Tower defence games are a weakness of mine. I love trying out new ones, enjoying the themes and strategies of them. So, to find one within the Jingle Jam Games Collection was a nice surprise. Orcs Must Die! 3 provides a full 3D world with heroes to control and place the traps. It’s a lot of fun, with some hectic moments across the waves of enemies. Robot Entertainment know what they’re doing. Obviously, since this is the third game.

From the off, I found the controls easy to use. The hero I controlled had a magic bow that fired mystic arrows, able to cut down enemies from afar. The starting two traps fired arrows from walls and brought spikes from the ground. In the first fight, I used them effectively to keep the orcs away from the rift. With the first battle won, I got some skulls to spend on new traps.

The first new trap I bought was a floor tile able to burn enemies. And I loved using it as much as possible. It might have been more expensive to place than the other two, but it was so effective. Especially when upgraded. New traps and items are also unlocked upon the completion of each mission, with items also sharing the same bar as the traps can be placed. Not everything can be placed on that bar, which is where the inventory screen comes into play.

As well as showing everything I’ve unlocked, the inventory screen also shows what enemies will be appearing during the mission. This allows for some planning in what traps to use for striking the enemy weaknesses. Or just spam the floor with a load of spikes and fire. Like, seriously. I have so much fun burning every enemy that comes toward the rift. But that alone isn’t going to help win the day.

Strategy is important. Especially for getting all five skulls from each mission. Which I have been doing, restarting if anything gets through my defences. There are multiple routes enemies can travel, with multiple lanes enemies will start arriving from. Getting traps down in the right places to thin numbers, while keeping an eye on the map to be ready to strike at those close to getting through. But it’s not just about not letting anything through, as that fifth skull is awarded for beating the par completion time.

Some of the missions are known as War Scenarios. These are the regular tower defence gameplay but on a larger scale. Many more enemies per wave. War Scenario-specific traps, some of which can be manned. And bosses on the final wave that can seriously upend what I’ve been building up. First time I played one of these, I felt it was going so well. No defences breached at all. Then the boss arrived and ripped up so many traps I was quickly overwhelmed.

All of this I’ve been talking of has been experienced through the first campaign, which I’m not even done with yet. There are further campaigns to play through, whether solo or with a partner in co-op. Weekly challenges and an endless mode are available to play, providing different challenges than those of the campaign hold. Endless is such a great mode to really test skills, and earn a few extra skulls across any map.

I am very much liking Orcs Must Die! 3. The approach taken to missions is completely up to the player, finding a strategy that works for them. My own burn ‘em all alive approach is working well, but I’m certain at some point it will become less effective when enemies appear who are not weak against fire damage. But that’s why there’s so many traps that each have their own elemental effects.

And for those who want to dive into some lore, Orcs Must Die! 3 has that, too. These campaigns have a story, with this first showing the training of two new apprentices of the rebuilt order. With so much to enjoy about it, I can easily recommend Orcs Must Die! 3. I’m super invested in defending the rifts and messing about with what the game offers.

If you also want to enjoy the delights of Orcs Must Die! 3, you can do so by getting your hands on the Jingle Jam Games Collection. For a donation of £35 or more, you help support eight great charities and get this plus 17 other games. Games such as Two Point Campus, Citizen Sleeper, and Fights in Tight Spaces. But get in quick, as Jingle Jam ends at the close of 14/December.

Images Taken From:
Orcs Must Die! 3 | Steam