Manage economy, defend by building up armies and fight battles to occupy enemy territory. Battles are in real time and you got many ways to setup your troops formation in battle.
Don't let the creeps complete their path. Do that by building defense towers along the way. Manage and upgrade them to get to higher levels. You have 6 types of towers to choose from once you have enough gold.
Instead of building towers and defending against hordes of monsters, play the opposite as an evil mage that builds his army from the ground up to dominate the lands.
Choose between Paladin, Ranger and Fire Mage to fight forces of evil. You're hired as a captain of elite mercenary squad to accomplish different tasks in the empire. Use your skills wisely in battle to achieve victory.