Bottleneck is a free browser-based game that simulates the complex geopolitical crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, challenging players to manage maritime traffic while balancing competing international interests. Players must make difficult decisions about which ships to allow through the strategic waterway, with each choice having significant consequences for global energy prices, food security, and international relations. The game, created by journalist Jakub Gornicki, aims to demonstrate the impossible trade-offs involved in managing such a crisis.
Background
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping chokepoint through which about one-fifth of the world's oil passes, making it a flashpoint for international tensions, particularly between Iran and Western powers. Serious games that simulate real-world crises have become an increasingly popular tool for education and understanding complex geopolitical situations.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- May 8, 2026 at 07:15 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10