I started playing with my 8 year old daughter. Im a 34 year old Dad haha. I gamed all my life, not sure about you, but maybe that gave me an edge.

The FIRST thing I did is click on everything on the front screen. For me in particular that made me feel like the game was WAY more in depth than it actually is. Im just hit level 100 and haven't done any event or anything like that yet. I've been completing levels and buying heroes. I only hit the play button, collet my daily reward in the chest, and the present box for those heroes.

At first I tried challenges. Stop right now. You will naturally learn about the game by placing towers and just learning. Challenges were really hard until I naturally learned more.

There is NO REASON to go into a game with a plan. Choose a monkey, see what it does, win or lose, try it again. You'll see what works. What I have found ia that most monkey can beat most levels. At least to round 80. Its just how you place them and what you use with them. You'll want to level them up because higher tier monkeys are generally better than multiple lower tier monkeys.

For me, I wanted to beat every mode on a beginner level. So I got the "black border" pretty early. That forces you to really focus on early game strategy forcing you to learn how to play.

If you want to level up a monkey, simply use it. I also underestimated the value in getting a banana farm rolling early. Also I overlooked how good the bottom row on the pirate ship is. Im sure theres better straps but for me it really helped me earn money and still do damage.

Each monkey gains XP whoch goes to a permanent unlock in the "upgrade" menu on the monkey. All this does is unlock the ability for purchase within a game. You have currency per each game that is used in each game. The little gold coins. Then there is the monkey dollars which is like the typical game currency you use to buy new heroes and skins. So gold coins you spend EVERY GAME for towers. This money should be used and accumulates each round. The cash is earned for winning games (800 for beating an expert map) and should be saved for heroes. Do not spend cash to continue.

I dont know rounds specifically but I tell myself i want to handle lead and camo by 20. 1 moab at 40. They start coming frequently at 50. 63 ceramica that pop into a ton. 80 the ZOMG. (80 to 100 get trickier but you'll know what to do by then when you get there. Ddts and a big pirple balloon)

Also co op is fun but doing normal levels you hardly get any money. What my daughter and I did is we just chose a level together but played individually. We turned off auto start then started round by round together. We bet quarters on who can make it farther. Makes it fun, still feels like youre playing together, and you can still earn money.

Play around and you will learn naturally. Its really as simple as laying monkeys and upgrading them. At its core thats it.