# Defend Your Castle — user reviews > 283 indexed App Store user reviews of Defend Your Castle by XGen Studios, rated 3.90/5 from 31 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defend-your-castle/id311436961/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defend-your-castle/id311436961.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 19 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 7 ## What do users think of Defend Your Castle? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Addictive gameplay - 👍 Charming and creative visuals - 🕹️ Responsive touch controls - 💰 Great value for money - 🕹️ Faithful port of the original game **Cons** - 🐛 Crashes and save issues - 🔁 Repetitive gameplay at higher levels - 🔍 Lack of new enemy types and spells - 🔇 No option to play own music - 🤕 Can be tiring on the fingers **Commonly reported bugs** - Achievements not tracking correctly - Saved games not loading properly - Archers not functioning as expected **Most requested features** - More enemy variety and difficulty scaling - Ability to assign converted units to towers - Endurance/endless mode - Game Center integration for leaderboards and achievements - Option to use original game graphics ## Newest reviews (10 of 283) ### 3/5 — Low frame rate? *2018-02-17* I was playing this game just fine until about level 17 or 18. The frame rate has dropped to less than half for some reason. I’ve tried restarting my phone and closing all background apps. I’m using an iPhone 7. I have no idea what the issue could be. It’s really fun, but the frame rate is making it unplayable. :( ### 3/5 — Fun but flawed. *2018-01-25* This is a fun easy to play game. You can find yourself easily dropping a hour on this and not realise. Progression and upgrade system is simple and easy to figure out. There are issues however. Most common is even after saving the game will forget any progress you made, levels you passed or achievements you earned. ### 4/5 — Needs one fix *2017-10-22* Great game, really fun. Perfect for a quick, casual play or to spend 15-20 minutes. For some reason though I’ve played to level 50 twice and save the game after each level. For the second time now after reaching 48/51 (basically around 50), the I’ve closed the app and the next time I play, find that I’m starting at level 44 again. Each time I’ve started at 44 I also lose any upgrades and achievements. This is a small and annoying issue, but I still love the gameplay. If the save/load gets fixed, I see absolutely no reason for this great game to not have 5 stars. ### 4/5 — Achievements don't save? Otherwise fun *2017-10-02* Redownloaded this app after playing it years ago. Ads now is annoying, but negligible. The most annoying thing is that not only are my achievements not saving properly, but the ones that DO save will keep popping up every time I reopen the app. Getting 34 achievements in a row (I've actually done 41, but it only saved 34) gets really annoying. Other than that, the gameplay itself is exactly how I remember it and still quite fun. I can save fine, though the autosave popping up first gets annoying as well because it's often a couple levels behind where I got to. ### 3/5 — CANT SAVE *2017-07-27, version 1.0.10* Still an overall fun game. But all the reviews are years old and the issue with not being able to save has NOT been fixed still. Come on guys people pay $3 for a game that you can't save on? ### 5/5 — This game is so good! *2017-01-17, version 1.0.10* I was introduced to this game about 5 years ago and I still play in to this day in 2017😂 I've never played the same game for so long😁 ### 5/5 — PLEASE UPDATE! *2016-11-22, version 1.0.10* I loved this game, but a lot of the features like save don't work and some of the touch sensitivity is kind of screwy. Fishy for IOS would be killer too! ### 3/5 — I would give it 5 stars but... *2016-06-02, version 1.0.10* It would be nice to be able to save the game so I can start a new game on Heroic Mode. And for anyone else having this problem you are able to shut the game down and open it back up and start where you left off. And I also agree that they should update the game with blood and new spells. Still a fun game to play ### 3/5 — Love this game like none other *2016-02-29, version 1.0.10* This is definately one of my favourite games of all time. It's the one I can keep coming back to no matter how long it's been. Unfortunately, trying to save freezes the game. That's really unfortunate, and I'd love to see a fix for it. ### 4/5 — Fun but can't save *2016-02-07, version 1.0.10* I finally got an iPhone again and decided to install the game again... It's fun but I can't save, others say it crashes or freezes, but for me it just won't let me save. I press the home button and go back to the game and I can continue playing but it would be nice to be able to save... I would just have to keep the game open and never shut it down... But whatever. Oh well... ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Crashes when I try to save *2025-07-10* Used to be a 5 star game, but it doesn’t let me save anymore and so I can’t continue my progress, save my purchased fortifications, collect medals etc. I have to start over from the beginning every time I play and it’s kind of sucking the fun out of the game for me. It used to just be press “save” after the round ends and it would think for a sec and save. Then I could leave the app, come back and keep playing where I left off. Now it pulls up a blank white screen with lines on it and a little + sign at the top. I’m assuming they were trying to make a feature to allow you to save multiple different games at once- but it doesn’t work and every time I press the + my app crashes and resets me back to the beginning. All points collected are lost, all fortifications gone. It’s really lame and not fun. ### 1/5 — Can’t click ok to get past Round 1 *2018-09-02* Would be super fun but can’t click on ok ### 1/5 — Broken, needs an update *2018-08-21* Unfortunately I cannot actually play this game. I can get through the first round, but then get stuck on the "next wave screen," because all of the hit boxes for everything are displaced to the right, which means that the OK button's hotbox is literally off of the screen. Sorry guys. ### 1/5 — The Game is broken *2018-04-16* It does not accurately retrieve saved games and it is impossible to progress in the game past level 25. ### 1/5 — All about ur money? *2017-09-14, version 1.1.4* You now make your paid gamer watch ads? After years of boasting of your awesome game I'll be deleting it now. Unbelievable. You make the noobs watch ads. Not a long time fan that's been playing your games long before pay to win became a thing. Delete. ### 1/5 — Does not work *2017-09-05, version 1.0.10* Incompatible with current iOS. Starting the game works only half the time, can't make a save file, (freezes) and many more features do not correctly work. Pass this game unless it is updated to fully work with the current iOS. If it eventually works, I recommend it 3/5, fun but not as good as the 2003 PC version "Defend the Castle." ### 1/5 — Doesn't work *2016-12-29, version 1.0.10* Just bought this after rediscovering the flash version. It doesn't even load on iPhone 7. Don't buy. Hopefully I can get a refund. ### 1/5 — Unplayable on an iPhone 6 with iOS 10.1.1 *2016-12-09, version 1.0.10* Got the game to load once, the sound doesn't work, don't bother unless this gets updated. This title should be pulled from the AppStore until its updated. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2016-12-07, version 1.0.10* Paid for game and it won't even let me start. ### 1/5 — Great but... *2016-09-10, version 1.0.10* I was so addicted to this game and would spend so much money in app just to play and win and have fun. Got an iPhone 5 s again now it won't let me save an freezes every time I try. Seriously disappointed xgen been a big fan ever since the original stick rpg and this came out on computer. Please fix and update for newer gen phones and you'll have yourself a loyal customer once more. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — It SAVES Now!😎 *2024-09-27* The new update allows saving your game! However, the trade off is ads have been added! I would give it 5 stars, if it weren't for the ads!!!! Dump the ads! This game is paid for! Nobody wants or needs to see them! ::: UPDATE ::: The save works, but now? The medals earned are reset. A Heroic game at level 285 opens with no medals, then adds medals that exist for that game & when the game itself is started. In other words, after saving & closing the game, all medals are lost! Down to 3 stars! Fix it! Sir ~Jazz~ :::UPDATE Oct/24::: Love the game (since Sep/17) No ads! Saves are good! It’s a small program! Even though the walls don’t get higher as you upgrade (like the original), it’s still a lot of fun. Now, I don’t even save the games (about 50 saves now), I just start & see how far I can get with different game options. Get the conversion pit, archers tower, & stone masons tower first. Get all 3 to level 2 & 100 men at each tower, build walls to 1000. Then, just do your thing… **Developer response:** Hey, just wanted to say that we've listened to your feedback and removed the ads from the game. I apologize as well for the bugs related to achievements and I believe I've got this all fixed as of the latest version. Please let us know if you're still experiencing any issues! ### 5/5 — YO ANYBODY THERE *2024-02-23* If you guys ported the original stick rpg to the phone I would pay at least 5 bucks for it just sayin. ### 5/5 — Great game but ouch *2022-12-04* Man this is a fun game my only problem is that every time I stopped playing the game my wrist hurt really bad because of all the rapid swiping I was doing. ### 5/5 — Best game ever *2022-05-29* This is so addictive I love it I can’t stop ### 5/5 — Great game *2020-03-27* I remember back in middle school my teacher showed the class the online version of this game and I was hooked. They have built upon the original to make this wonderful definitive version. Even after creating the ultimate castle it was still enjoyable to try to get all the medals. This is a wonderfully fun strategy game I would recommend to anyone. Thanks to the creators for putting a lot of love into this classic game! ### 5/5 — Great game👍👍 *2017-12-20* I love this game a lot it is great! I know this is ios but I would also purchase this game on steam if you added local multiplayer so I could play with my brother like i did on the wii. Anyways i do recommend this game it is very fun and good to pass time! ### 5/5 — Perfect phone game *2017-12-03* I remember this game back from PC days I’m pretty sure. I remember sitting in architecture class back in 07-08 playing this with buddies. Still amazing, love all of the upgrades. I’m up to level 55 and it’s getting crazy. Definitely worth the money and a great game for a casual game player like myself where you don’t have to follow a story! Keep it up guys! ### 5/5 — ADs removed. Star rating reflects this *2017-11-08* Update: Thank you guys for listening. I hope you guys make games as successful as this gem. The review below was from eight years ago. Back when the App Store was in its second year. It looks like the developers pushed an update six years since the last to take it off the naughty list (where it'll now run on iOS 11). While the game is intact and it feels a little crude given the time since it was released the problem that came up now is the fact that they've added ads in between levels. Considering I paid for this game, $2 at the time (not breaking the bank obviously but this is a point of principal), it's kind of a slap in the face. I'm all for supporting game developers and the devs do have the right to find other sources to make money on existing games. However the devs should make a separate free to play listing and leave this one intact. [[As an owner of both the Wiiware and iTouch version of this app i have got to say that this is the best app on both services. The graphics are funny and the achievement system is an awesome edition (iTouch version). This is such a great buy and a great time killer or for any ocasion. Buy this app now!]] **Developer response:** Hi there -- just wanted to say that we've heard your feedback loud and clear and we've removed the ads from the game. My apologies, and thank you for supporting us and the game those many years ago. ### 5/5 — Now for free *2017-10-01* There is ads due now the apps is free now..:: ### 5/5 — Best iPhone Game. Period. *2017-09-13, version 1.1.4* This latest update with the achievements & medals makes the game even more amazing! Tossing the little guys up in the air just feels great, and you earn points as you play. You can spend points to upgrade your castle with things like archers, wizards, craftsmen and bombers. The wizards allow you to cast spells, while archers pick off enemies for you and craftsmen help to repair your castle. Later on you're up against huge bottle cap guys and catapults which are crazy hard to beat. Having so much fun with this so far! I can't put it down it's just so addictive. The iPhone was seriously meant for this game! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*