PACKET PRESSURE

Extend the route. Hold the endpoint.

A competitive routing card game · 3–5 players · ~30–45 min

View on GitHub

What it is

Routes are shared infrastructure. Anyone can extend them; anyone can steal them. Points go to whoever holds the endpoint when the round closes — not whoever built the route.

Every card you play either builds your lead or hands it to someone else.

The terminal simulator runs today. A browser version is coming.

The Cards

┌──────────────────┐
│ IN CH01 CH02 OUT │
│──────────────────│
│  ⇒               │
│  PKT  200        │
│──────────────────│
│        REL-0001  │
└──────────────────┘

⇒ Relay · extends the route

┌──────────────────┐
│ IN CH02 CH03 OUT │
│──────────────────│
│  ⊕  AMP  ×2      │
│  PKT  300        │
│──────────────────│
│        AMP-0001  │
└──────────────────┘

⊕ Amplifier · doubles value if held at scoring

┌──────────────────┐
│ IN CH01 CH02 OUT │
│──────────────────│
│  ⊘  FLT-CH01     │
│  PKT  200        │
│──────────────────│
│        FLT-0001  │
└──────────────────┘

⊘ Filter · shields the route from noise

┌──────────────────┐
│ IN ANY   END OUT │
│──────────────────│
│  ⊣  ─ TERM ─     │
│  PKT  500        │
│──────────────────│
│        TERM-0001 │
└──────────────────┘

⊣ Terminal · closes and claims any route

┌──────────────────┐
│ IN  --  CH01 OUT │
│──────────────────│
│  ⚠  ≋≋ CH01      │
│  PKT  0          │
│──────────────────│
│       NOISE-0001 │
└──────────────────┘

⚠ Noise · destroys routes on a channel

Routes

A route is a chain of cards where each card's output channel matches the next card's input. Points go to whoever holds the exit node when the round ends — not whoever started the route.

ROUTE-01  ·  CH01 → CH02 → CH03 → END
┌──────────────────┐
│ IN CH01 CH02 OUT │
│──────────────────│
│  ⇒               │
│  PKT  200        │
│──────────────────│
│        REL-0001  │
└──────────────────┘
→ 
┌──────────────────┐
│ IN CH02 CH03 OUT │
│──────────────────│
│  ⊕  AMP  ×2      │
│  PKT  300        │
│──────────────────│
│        AMP-0001  │
└──────────────────┘
→ 
┌──────────────────┐
│ IN ANY   END OUT │
│──────────────────│
│  ⊣  ─ TERM ─     │
│  PKT  500        │
│──────────────────│
│        TERM-0001 │
└──────────────────┘

Play it now

# requires Python 3.10+
pip install git+https://github.com/josterga/packet-pressure
packet-pressure --interactive    # you vs AI opponents
packet-pressure --solo           # hot-seat with a friend

Or clone the repo and run pip install . for offline play.

Coming up