Gridways is an indie puzzle game for PC in which players design and manage traffic networks. Vehicles of different colors travel between hubs, and the core challenge involves creating efficient road systems that guide them correctly without causing permanent gridlock.
Gameplay
The central loop revolves around planning routes on expanding city sections. Players draw roads that carry vehicles between colored hubs, then add directional arrows to control turns at junctions. Straight paths require no markings, but any deviation demands explicit instructions through painted arrows or lane guidance on approaches.
Traffic lights operate on a customizable twelve-slot cycle, with amber phases inserted to clear conflicting movements. Color gates further refine flow by sorting vehicles according to their destinations. When space on the ground becomes limited, overpasses at two different heights allow routes to cross without interference, though junctions between levels must be placed deliberately.
Every addition to the network carries a point cost. The goal is to achieve reliable performance rather than a single lucky run, with each level featuring a par score based on the most economical functional layout. A round continues as long as traffic moves, even through long queues, and only ends when a true deadlock forms that the player can trace through the displayed waiting chains.
Game Modes
Gridways centers on a campaign of more than one hundred handmade puzzles divided across three difficulty tiers. Each solved section locks into a larger map, allowing previously completed roads to appear around the edges of subsequent challenges and create a growing personal city.
Players can also access a full level editor that mirrors the tools used to build the official content. This allows creation of custom terrain, hub placements, traffic densities, and complete campaigns that can be shared through Workshop support.
Accessibility and Features
The game includes several options to broaden its appeal. A colorblind mode assigns distinct shapes to hubs in addition to colors, with the clearest shapes prioritized per level. Reduced-motion settings are available, and the title offers full Steam Deck compatibility along with cloud saves. Three separate difficulty boards let players borrow and adapt layouts from other tiers.
Is It Worth Playing?
Gridways targets players who enjoy deliberate, systems-driven puzzle design similar to traffic or logistics challenges. Its emphasis on consistent, low-cost solutions and the ability to iterate on personal city sections provides depth for those who value optimization and experimentation. The included editor and Workshop integration extend replayability beyond the core campaign. As an upcoming title with no released reviews available, its value will ultimately depend on how well the mechanics hold up during extended play sessions once it launches in Q1 2027.
