Gearheads

About

Gearheads is a turn-based strategy game where you control wind-up toys in a battle to push them across a grid-based arena. Your goal is to move your toys to the opposite side while blocking the opponent’s progress. Each match plays like a tactical puzzle, requiring you to anticipate movements and exploit terrain. You can play standalone games or join structured tournaments with set rules and limited lives. The game supports local multiplayer and features adjustable difficulty for solo matches. Designed by Eric Zimmerman and Frank Lantz, the game focuses on toy interactions and clever positioning. Development took 18 months, with the team creating unique terminology to describe effective toy arrangements. Released in 1996 for PC, Mac, and SNES, it split critical opinions, some praised its replayability, while others found the sound design and AI lacking. Despite mixed reviews, its blend of simplicity and depth made it a cult curiosity among strategy fans.