• The free browser-based game ‘Bottleneck’ lets players manage ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz, choosing from 2,000 stuck vessels with real news and maritime transit data.
  • Players must balance paying Iranian tolls, avoiding antagonizing the US or Iran, and preventing crises like oil price spikes, food shortages, and famine.
  • Developed by journalist and artist Jakub Gornicki using an AI coding tool, it includes over 125 verified articles and shipping data from Windward Maritime Intelligence and Lloyd’s List.
  • The game spans 10 days (March 3 to April 13, 2026), with each approved transit carrying greater costs or trade-offs; even the best scenario (a few dozen ships) is far from the pre-war average of 130 ships per day.
  • The goal is not a ‘smart solution’ but choosing what damage to incur when every option has a cost, highlighting that the Hormuz crisis has real consequences on fuel prices, fertilizer, and food security.

Sources & Links