Aotearoa New Zealand developers Ninja Kiwi are spinning their monkey magic again with Bloons Blitz, the latest balloon-poppin’ title in the popular tower defence series. In this frenetic top-down shooter you’ll embark on a treacherous road trip through the Bloons universe, recruiting simian sidekicks to tackle endless waves of enemies.

Bloons Blitz is simple to play, trickier to master. One-touch controls and auto-firing weapons handle the busywork, so you can focus on the strategic upgrades the Bloons franchise is known for. Here’s how to get started.

Each playable Hero in Bloons Blitz has a unique strength: Quincy, the adorable archer, always hits his target. Gwen’s weapon of choice, her trusty flamethrower, deals massive damage to Bloon hordes. And Obyn’s power comes from his Spirit Wolf companion that swiftly takes out enemies in the distance.

Every Bloon your Hero bursts spills glorious XP, unlocking upgrades to forge the ultimate team. Choose Sniper Monkey’s Deep Strike Ballistics upgrade to deal a devastating blow to a single, powerful Bloon. Or recruit Boomerang Monkey’s Glaives upgrade to dole out damage to a large group of enemies. Tapping the info button for each upgrade helps you learn more about what they do best.

The trick is choosing upgrades that work in synergy with each other. For example, Alchemist, Tack Shooter and Wizard Monkey’s upgrades benefit from holding their ground, making them perfect for defending territory. Obyn’s Force of Nature and Boomerang Monkey’s “Ranging on the run” upgrades on the other hand, make them stronger on the move, allowing a more agile style of play.

Each Boss Bloon defeat unlocks a new level to explore – along with a haul of collectable goodies! It’s super satisfying to empty out our Blitz Box and sift through Tokens, Gold Coins and some highly collectable Hero Toys. Plushies are not only adorable, but are crucial in upgrading your Hero and unlocking new abilities.

Collecting sticker packs is another fun addition to gameplay. Each sticker has its own effect, and it’s up to you to puzzle out the perfect layout in your Hero’s notebook to maximise their power. Merging stickers also increase their power exponentially, giving you the ultimate Bloon-popping advantage.

One thing is for sure: Once we popped, we didn’t want to stop!