
Each level is represented on a map of the Frontiers, which are briefed with a basic idea of what to expect before the player begins playing the level. The difficulty level can also be changed individually on each level. The difficulty changes the Hit Points (or HP) of the enemies.

Starting a new game first offers the player a choice of difficulty: Casual, Normal and Veteran. The game still includes the same tutorials and explains how things work clearly, so new players can learn quickly.

Gameplay in Origins is no different to the previous games, allowing players of the previous game to fly straight into playing without needing to familiarize themselves with the set up. The game ends with the defeat of the villains, but they have already managed to corrupt the Tear of Elynie, which falls into the hands of the dark wizard Vez'nan - the first step in his fall from grace from a hero to an evil overlord and the main villain of Kingdom Rush. Narrated by King Denas, the story unfolds gradually through information given at the start of each new level as the player, the nameless General in the elven forces leads your troops first against a gnoll and Twilight elf incursion through the elven woods to rescue Princess Alleria Swiftwind and let her safely flee to Linirea then continues through enchanted forests and up to the ruins of the elven First City itself to face against two villains: Malicia, Queen of the Twilight Elves and Mactans, the ancient Spider Queen as they plot to seize the Tear of Elynie, the ancient power that gave birth to the elven race itself. The story is set on a southern continent, homeland of the elves. Kingdom Rush: Origins is the prequel to the original Kingdom Rush, set thirty years before Vez'nan waged war with Linirea. Heroes can gain experience through levels, and will respawn if defeated. Heroes are used as unique units that can be directed around the level. As levels progress new towers and further upgrades are unlocked. Kingdom Rush expands on the usual set up by using a limited number of tower types, while introducing individual units that engage enemies on the path and including bosses. Letting too many enemies through results in a Game Over.

Placing towers on the side of a path to destroy enemies that appear in predetermined waves, the objective is to defeat all the waves before they reach the end of the path, using the towers and certain abilities. Kingdom Rush: Origins follows the formula of a typical tower-defense game. 5 Differences from Kingdom Rush: Frontiers.
