Defenders – Cybersecurity Tower Defense Game
An Immersive Journey into Falconry through Play, Learning, and Technology
Client
Darktrace
Category
Interactive Touch Game | Gamified Cybersecurity Experience | Event Activation
Location
Singapore
Technology
Unity | Interactive Touch Game
The Brief
Darktrace, a pioneer in AI-powered cybersecurity, partnered with NXT Playlab to create a touch-based game experience that would bring their intelligent defense systems to life through interactive play.
The objective was to design a strategic, fast-paced tower defense game that visually represented Darktrace’s Active AI Security Platform, demonstrating how it detects and neutralizes cyber threats in real time. The challenge was to translate complex cybersecurity concepts—threat detection, defense strategy, and system integrity—into an intuitive, engaging experience suitable for trade shows and tech events.
Our Solution
NXT Playlab developed “Defenders,” an immersive tower defense–style game where players step into the role of AI operators defending a digital server from waves of invading cyber threats.
The game visually represents the server as a glowing CPU core at the center of the screen. Waves of attackers (viruses)spawn and move along fixed paths toward the server, while defenders (anti-virus towers) must be strategically placed to intercept and destroy them before they reach the core.
Players must balance strategy, timing, and precision to survive as the waves intensify. Each virus that breaches the defense drains the server’s battery life, and if it hits zero, the system collapses—game over.
Game Mechanics
Attackers (Viruses)
Spawn in timed waves of increasing difficulty and speed.
Follow pre-defined paths leading directly to the server.
Each virus type varies in strength, with some faster and harder to destroy.
Any virus that reaches the server reduces its battery life.
Defenders (Anti-Virus Towers)
Can be placed at fixed strategic positions on the grid.
Automatically detect and target nearby viruses.
Rotate dynamically to shoot at the nearest threat.
Have individual battery life; if all defenders are destroyed, the game ends.
Server
Represented as a CPU-like element at the center of the interface.
Displays its battery level, which decreases with each successful attack.
The game ends when the server’s battery reaches zero.
Leaderboard & Scoring
The leaderboard system is based purely on performance and survival.
Players earn points for each virus eliminated within one minute.
If a virus breaches the defense and reaches the server, the player loses instantly—no matter how many attackers they’ve destroyed.
Rankings are determined by the total number of attackers defeated before time runs out, but only players who fully protect their server qualify for the leaderboard.
Outcome
The Darktrace Defenders Game transformed cybersecurity education into a high-energy, competitive experience that captured the essence of Darktrace’s Active AI defense technology.
Players learned firsthand how precision, speed, and intelligent strategy are crucial to stopping cyberattacks—mirroring the way Darktrace’s platform operates in the real world.
With its vibrant visuals, intuitive gameplay, and live leaderboard competition, the experience became a highlight at tech events, drawing crowds and reinforcing Darktrace’s position as a leader in innovative, AI-driven cyber defense.
