Play Gridlock Guard online
Gridlock Guard is an original traffic-control arcade game: you are the crossing guard at a busy four-way intersection, and every car depends on your light switch.
Cars stream in from all four sides. Flip the lights between north-south green and east-west green with Space, a click, or a tap. Cars on green roll through; cars on red wait at the stop line — and cars already inside the crossing always finish crossing.
Two cars inside the crossing at once crash and cost a life. Worse, let 5 cars pile up on one approach and the street gridlocks, costing a life as the queue gives up. You have 3 lives.
Guide 30 cars safely across within 120 seconds to win. Traffic gets denser as the clock runs, so switch early, switch often, and never let one direction starve.
How to control Gridlock Guard
- Switch lights: Space, click SWITCH LIGHT, or tap the button
- Restart: R, Mute: M
How to play
- 1
Press START — cars start arriving from all four sides with north-south green.
- 2
Press Space, click SWITCH LIGHT, or tap to flip the green axis. Red cars stop at the stop line.
- 3
Never let two cars meet inside the crossing (crash = 1 life) and never let 5 cars queue on one approach (jam = 1 life).
- 4
Guide 30 cars safely across within 120 seconds. Lose all 3 lives, or run out of time, and the run ends. Your best crossing count is saved in your browser.
Tips for a better run
Switch before the queue grows: flipping when 3 cars wait beats flipping after 5, because a jam costs a life even without a crash.
Let the crossing clear: wait until the last green-axis car exits the crossing before switching, or the next wave will meet it head-on.
Watch all four approaches, not just the green one — the red queue grows silently while you watch cars roll through.
Early game is forgiving: spawn gaps are wide, so learn the rhythm of one full light cycle before traffic thickens.
A car that just entered the crossing will not stop for your switch — use that: flip the moment it clears to keep both axes flowing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I switch the lights?
Press Space, click SWITCH LIGHT, or tap the big button. Green means that axis moves; red means cars stop at the white stop line. Cars already inside the crossing always finish crossing.
What happens when two cars collide?
Two cars meeting inside the crossing crash: you lose one of 3 lives and both cars are cleared. Keep one axis green until its cars are through before switching.
What is a gridlock jam?
If 5 cars pile up waiting on one approach, the street jams: you lose a life and the queued cars give up and leave. Switch the lights before any queue grows that long.
How do I win or lose?
Get 30 cars safely across within 120 seconds. Every safe crossing counts; crashes and jams cost lives, and losing all 3 lives ends the run.
What is saved as my best?
Your highest number of safe crossings is saved in your browser. It never leaves your device.
