GridRoad
- December 6, 2023
- RAJACORP
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"GridRoad is a simulation game currently available on Steam, previously on itch.io. As a single-player, you have 2-4 hours to optimize traffic flow on 13 levels, with more content updates promised. The game challenges you to improve frustrating junctions and create the most efficient traffic system."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features simple and intuitive controls, making it easy to pick up and play.
- It offers a fun and engaging puzzle experience, with unique mechanics that challenge players to think creatively about traffic management.
- The graphics are charming and the game is addictive, providing hours of entertainment for fans of the genre.
- The vehicle AI behaves unpredictably, leading to frustrating gameplay and making puzzle solutions feel arbitrary.
- The game lacks depth and variety, with very few levels available and limited mechanics beyond the tutorial.
- Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to debug puzzles and manage traffic effectively.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging puzzle mechanics and charming graphics, offering a low-intensity challenge that encourages strategic thinking. While the mechanics are easy to learn and well-taught in the tutorial, players express a desire for more variety in maps and additional gameplay elements, such as stop signs and bridges, to enhance the experience. Overall, it provides a fun and accessible puzzle-solving experience, though some feel it could benefit from more content.
“Excellent game, I love everything from the graphics to the puzzle mechanics to the option to choose left or right-hand traffic!”
“Simple mechanics, complex problems.”
“It's perfect for when you want to play a lower intensity game to challenge your mind, rather than your mechanical skills.”
“I still wish there was more to the game, a few more maps and map variety, as well as additional mechanics like stop or yield signs.”
“There are no mechanics beyond those introduced in the tutorial.”
“I'd love to see new levels and mechanics like bridges and stop signs, for example.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with a straightforward UI that allows players to quickly test various optimization ideas. Performance remains stable even at higher resolutions, and there are numerous online guides available for troubleshooting any potential issues. Overall, while it may not fit the traditional traffic optimization simulation mold, it offers a unique and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
“Optimization ideas pop up all the time, and the straightforward UI lets you test these quickly.”
“There's not so much going on that you significantly break performance when you quadruple the resolution; and if it does break performance, there are a bunch of guides on the internet on how to fix these kinds of issues.”
“Having to take this pseudo-random element into account places Gridroad in its own category of optimization games.”
“Not a bad idea, just very much not a traffic optimization simulation game.”
“There's not so much going on that you significantly break performance when you quadruple the resolution; if it does break performance, there are a bunch of guides on the internet on how to fix these kinds of issues.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the charming and simple aesthetic along with smooth animations, others criticize the low resolution and call for improved graphics quality. Overall, the visuals are described as appealing yet basic, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience.
“It is super simple, has charming graphics and feel, and very moorish; you won't want to put it down once you've picked it up.”
“Simple graphics but smooth animation and good sound; the developer has done a great job.”
“Excellent game, I love everything from the graphics to the puzzle mechanics to the option to choose left or right-hand traffic!”
“Graphics are very low resolution.”
“Get the graphics quality up.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly criticizing the user interface for managing traffic light timings, which adds to the overall frustration.
“The UI for dealing with traffic light timings is very tedious.”
“The UI is a bit tedious.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is minimal, focusing primarily on traffic management challenges rather than a narrative. Players appreciate the straightforward gameplay, which aligns with the promotional material, but note that the lack of certain features, like bridges and underpasses, adds difficulty to the missions. Overall, the game is considered a good value for its price, especially for fans of the genre.
“--currently no bridges or underpasses so many of the missions are much harder than they would otherwise be”
“--currently no bridges or underpasses so many of the missions are much harder than they would otherwise be”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that while the game offers a good variety of puzzles that justify its price, its replayability is limited due to a lack of community-generated content and features like road signs and diverse vehicles that could enhance gameplay depth. Overall, the potential for increased replay value exists, but current limitations hinder it.
“Adding road signs, diverse vehicles, and mid-game road closures could enhance the game's depth and replay value.”
“The amount of puzzles you get is well worth the price, in my opinion, but there's a hard cap on replayability, as there's no way for the community to make and share puzzles.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has significant stability issues, with multiple users reporting that it freezes on startup, particularly on MacBook M1 Pro devices, even after attempts to reinstall. This has led to a lack of recommendations from affected players.
“Unfortunately, I cannot recommend it as the game now freezes on startup (MacBook M1 Pro), even after a re-install.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as oddly satisfying, enhancing the experience and making it easy for players to become engrossed in optimizing routes.
“It's easy to become engrossed optimizing routes while grooving to the oddly satisfying music.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be a significant part of the experience, often enjoying it during social play with friends. The comedic elements contribute to a fun atmosphere, enhancing the enjoyment of solving levels together.
“I had a hilarious night with friends, finding multiple and more efficient ways to solve the levels.”
“We spent the night chilling and laughing as we discovered funny solutions to the challenges.”
