Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin (2025)

Defender’s Quest 2: Mists of Ruin is going to offer up some happy times to people who’ve been wanting more of this particular franchise’s jaunty style and accessible RPG/defense gameplay. I also believe this game is a good option for new players, with some familiar bits from other genres — I really like the skill trees, for some reason — and a pause function that also allows you to catch your breath, move tactically, and even aim your ship’s weapons. That removes a lot of stress from real time gaming. While my review copy did have some issues, they were disclosed up front and I’m confident in this developer’s ability to go after any big problems swiftly enough that most people aren’t going to know they were ever present. And with an interesting story featuring some genuinely great characters, there’s more than enough reason to give Defender’s Quest 2: Mists of Ruin a good, solid try even if you’re not normally a tower defense fan. A pleasant surprise, and a great way to zone out from the world for a little while.