When RPGs borrow tower defence ideas

A lot of mobile RPGs have started borrowing from tower defence, and honestly it works. Instead of just picking attacks, you're placing heroes on lanes and thinking about coverage the way you'd plan a defence layout.

Emberwatch Legends does a light version of this. Where you put each party member changes which enemies they intercept, so positioning becomes part of the puzzle rather than just a menu of skills.

The blend suits phones because it slows combat down to something you can read at a glance. You get the story and progression of an RPG with the spatial thinking of a defence game, and neither feels watered down.

If you like both genres, these hybrids are worth watching. They tend to reward players who think about the board, not just the biggest number.