#13
Kingdom Rush Vengeance is the most approachable fantasy tower defense on this list, and there is a strong case for putting it higher if you are recommending to someone who is new to the genre. Clear lane design, readable tower roles, heroes with active abilities, and campaign levels that teach you gradually rather than overwhelming you at the start. The depth is lighter than the top-tier strategy picks, and the mobile-first history shows in some of the interface choices. Still, if someone asks me for a starting point for classic TD that is not overwhelming, this is the name I give them.