Swordtail

From first move to first result

A defence adventure where you collect resources, craft equipment and hold off monster waves, with a mode for two players. It suits players who like building up gear between fights.

Swordtail is about defending a kingdom. Waves of monsters come at it, and you spend the time between them gathering resources, crafting items and upgrading your gear. There is also a two-player mode.

Movement is by WASD or the arrow keys, or by clicking and dragging. Escape pauses. The game does not use a separate attack button: you walk close to a resource to collect it and close to an enemy to attack it. That makes position the main skill.

Resources feed crafting, and crafting feeds the next wave. That cycle is the structure of the game: gather, make, upgrade, defend, and repeat.

The studio, 7Spot Games, has made other games listed on Poki such as Duo Survival, Duo Vikings and Truck Loader. The Poki page lists desktop, phone and tablet.

The game moves in a rhythm between preparation and defence. Before a wave you walk around collecting what the area offers. During the wave you hold off monsters. After it you craft and upgrade, and the cycle begins again.

Because gathering and fighting both happen by walking close to something, the whole game is about where you stand. Resources, enemies and the kingdom you are protecting all sit in the same space, so choosing a route matters.

The two-player mode changes the balance. With a partner, one person can gather while the other protects, and crafting becomes a shared decision. It is the most direct way to turn the game into a joint effort.

Movement works with the keyboard or with click and drag, so it can be played on a computer or a touch device. Escape pauses at any time.

A fit for these players

Players who enjoy defence games with a building loop, and pairs who want to play something together on one device. It also suits anyone who enjoys the planning part of a defence game as much as the fighting.

What may put you off

• Poki shows ads around its games, and this site does not control them.
• Attacking by walking close takes getting used to if you expect a button.
• The Poki page and the game text do not fully agree on the setting, so this page follows the long description and controls.
• Poki's own short blurb differs from the long description, so details here come from the long text and the controls.
• With no attack button, new players may need a few minutes to understand why nothing happens at a distance.
• The Poki facts do not say how many waves there are.

Buttons, taps and drags

Pointers for the opening minutes

• Collect resources before a wave rather than during one. Fights go better when you already have what you need to craft.
• Upgrade the gear you use most. Spreading resources across many items can leave each one too weak.
• Because attacks happen by walking close, keep enemies in front of you and avoid backing into corners.
• Pause with Escape when you want to think about crafting. It is a safe moment to plan.
• In two-player mode, split jobs: one person gathers while the other holds the line.
• Check your upgrades after each wave and decide what the next one needs, before you start gathering again.

FAQ

Hung nearby

• TDS: Tower Destiny SurviveAlso waves of enemies and gear upgrades, built around a moving fortress
• PlonkyAnother adventure, driven by physics instead of crafting