Intro

Welcome to RGOTW (Random Game of the Week) - and our very first weekly game pick!

This week's pick, Nordhold, mashes together a few of my favorite genres: Tower Defense (with mechanics that instantly reminded me of classics like Defense Grid and Rogue Tower), Roguelite (I actually like when a run ends, because I know I’m unlocking permanent upgrades), and City Builder (resource management to supercharge your towers and offense).

TL;DR: I had a blast playing it, and honestly, I’m just trying to finish this newsletter so I can get back to securing my seat in Valhalla.

Game Overview

What I Liked…

I went into Nordhold with high expectations - not just because of the 90% Steam rating (at the time of this newsletter), but because it combines two of my favorite genres: strategy (for all you resource management junkies) and tower defense. I’ve lost a shameful number of hours to games like Defense Grid, Rogue Tower, Thronefall, and the Kingdom Rush series - so the bar was high.

First impressions? Loved the visual style. In games like this, clarity is king - not the time for washed-out, moody art experiments. Everything’s crisp, easy to spot, and looks great. Sound design nails it too: minimalist Viking vibes when you’re building, and a nice thumping beat that kicks in once the enemy waves start rolling in.

Gameplay-wise, it feels really balanced. Every small upgrade - whether boosting production in your city, adding new towers, or upgrading old ones - felt meaningful. It locked me into that addictive, “just-one-more-wave” loop - challenging but you feel like with one little adjustment/improvement you can get deeper into the game next round.

That said, I’m still a long way from reaching the crazy-high waves and scores other players have been achieving. I’ve got my work cut out for me.

Could Be Better…

I don’t have many complaints about Nordhold so far - aside from the fact it’s yet another "just one more round..." game that's going to wreck my sleep schedule. Not good.

If I had to nitpick, the hero abilities feel pretty underwhelming. Maybe they scale better later on, but early game they’re so forgettable I often don’t even bother using them. They feel more like an afterthought than a game-changer.

Also, the town map is pretty static - mostly just a place to upgrade production. Not a huge gripe, but it makes me wonder if future updates might bring different towns with unique, upgradeable features. Would love to see that.

Conclusion

Overall, Nordhold absolutely delivers on what it promises: a tight, satisfying blend of tower defense, strategy, and roguelite mechanics with a clean art style and just enough Viking flavor to keep things fresh (honestly wouldn’t have mattered what ‘theme’ or persona this game decided on, the gameplay mechanics/flow is awesome which is what matters).

While the hero abilities could use a buff and the town map feels a little one-note, none of that really dragged down my experience. If you like games that scratch the "optimize everything and survive just one more wave" itch, Nordhold is an easy recommendation - just don’t be surprised when it’s 4 AM and you're still chasing your spot in Valhalla.

If you prefer a video form of this review, watch below (and please like and subscribe if you enjoyed):

If you decide to purchase, feel free to purchase on Steam ($19.99), or here via an affiliate link on Fanatical ($15.99 at time of newsletter) to support RGOTW. THANK YOU!

1  All games selected in Random Game of the Week are personally purchased and played. Every opinion shared is 100% my own - honest, unfiltered, and concise.