Apple’s subscription gaming service, Apple Arcade, has long been a hub for releasing some of the most intriguing games in electronic entertainment. The team at Ironhide Game Studio chose this platform to share a bold, post-apocalyptic project that signals a bright future for the studio. Known for crafting genre-defining experiences, Ironhide has released titles such as Iron Marines Invasion, The Legend of the Origins of the Kingdom, Borders, Rush and Revenge, Iron Marines, and the original Battle of the Olympians in 2010. These releases laid the groundwork for a strong, Uruguay-based studio presence in the world of strategy games and tower defense.
scrap world
Ironhide Game Studio unveils a new chapter on Apple Arcade, bringing a post-apocalyptic challenge to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Players must survive a world scarred by nuclear war, leading scavengers and pushing back scrap metal dealers in what remains of humanity, a setting often called the Wasteland. Among the available heroes, Mad Marc stands out as a leader who guides the defense against relentless scrap metal raiders across more than 80 maps, each presenting increasingly difficult defense scenarios.
Tower Defense gameplay centers on defending roads that enemies attempt to traverse in waves. Players strategically place units on the road to curb advancing foes and also set up side towers to strike from a distance. If too many enemies break through, the tick of the clock ends the run. Survive all waves without allowing more than ten foes to slip by to advance to the next stage.
defense management
Roadside turrets offer varied firepower, including Sniper Nests, Infernal Trucker, Trash Crushers, and Deadly Mortar, among a roster of sixteen units. In addition to turrets, a diverse toolkit of tactics exists, such as dropping explosive canisters on passing foes or placing scavengers along the route to disrupt groups like Lumberjacks, Harpoon Brothers, or Jack Bazuca. Players can upgrade scavengers and turrets, improving skills, strengths, and weapons to make late-game encounters more manageable. The strategic burden grows as levels become tougher, demanding quick reflexes and sharper planning.
The game presents a steady challenge across four scenarios and eighty maps, with seventy-five special missions and seventy-five secondary missions layered in. The real puzzle is selecting the right defense for up to thirty distinct enemies, four factions, and four unique final bosses, constantly swapping towers and tactics to stay effective against the onslaught.
With over a decade of development behind Ironhide, Junkworld stands as one of the premier tower defense experiences today. The studio’s focus on testing and evolving the genre across platforms has paid off, expanding from mobile to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, attracting millions of downloads. For fans of the genre, Junkworld is a title worth watching. New users on Apple Arcade can try a month at no cost, making it easy to explore without a long-term commitment.