game. I wasn’t shocked or surprised by any particular moment. Though this may sound like a negative, I personally think its a positive. It may not have been truly unique in these regards, but it holds its own. It is hard to argue with a formula that just works.

A Lasting Friendship

Overall, Deer & Boy is a good game. The sound and settings work incredibly well, creating a world that feels both cohesive and alive. The world feels bright with color but can also feel dark and gloomy when it needs to. The overall design delivers plenty of detail while staying simple in execution. Sounds help make the world feel alive. The story is touching and has heart to it. It’s a story of friendship and grief, wanting to run away from your problems with a friend only to find out that you were running towards them the whole time. Without dialogue, the game shows its narrative to players instead of telling it. I had questions but by the game’s end, I had my answers.

Gameplay met my expectations. It covered everything that I was anticipating with a few sections that broke away—and for me that’s a positive. It is definitely recommendable to fans of platforming puzzle games like this, such as Limbo or Inside. If you aren’t a fan of those games, you probably wouldn’t care too much for this one. And if you’re unfamiliar altogether, I’d still recommend this one for the story and design alone. It deserves its currently Very Positive review rating on Steam, and I can’t wait to see what Lifeline Games does next.

Watch out for dark matter and thank you for reading!