Neural Grid
Ring the core with towers. Stop the viruses.
- TypeFree strategy browser game
- ControlsBuild on a + slot, or select a tower · Upgrade, buy a drone, sell the selected tower · Pulse: every tower fires now (20 s cooldown)
- Session15–20 minute sessions
- PlatformDesktop and Mobile
- PriceFree, no download
Neural Grid is a tower defense where the network is the target. Towers ring the core and link to each other; every link adds damage. Kills pay credits, and credits buy new towers or upgrade old ones through five tiers, from Basic to Apex. Viruses ram what stands in their way: a damaged tower drops a tier before it is destroyed, so a bad wave costs you progress rather than the run. Strains announce themselves with red chevrons at the edge a moment before they pour in, every fifth wave from ten brings the Worm, and your recon drones fly out for ticket and charge orbs if you keep them alive. Pulse fires every tower at once when a push gets close.
How to play
- Tap or click a + slot next to the core to build a tower there, or press BUILD.
- Kills pay credits. Spend them on more towers, upgrades or the core.
- Buy a recon drone on a tower. It flies out for ticket and charge orbs; ten charge orbs start a Neural Surge.
- Watch the edges: red chevrons show where the next strain comes in.
- Towers drop a tier when worn down. The run ends when the core falls.
| Click / B | Build on a + slot, or select a tower |
|---|---|
| 1 / 2 / 3 | Upgrade, buy a drone, sell the selected tower |
| Space | Pulse: every tower fires now (20 s cooldown) |
| Tap | Tap a + slot or BUILD to build; the Pulse button is bottom right |
Scoring
Your score climbs every second you hold out, and every virus destroyed adds 10. Tickets come from wave clears, drone pickups, Worm kills and score milestones.
Tips
- An upgrade usually beats a new tower until you have four or five; then widen the ring.
- Towers that touch share damage through their links: build them as a cluster.
- Keep one drone alive. Its trips pay more tickets than anything else between waves.
- Save Pulse for the Worm or a strain that is about to reach the core.
Gameplay video
Neural Grid as it plays, a 9-second clip with no sound.
Questions
Is Neural Grid free to play?
Yes. Neural Grid is free to play in your browser, with no purchase required to start.
Do I need to download or install anything to play Neural Grid?
No. Neural Grid runs in the browser. There is nothing to download, nothing to install and no plugin to add.
Do I need an account to play Neural Grid?
No. You can play straight away as a guest, and what you earn is kept in this browser. A free account saves it to your account, so it is not lost when the browser data is cleared and it follows you to another device.
Can I play Neural Grid on a school Chromebook?
Neural Grid runs in Chrome with nothing to install, so it works on a Chromebook. It needs the touchpad or a mouse for opening a tower to upgrade or sell it, and the rest has keys. Whether a school network allows voidarcade.com is up to the school.
Can I play Neural Grid on a phone?
Yes. Neural Grid has touch controls and works on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop browser.
How long does a game of Neural Grid take?
A run takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
What are the controls for Neural Grid?
Use Click / B to build on a + slot, or select a tower, 1 / 2 / 3 to upgrade, buy a drone, sell the selected tower, Space to pulse: every tower fires now (20 s cooldown), Tap to tap a + slot or build to build; the pulse button is bottom right.
Evolution log
Void Arcade games change after release. This is Neural Grid's real update history.
-
Version 1.1
- Strains from the edges with warning chevrons
- The Worm on every fifth wave from ten
- Recon drones you can watch fly out and home
- A tap-friendly tower menu and a Pulse button
- A core health ring, new sound and music
- Faster late waves
Related games
About Void Arcade
Neural Grid is one of the original games on Void Arcade, the world's first self-evolving online arcade, games here keep changing after release. Read how that works, or browse every free browser game.