Network Defense Puzzle
Let real traffic in.
Stop only the attacks.
Place firewalls and WAFs on the line, write rules, and build the gate that guards a company network — a puzzle game for iPad.
● Coming soon to the App Store We'll announce the release here and on X. A Mac version is in the works.
About
Packet Gate is a puzzle game about the gate between the internet and a company's servers. Place devices, wire them up, and write "condition → action" rules so that only the right traffic gets through. When the shift starts, customers and attackers arrive together. Traffic flows in real time, and you can pause and fix your setup at any moment.
Across the campaign you pick up the ideas real network defenders use: firewall basics, DNS abuse, back doors opened by remote work, data leaking out, and hijacked office PCs. No networking knowledge needed — the prologue introduces each device one at a time.
How to play
Each stage is one working day at the company. Read the forecast, place devices, write rules, run the traffic, then review the result.
Today's Forecast on the left tells you what traffic and which attacks arrive, and when. Pick a Basic FW, Rate Limiter, Branch Router, Spam Filter and more from the bar at the bottom, then wire them from the internet to your servers. Drop a device onto a line and it slots in automatically.
The board is split into zones — Internet, DMZ, Server LAN — so where you put each device matters too.
Tap a device to open its rule card. Rules are checked top to bottom, and the first one that matches decides — the same way real firewalls and ACLs work.
Hit Resume and legitimate traffic and attacks start flowing together. Play at 1×, 2× or 4× speed and pause at any moment to change rules or add devices.
The Access Log shows which rule on which device stopped what, while staff messages and alerts come in. In later chapters you face hijacked office PCs and attackers you can only spot by their behavior.
At the end of the shift you get your legit success rate, false positives, missed attacks and a 1–3 star rating. Star conditions such as "keep 430+ points, false positives under 5%, no leaks" are visible from the start, so you can aim for them.
On a bad day, the replay shows exactly which packet got through, and by which path.
In the campaign your budget and equipment carry over from day to day. In the lobby of Network Checkpoint Inc. you can spend on more device capacity, more rule slots, or staff training. Where you put your money is part of your defense.
Campaign
Every chapter brings new attacks and new devices. The prologue and Chapters 1–2 (18 stages) are free.
Learn one device at a time: placing, wiring and writing rules.
Firewalls, rate limits, load balancing, caching and WAF basics.
DNS amplification and forged answers — attackers who abuse how names work.
VPN for remote work, jump hosts and password brute force.
Outbound traffic, fake updates and ransomware. The entrance isn't the only thing to guard.
Hijacked office PCs, and attackers you can only spot by behavior.
After the campaign
Replay stages under new conditions and get rated on Business Continuity, Data Protection, Detection & Response and Resource Efficiency. Back-to-back Operations ask you to hold the line for several days in a row.
Keep your setup and defend day after day to see how long you last. Attackers watch how you defend and change tactics. Between days, pick one of three upgrades.
Screenshots
Actual iPad (13-inch) screens with the Japanese UI. The game can be switched to English in Settings. Tap to enlarge.
Features
Price
$0
$9.99one-time in-app purchase (¥1,500 in Japan)
| Name | Packet Gate: Network Defense (Japanese title: Packet Gate - ネットワーク防衛パズル) |
|---|---|
| Genre | Network defense puzzle, strategy (real time with pause) |
| Platform | iPad (iPadOS 17.0 or later, landscape). Mac version in the works |
| Players | 1 |
| Price | Free (Prologue, Chapters 1–2). Full version: one-time in-app purchase |
| Languages | English, Japanese (switch in Settings) |
| Network | Only to the App Store when buying or restoring. The game plays offline |
| Release | Coming soon to the App Store |
| Developer | blipdrop |
FAQ
A puzzle game where you place firewalls, WAFs and other devices on a company network, wire them up, and write "condition → action" rules so legitimate traffic gets through and only attacks are stopped. Traffic flows in real time, and you can pause and fix your setup at any moment.
No. The prologue introduces each device one at a time, every stage has a forecast and hints, and replays show exactly what went wrong.
The prologue and Chapters 1–2 (18 stages), plus Ops Lab on those stages, are free. A single in-app purchase ($9.99 / ¥1,500) unlocks Chapters 3–5, Special Drills, Back-to-back Operations and Endless Duty. There are no ads.
Packet Gate launches first on iPad (iPadOS 17.0 or later, landscape). A Mac version is in the works. An iPhone version is not planned.
It works offline and needs no account. The only network access is to the App Store when you buy or restore the full version. Saves stay on your device.
Packet Gate is being prepared for release on the App Store. We will announce it on this page and on X (@blipdropusx0).
More questions or a bug to report? See Support.