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Mini Motorways

Being stuck in traffic is never a good time. But what if you could control the traffic by placing and rearranging roads at will? Mini Motorways allows you to do just that, in the most relaxing way possible.
Mini Motorways Game Cover
87%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, grinding
96% User Score Based on 15,911 reviews
Critic Score 78%Based on 12 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCCloudMac OSNVIDIA GeForce NOWSteam DeckWindows
Mini Motorways Game Cover

About

Mini Motorways is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Dinosaur Polo Club and was released on July 20, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Mini Motorways is a single-player platformer game with poor storyline but phenomenal game mechanics, impressive visuals, and stunning music. As the city's traffic manager, players draw roads to keep the city moving, with various upgrades and modes to explore. Despite being occasionally buggy, its fabulous atmosphere and high replayability make it a unique and enjoyable gaming experience.

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Game Brain Review

Casual Traffic Management

In Mini Motorways you have to manage the traffic in big cities like London, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. The concept is super simple. Connect color-coded garages to their same-colored warehouse counterparts. The cars will automatically take the best route to the warehouse and drive back.

So far so simple. As a traffic manager you have roads, traffic lights, round abouts, bridges, and highways in your arsenal - but you only get new resources at the end of a week. In the beginning the traffic is slow and easy to manage but as the city grows, streets get congested and you wish you had just one more highway to relieve traffic.

You can pause or speed up the time as you want, that means you can build without any time pressure. This also makes this game perfect for playing on the side, e.g. when commuting in real world public transportation with a steam deck. It's super simple to jump out and get back in without too much "soooo where was?"

There is great pride in building the streets, bridges, and highways in a way that traffic runs smoothly, give it a go!

85% Game Brain Team Score

Mini Motorways makes you feel like a boss in traffic management - until it shows you that you were doomed to fail from the start. But always while looking cute.


Davidfrom Game Brain
  • super quick to learn
  • casual/short sessions possible
  • cute to look at
  • cities could be more differentiated

Casual Traffic Management

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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 15,911 reviews
gameplay307 positive mentions
story34 negative mentions

  • The gameplay features simple yet engaging mechanics that encourage strategic planning and efficient road management, making it fun and addictive.
  • The minimalist art style and soothing soundtrack create a relaxing atmosphere, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
  • The game offers exceptional replayability with diverse maps, daily and weekly challenges, and randomized elements that keep each playthrough unique.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive over time, with some players finding it tedious and lacking variety, especially in later stages.
  • Technical glitches and poor optimization, particularly on certain platforms, can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
  • The game lacks a traditional story or objectives, which may leave some players feeling unfulfilled despite its casual nature.
  • gameplay
    963 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Mini Motorways" is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics that encourage strategic planning and efficient road management. Players appreciate the minimalist design and soothing soundtrack, which create a relaxing atmosphere, although some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. While the game introduces new mechanics and challenges, there are critiques regarding the reliance on random elements and the need for more variety in gameplay to maintain long-term interest.

    • “The gameplay is super smooth and overall fun.”
    • “The minimalist art style fits the gameplay perfectly: clean, intuitive, and visually relaxing.”
    • “The mechanics are easy to understand, yet still provide a complicated and multi-layered gameplay that forces you to optimize routes and consider various factors in real-time as your situation changes.”
    • “After my wife had sunk 50+ hours into Mini Metro, I decided to get her this sequel to change it up a bit, and while it does bring a lot of new cool things to the mix, it is unfortunately a lot worse gameplay-wise.”
    • “The gameplay loop boils down to avoiding intersections and keeping colors separated as much as possible until mid-game, at which point RNG will inevitably force you to mix and match road systems which the player should minimize if they want a high score.”
    • “Unfortunately, unlike Mini Metro, the gameplay is the same in every city.”
  • graphics
    734 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their minimalist and aesthetically pleasing design, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the clean visuals, soothing color palettes, and charming art style that create a relaxing atmosphere, making it easy to engage with the game for extended periods. The combination of simple yet effective graphics and a well-designed soundscape contributes to a satisfying and immersive experience, appealing to both casual and strategic players alike.

    • “The minimalist graphics are perfect for this game, and the gameplay is super smooth.”
    • “The clean, modern art style is more than just aesthetically pleasing—it makes the game’s increasing chaos feel approachable and even calming at times.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and provide a relaxing, yet stimulating environment to play in.”
    • “The graphics leave much to be desired, but the game is only $10, so there's that.”
    • “While the graphics, music, and sound are very pleasing, the game itself is an exercise in frustration.”
    • “It's incredibly difficult to notice that a building is in 'danger' since the art style doesn't make the notifications 'pop' on the screen, meaning you often notice the problems too late.”
  • music
    493 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its calming and soothing qualities that enhance the overall relaxing atmosphere. However, some users find the soundtrack repetitive or annoying, particularly when it becomes overwhelming during gameplay or when paused. Overall, while the music complements the minimalist visuals and gameplay for many, there are calls for better audio controls to allow players to customize their experience.

    • “A huge plus is the soundtrack from none other than Disasterpeace.”
    • “The lofi soundtrack is gorgeous, the minimalist visuals are pleasantly clean, and the loop is dangerously moreish.”
    • “The soothing soundtrack further enhances the atmosphere, creating a zen-like experience that belies the intense strategic thinking required to succeed.”
    • “The main background soundtrack is worse than I've ever experienced before in any of the games; I'm sorry, but my ears and head start hurting literally 10 seconds into listening to it.”
    • “The soundtrack can be annoying; otherwise, fantastic game.”
    • “The music is very calming, but there are so many different levels to choose from!”
  • replayability
    251 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its diverse maps, daily and weekly challenges, and randomized elements that ensure each playthrough feels unique. Players appreciate the balance of simplicity and depth, making it easy to pick up while offering endless opportunities for improvement and strategy. Overall, the combination of varied gameplay modes and the pursuit of high scores keeps players engaged for hours.

    • “The procedural maps inspired by real-world cities keep the game endlessly replayable, while daily and weekly challenges add a competitive edge.”
    • “With businesses and houses being randomly placed each time you play a map, each round is never the same and has fantastic replay value.”
    • “Addictive and endlessly replayable, just what I was looking for.”
    • “The random generation and different challenges means endless replayability for a map, plus lots of free updates with new locations and colors means there's lots of game in your game.”
    • “While the game is relatively simple and is the same thing every round, the variation with the bridges and other tiles make it replayable.”
    • “The replayability is basically endless!”
  • story
    113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is largely described as lacking a traditional story, with many users noting that it focuses on gameplay mechanics rather than narrative. Some reviews humorously liken its minimalistic plot to that of a traffic simulation, while others appreciate its casual nature, allowing players to engage without the need for a deep storyline. Overall, the consensus is that the game is enjoyable for those seeking a light, puzzle-oriented experience rather than a story-driven adventure.

    • “Great storyline, characters, and unique gameplay.”
    • “The story is you come to an empty city, watch it expand, and then see it become a concrete jungle, like in real life :)”
    • “Mini Motorways is a dystopian horror story disguised as a traffic sim.”
    • “No story, no objectives, no bonus goals.”
    • “This game has no plot and no point, and yet it will suck hours away from your life without you even knowing it.”
  • optimization
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its engaging mechanics and smooth performance on certain platforms, while others report poor optimization on Mac, leading to issues like stuttering and high resource consumption. Despite its minimalist design, some users feel that the game could benefit from further optimization, particularly for specific hardware configurations. Overall, it is recognized as a fun and challenging optimization puzzle game, but performance inconsistencies may detract from the experience for some players.

    • “Beneath its charming minimalist visuals and soothing soundtrack lies the purest essence of capitalism: optimization at all costs.”
    • “Optimizations of roads, roundabouts, and motorways between minimal colors, connecting only those houses to satisfy demand, is what helps achieve the most successful trips before the game's end.”
    • “It's challenging but fun to find ways to strategically plan your roads out and use the tools at your disposal for optimal performance.”
    • “Poor optimization on Mac for such a minimalistic game; I struggle to play in fullscreen.”
    • “The underlying engine of the game seems bloated for a simple game like this, which causes late-game stuttering, broken car AI, and buggy motorway attachments even on relatively competitive hardware.”
    • “Game is extremely unoptimized - it consumes more PC resources than huge 3D projects.”
  • humor
    69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this game is a standout feature, with players finding joy in the absurdity of traffic management and the chaotic challenges it presents. The combination of funny sound effects, quirky car behaviors, and the comedic outcomes of poor planning creates a lighthearted experience that keeps players engaged and entertained. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to turn frustrating moments into laughter, making it a delightful choice for casual gaming.

    • “Every level is a hilarious challenge, and each traffic jam is like a puzzle begging to be solved (or ignored in favor of a cheeky motorway construction spree).”
    • “It's hilarious how every game ends looking like a hellish maze of steel and pavement, no matter how practical you originally intended it to be.”
    • “I laughed as I jokingly sunk 49 hours into this game because I knew how funny my joke about liking this game was.”
  • grinding
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it addictive and enjoyable, particularly for achievement hunting, many others describe it as tedious and repetitive, especially when it comes to road management and city building. Achievements can add replayability, but the grind can feel overwhelming and frustrating, particularly for those aiming for 100% completion. Overall, the game offers a balance of fun and challenge, but players should be prepared for significant grinding, especially in later stages.

    • “There's nothing that makes the game feel like a chore, no grinding, no daily logins, nothing.”
    • “Very easy-going game that requires no grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This results in gameplay that is tedious and not particularly rewarding.”
    • “Its fun for a good while, but with achievement hunting it makes the game more tedious to return to.”
  • stability
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent technical glitches and bugs reported, particularly during late-game scenarios and when modifying intersections. While some players experience minor issues, many find the game unplayable due to severe traffic glitches and AI problems that disrupt gameplay. Overall, the game's underlying engine appears bloated, leading to stuttering and frustrating freezes that detract from the otherwise enjoyable experience.

    • “Runs great on my desktop and my garbage laptop.”
    • “Bug free.”
    • “Good: nice simple visuals and sound/music, controls are easy and it's pretty bug free.”
    • “Overall, this is a common theme with the game, with occasional technical glitches on top.”
    • “Really unplayable buggy; adding a roundabout over an existing intersection caused the cars to freeze, thus resulting in failure of the daily challenge (which only has 1 attempt to submit your best score).”
    • “The underlying engine of the game seems bloated for a simple game like this, which is the cause of late game stuttering, broken car AI, and buggy motorway attachments even on relatively competitive hardware.”
  • atmosphere
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhanced by soothing soundtracks and minimalist visuals. Players appreciate the tranquil environment that allows for casual gameplay while still providing engaging challenges, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a blend of strategic planning and serenity. The dynamic day/night cycle and atmospheric sound design further contribute to a captivating and therapeutic experience.

    • “Relaxing gameplay: the game's soothing soundtrack and simple visuals create a calm atmosphere, ideal for playing while listening to music or podcasts.”
    • “The soothing and atmospheric sound design of mini motorways enhances the calming and contemplative nature of the game.”
    • “The soothing soundtrack further enhances the atmosphere, creating a zen-like experience that belies the intense strategic thinking required to succeed.”
    • “Very therapeutic in both the atmosphere of the game and the sounds.”
    • “Calming atmosphere yet challenging experience; I love it.”
  • emotional
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its wholesome and rewarding experience, often evoking feelings of nostalgia and personal reflection. Players report moments of joy and even tears during gameplay, highlighting its ability to create a sense of connection and fulfillment, despite its simplicity. While it may not offer deep narratives, it serves as a comforting escape that resonates emotionally with players.

    • “Every time a new house is placed down, I shed a tear :') 10/10”
    • “This game made me feel better about myself and proves that I may still have the potential to be the person I wanted to be when I was a kid.”
    • “Its still going on but... hopefully... if things turn out good someday, I'd love to come back to this review and shed a tear.”
  • monetization
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with players appreciating the absence of in-game purchases and intrusive ads, which enhances the overall experience. However, some users express disappointment with misleading advertising that does not accurately represent the game, leading to mixed feelings about its value. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative to typical mobile cash grabs.

    • “No in-game purchases either, which removes the temptation to spend more money!”
    • “Would be great as a mobile game, but this is better with no ads or pay-to-win elements.”
    • “Just another mobile cash grab with devs blinded by money.”
    • “The best way to play looks nothing like the advertisements, the achievements, the trading cards: nothing like common sense.”
    • “This largely came from the advertising and my own assumptions about the genre this game fits into.”
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78%Critics’ scoreBased on 12 critic reviews
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10h Median play time
23h Average play time
5-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 54 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Mini Motorways is a casual simulation game.

Mini Motorways is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 23 hours playing Mini Motorways.

Mini Motorways was released on July 20, 2021.

Mini Motorways was developed by Dinosaur Polo Club.

Mini Motorways has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Mini Motorways is a single player game.

Similar games include Mini Metro, ISLANDERS, Dorfromantik, Fly Corp, Train Valley and others.