Shortcut Hero: Grid City

Shortcut Hero: Grid City

About the Game

Your keyboard shortcuts are the controls

Shortcut Hero: Grid City is a single-player arcade action game you play entirely with keyboard shortcuts. Tab fires and moves you right. Enter fires and moves you down. Shift+Arrow selects a block of cells, and Ctrl+V drops a missile on it. If you live in Excel, or if you are an avid keyboard shortcut user, your hands already know half the controls.

Robots are marching on Grid City to harvest its data, and you're the last defender on the grid. Runs are short and the waves keep getting faster. There's no time to reach for a mouse.

Every shortcut does something

  • Tab / Shift+Tab: fire and move right or left

  • Enter / Shift+Enter: fire and move down or up

  • Ctrl+Arrow: dash across the grid

  • Home / End / Ctrl+Home / Ctrl+End: jump to the end of the row or the corners of the map

  • Shift+Space / Ctrl+Space: select a whole row or column, then Ctrl+V sweeps it with a laser

  • Ctrl+A: select everything around you. Press it again to select the entire map, then Ctrl+V wipes it clean. That one costs three missiles, so earn it.

  • Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V: copy an injured ally and paste them somewhere safe

Its really easy to get started with just arrow controls and the enter button.  However, efficient usage of shortcuts will progress you towards game mastery. 

Keys can be remapped.

Learn Excel shortcuts by actually using them

No cheat sheet, no manual. The campaign hands you a few shortcuts at a time, then sends robots at you until you stop thinking about them. Shift+Space and Ctrl+Space are the same keys that select a row and column in Excel, so the speed you build here goes back to work with you on Monday.

Three ways to play

  • Hero Mode: the campaign. Waves, survival rounds, obstacle fields, trap-laying bot bugs, rescue missions, a gauntlet, and a boss fight against the Queen.

  • Challenge Mode: endless survival. The clock counts up until the robots get through. Set a good score and send it to a friend.

  • Training Mode: guided lessons and free practice, no pressure.

Built for one more run

Ten minutes between meetings is enough for a run. An evening is enough to get scary fast.

If you can maneuver an excel worksheet without touching the mouse, this was made for you. If you can't yet, it's a quicker way to get there than a cheat sheet taped to your monitor.

Out January 19, 2027. Wishlist it and Steam will let you know when it's live.

Turn Keyboard Shortcuts into Devastating Powers

Forget memorizing commands from a spreadsheet. In Grid City, every shortcut unleashes a powerful ability. Clear entire rows of enemies, unleash explosive attacks, and execute game-changing combos as you transform everyday keyboard shortcuts into your ultimate arsenal.

The better you play, the faster you become and the more unstoppable you feel.

Grid City Needs a Hero

Add Shortcut Hero: Grid City to your Wishlist today and prepare to defend the city’s data; one shortcut at a time.

Play the Demo Now!

Initial Release