Australia Did It (Demo) Review – A Wild, Strategic Ride Through Chaos

The following gameplay footage is from CheckpointVibes Steam Next Fest Feb 2026 stream.

First off, a huge thank you to the developers and publishers of Australia Did It for providing us here at TheDailyGamepad with a free copy of the demo to check out. We truly appreciate the opportunity to experience what you’ve been building. Also, a quick apology for the delay in getting this review out—I’ve been dealing with some health issues that slowed things down on my end. Appreciate your patience 💜

Now… let’s talk about this game.

Going into Australia Did It, I’ll be honest—I had my guard up. From the name along I jump straight to Austalia freakish large spiders, and so I felt like this was about to be personal. But what I found instead was a surprisingly deep and creative strategy experience that blends multiple genres into something that feels fresh and engaging.

This isn’t just tower defense. It’s not just RTS. And it’s definitely not just a roguelike. It’s all of those things working together—and somehow, it works.

At its core, Australia Did It combines tower defense, real-time strategy, and rogue-like progression into one cohesive gameplay loop. You’re defending a station from waves of insectoid enemies, placing units like Gunslingers, Rad Shots, and Nomads along the walls to hold the line.

Each unit brings something different to the table—raw damage, radiation effects, knockback—and learning how to use them together becomes key to survival. What really stands out is that your units don’t just deal damage—they absorb it. That means positioning isn’t just about offense, it’s about protecting your defenses and managing risk in real time.

The standout mechanic here is easily the merging system.

You can combine units of the same type to level them up, or merge different unit types to create hybrids with combined abilities. Even more interesting? The direction of your merge matters, influencing the final unit’s attributes.

That adds a layer of strategy that goes beyond typical RTS gameplay. You’re not just placing units—you’re building them, shaping them, and constantly adapting your setup based on what the game throws at you.

It encourages experimentation, and honestly, some of my favorite moments came from just trying things out and seeing what kind of wild combinations I could create.

Just when you think you’ve got things figured out, the game switches it up.

You’re not staying in one place—you eventually board a train and take your units with you, turning the experience into a mobile defense scenario. Now you’re managing which units come along, how they’re positioned, and how to survive new enemy encounters while in motion.

The train system adds a really cool layer of decision-making. Do you bring your strongest units? Do you balance your team? Do you save space for flexibility?

It keeps the gameplay from ever feeling static.

As you fight, you earn cinder, which fuels your ability to build and upgrade. On top of that, you get access to Overload Powers—limited-use, high-impact abilities that can absolutely save a run when things start to spiral.

Using these at the right time feels incredibly satisfying. It’s that classic “clutch moment” energy where everything is about to fall apart… and then you turn it around.

I won’t lie—the game does have a bit of a learning curve.

During my playthrough, I definitely had some moments where I struggled, especially with merging and managing everything happening at once. There was also a small hiccup with the tutorial—specifically around needing to hold buttons instead of just pressing them—which could be explained a bit more clearly.

But once things started to click? It felt really good.

The game rewards you for learning, adapting, and experimenting, which is exactly what you want from a strategy-heavy experience like this.

The Australia Did It demo left a strong impression.

It’s polished, creative, and confidently blends multiple genres into something that feels unique without being overwhelming. The merging system alone sets it apart, and the addition of mobile defense via the train keeps the gameplay dynamic and engaging.

There are a few areas that could be improved—mainly around tutorial clarity—but nothing that takes away from the overall experience.

If you’re into strategy games, tower defense, or anything that lets you experiment and think on your feet, this is absolutely one to keep on your radar.

Definitely consider wishlisting Australia Did It. This is shaping up to be something special.