Arknights is a mobile tower defense (TD) game developed by
Hypergryph. It was first released in China (CN) on May 1, 2019, followed by releases in Japan, Korea, North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia (collectively referred to as Global) by
Yostar on January 16, 2020, and in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau (TW) by Longcheng on June 29, 2020.
At first glance,
Arknights may appear to be a typical TD game, but it distinguishes itself with a high level of difficulty due to intricate map designs, unique enemy mechanics, and complex combat puzzles. A core strength of the game lies in
Operator management—strategically deploying units and using their abilities effectively is essential for success. Additionally, the game includes a robust base-building system that supports resource generation and Operator development.
Arknights uses a gacha system for acquiring new Operators. However, most stages are designed to be completable using Operators of more common rarities. The
Recruitment system also allows players to obtain many older, high-rarity Operators for free, though this is relatively rare.
Due to staggered release schedules and other regional differences, the Global server is typically about 6 months behind the CN server, while the TW server lags by around 8 months, placing it approximately 3 months behind Global.