HEATWAVE

HEATWAVE is a minimalist strategy game about pressure, misdirection, and escape.

You are the Handler. Rumours are your weapon. Disappearance is your trade.

Guide your Ghost through a connected city while Hunters close in on the trail. Using your network of Contacts, seed false trails to raise Heat, distort movement across the board, and force open a temporary exit window before the Ghost is captured.

As pressure spreads across the city, your influence begins to collapse. Contacts go dark, safe routes disappear, and every turn risks tightening the net around the Ghost.

Build enough Heat to make the trail vanish into the noise.

"When a city gets loud enough, anything can disappear."

Note: This was created for the GameDev.tv 2026 Game Jam as an early prototype. There is no sound. The visuals are mundane. There are a couple of bugs. I probably won't address any of this before the jam concludes.

It's still playable, but please offer feedback and anything you discover along the way!