AUTOMATE DEATH is an action tower defense game for PC in which players defend against waves of goblins using automated weapon placements and escalating military firepower. The core experience centers on planning defensive layouts that handle massive enemy numbers through independent firing systems, permanent upgrades, and on-demand air and missile support.
Gameplay
The gameplay loop begins with basic placements such as an M2 machine gun positioned to cover roads. Guns operate automatically once set, allowing focus on expanding the defensive network as kills generate XP for new purchases. Twenty deployable systems become available, including miniguns, grenade launchers, howitzers, HIMARS, Patriot batteries, C-RAM, loitering drones, railguns, minefields, and patrolling Abrams tanks. These assets create overlapping fields of fire tailored to map layouts and enemy paths.
Air and artillery options supplement ground defenses when volume overwhelms static positions. Players call in Hellfire volleys, AC-130 gunship runs, A-10 strafing, B-52 carpet bombing, napalm strikes, Tomahawk missiles, or an ICBM as a final measure, selecting targets directly. A research tree exceeding 400 upgrades persists across sessions, improving range, damage, armor penetration, and unlocking new behaviors for every weapon. Every completed or failed defense strengthens the arsenal for subsequent attempts, with no resets between battles.
Scale is a defining element, with hundreds of thousands of goblins simulated and rendered in real time across unique map layouts. Mastery of individual systems unlocks game-altering behaviors through the research tree, encouraging experimentation with combinations that handle different goblin breeds and wave compositions.
Game Modes
The primary experience revolves around defending fixed and custom maps against escalating goblin waves. Players paint roads, designate entrances and exits, configure wave schedules, and immediately test setups with the full arsenal. This built-in level editor supports rapid iteration on chokepoints and kill zones.
Steam Workshop integration extends the system by allowing map sharing and downloads, creating an expanding library of community-created challenges. No separate multiplayer or competitive modes exist; all activity remains single-player focused on survival and optimization against the goblin threat.
Progression and Systems
Meta-progression forms the backbone of long-term engagement. XP earned in each defense funds immediate purchases, while the permanent research tree compounds advantages over time. Upgrades apply universally, turning early-game weapons into late-game powerhouses capable of handling heavier armor and denser formations. Nothing carries over in a way that resets; losses simply feed into stronger future defenses.
Weapon variety supports diverse strategies. Ground-based systems handle direct approaches, while air assets clear clustered or armored threats from above. Minefields and patrolling tanks add area denial and mobile firepower. The combination of automated firing, manual support calls, and layered research creates depth without requiring constant micro-management during active waves.
Is It Worth Playing?
AUTOMATE DEATH targets players who enjoy tower defense with heavy emphasis on automation, permanent advancement, and creative map design. The single-player structure and level editor provide replayability through custom challenges and shared Workshop content. With a planned release in October 2026 and no reviews available yet, suitability depends on interest in goblin wave defense, military hardware variety, and research-driven power growth. Those drawn to planning kill zones that scale against tens of thousands of enemies will find the described systems align directly with that preference.
