There are plenty of ways to build a fortress, but Fortress Merge wants you to do it one tile at a time.
This free-to-play strategy game has arrived on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC, combining building, merging and tower defence as you attempt to keep increasingly nasty monsters away from your kingdom.
And with the base game available for free, there’s little stopping you from finding out whether your fortress-building skills are up to the task.
At A Glance
- Game: Fortress Merge
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
- Price: Free
- Publisher: QubicGames
- Developer: TapNation & Tartatin
- Genre: Strategy / Tower Defence
Build It, Merge It, Defend It
Fortress Merge seems to be pretty straightforward. Place buildings around your fortress, merge matching structures to make them stronger, and then prepare for waves of enemies.
Your army can include knights, horsemen, archers and mages, while turrets and barricades provide another layer of protection. The opposition isn’t exactly short on variety either, with skeletons, slimes, dragons and giants among the threats waiting to tear your carefully constructed fortress apart.
The trick is making sure everything has its place.
Space Is Your Biggest Resource
Your fortress has limited space, meaning every tile needs to earn its keep. Trees can be cleared to open up new areas, while buildings need to be positioned carefully to leave room for future merges and defensive structures.
Gold mines provide another consideration, generating additional income during waves but also requiring protection from attackers. That money can then be spent on rerolls, giving you a chance to find more useful buildings.
As you level up, you’ll also choose new bonuses, allowing you to adapt your strategy as each battle develops.
Heroes Join The Fight
Fortress Merge isn’t entirely about the buildings. Three heroes can take to the battlefield alongside your forces, each bringing their own statistics, combat skill and permanent bonus.
Heroes can be upgraded and equipped with gear, giving you another way to strengthen your defence and tailor your approach to the challenges ahead.
Alongside the main battles, there are three challenge modes – Grand Battle, Boss Fight and Hero Battle – while different environments and layouts mean you can’t simply rely on one fortress design.
Free To Play, With Plenty Of Extra
The standard version of Fortress Merge is free on Xbox and PC, although there are plenty of optional purchases available for anyone wanting to accelerate their progress or pick up additional content.
The Fortress Merge: Strong Start Pack costs £4.19 and includes the base game alongside the Satchel of Gems – 1200 Pack. There’s also a Deluxe Edition for £16.74, bundling the game with the 1200-gem pack, Claire Pack DLC and 2500 additional gems.
There are plenty of other gem packs and DLC options too, ranging from £0.79 up to £41.74.
There’s even a Fortress Merge & Cup Heroes: Starter Edition for £8.39, which bundles both free-to-play games with additional currency.
We previously took a look at Cup Heroes, and came away with a 3/5. That review highlighted how an enjoyable opening could eventually give way to bugs, awkward pacing and a grind that made the free-to-play model increasingly difficult to ignore. Fortress Merge obviously takes a different route with its combination of merging, fortress building and tower defence, but the comparison is worth keeping in mind for anyone wondering how far they want to dive into another free-to-play experience.
For fans of strategic defence games who like the idea of constantly tinkering with their setup, Fortress Merge is now ready to put those building skills to the test on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
