A year ago, two developers at Rattleaxe Games decided to learn Godot by recreating an old prototype they’d enjoyed. That decision spawned D.O.T. Defence, an action RTS/tower defense hybrid that’s now in early access on Steam and proving that some of the best indie games come from teams just trying to mess around and see what works.
Launched in April 2025, D.O.T. Defence is a love letter to old StarCraft custom maps mixed with Advance Wars visuals, Battalion Wars mechanics, and modern tower defense systems. The result is a game where you build towers, generate armies, and command them to destroy enemy HQs in real-time tactical combat. It’s chaotic, it’s beautiful, and it’s exactly the kind of weird hybrid genre that AAA publishers would reject immediately.
StarCraft Custom Maps Meets Tower Defense
D.O.T. Defence takes the resource-generation economy of classic tower defense games and combines it with the army commanding mechanics of real-time strategy. You place towers that generate resources and spawn units. Those units follow your commands to attack enemy positions. As you expand your territory, you control more resource points and can spawn stronger armies. It’s a feedback loop that feels instantly satisfying.
The core mechanic is beautifully simple: you build towers in your controlled territory, those towers generate infantry and vehicles, you command those units to attack enemy positions, and destroying the enemy HQ wins the game. But beneath that simplicity lies surprising strategic depth. Tower placement matters. Unit composition matters. Knowing when to expand territory versus defending matters.
12 Turret Types, 5 Commanders
Rather than forcing everyone into the same building pool, D.O.T. Defence gives you loadout variety. Five different commanders each have unique special abilities. Twelve different turret types offer varied tactical options. A turret tower creates infantry. A cannon provides long-range firepower. Sandbags make infantry tougher. The diversity means two identical players can have completely different games based on their loadout choices.
This variety transforms skirmish matches from deterministic matches into strategic puzzle-solving. What’s the best loadout for this map? How do I counter my opponent’s unit composition? Building the right strategy before the match even starts is half the battle.
Three Game Modes for Different Vibes
D.O.T. Defence offers three completely different ways to play. Campaign mode teaches you mechanics while presenting engaging challenge maps. Wave Defense is the traditional tower defense experience – waves of enemies incoming, you survive them all. Skirmish is the RTS chaos – you against AI or friends in head-to-head matches.
Each mode has its own appeal. Campaign is perfect for learning. Wave Defense is perfect for relaxed solo sessions. Skirmish is where the competitive chaos happens. All three feel fully-featured, not like afterthoughts.
1v1, 2v2, or Free-For-All Madness
Multiplayer supports 1v1 duels, 2v2 team battles, or 3-4 player free-for-all fights. Local co-op works great, and the game is optimized for gamepad controls (though mouse and keyboard work fine). Watching a 2v2 match with friends controlling units simultaneously is absolute chaos in the best way possible.
The multiplayer design choices show real understanding of local co-op gaming. Four people can jump in, grab controllers, and immediately have fun. It’s the kind of game that makes family game night actually interesting.
Godot Success Story
D.O.T. Defence is built in Godot, the open-source game engine that’s been gaining momentum as developers seek alternatives to Unity and Unreal. The fact that Rattleaxe Games started this as a learning project for Godot and ended up with an impressive, polished early access title says everything about Godot’s capability for 2D games.
The art direction is inspired by Advance Wars, giving D.O.T. Defence a distinctive visual style that immediately stands out. Rather than chasing photorealism, the developers leaned into tactical game aesthetics – clear units, readable information, vibrant colors. The result is a game that’s gorgeous to look at precisely because it prioritizes visual clarity.
From Game Jam to Early Access
The original prototype was created for a local multiplayer game jam. The team enjoyed it so much they decided to keep developing it. After a year of work alongside the project lead learning Godot, they hit early access in April 2025. That trajectory – from jam to shipped product – represents the indie dream.
Rattleaxe Games understands what makes games fun: clear mechanics, visual feedback, local multiplayer chaos, and strategic depth. They didn’t overcomplicate their concept. They focused on executing the core idea beautifully, then expanded from there.
Current Status and Demo Availability
D.O.T. Defence is available in early access on Steam right now. A free demo is available that lets you try multiple modes and maps before deciding to purchase. The game supports Windows PC with gamepad and mouse/keyboard controls. Console versions are planned for later this year after the Steam early access period.
The development team is active on Discord with regular updates and community engagement. This isn’t a “ship and ghost” early access title – Rattleaxe Games is genuinely invested in growing D.O.T. Defence with their community.
FAQs
When did D.O.T. Defence enter early access?
D.O.T. Defence launched in early access on Steam in April 2025. It’s currently available on PC (Windows).
Can I try it before buying?
Yes, a free demo is available on Steam that includes multiple maps and game modes. You can play an extensive portion of the game for free.
What platforms is it available on?
D.O.T. Defence is currently on Windows PC via Steam. Console versions are planned for later in 2025 after the early access period concludes.
Is this game multiplayer or single-player?
Both. The campaign is single-player. Wave Defense supports solo or co-op. Skirmish supports 1v1, 2v2, and free-for-all matches against AI or friends. Local co-op is fully supported with gamepad controls.
What’s the difference between game modes?
Campaign teaches mechanics through progressive challenges. Wave Defense is traditional tower defense against waves of enemies. Skirmish is competitive RTS matches where you control territory and build armies to destroy enemy HQs.
Is this game finished or still in development?
It’s in early access, meaning it’s receiving updates and improvements based on community feedback. The core game is feature-complete and fully playable.
How much does D.O.T. Defence cost?
Pricing varies by region but is typically in the $10-15 range. The free demo lets you try extensively before purchasing.
What inspired D.O.T. Defence?
Old StarCraft custom maps for the economic system, Advance Wars for visuals, Battalion Wars and Tooth & Tail for gameplay mechanics. The developers drew inspiration from classic strategy games rather than chasing current trends.
Conclusion
D.O.T. Defence proves that sometimes the best indie games come from developers just trying to learn an engine and have fun with it. Rattleaxe Games took a game jam prototype, spent a year polishing it in Godot, and shipped a genuinely impressive tower defense/RTS hybrid with depth, visual charm, and outstanding local co-op support. The early access launch in April 2025 brought a game that feels like a spiritual successor to old StarCraft custom maps while maintaining modern accessibility. If you’re looking for strategic depth without RTS intimidation, beautiful Advance Wars-inspired visuals, and the kind of chaos that comes from local multiplayer, D.O.T. Defence absolutely deserves your attention. Download the free demo on Steam, grab some friends, and prepare for tower defense matches that turn into 2v2 competitive battles. This is exactly the kind of weird, wonderful indie game that makes gaming special.