How to Solve Traffic Out: Parking Puzzle Strategy
Traffic Out is a sliding parking puzzle on a 6x6 lot. Cars and trucks can only move forwards and backwards in their own lane, and you must clear a path for the red car to drive out. Every lot is solvable, and the game shows the minimum number of moves needed. Here is how to find it.
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Work backwards from the exit
Start with the red car's row and list every vehicle between it and the exit. For each one, ask which way it must move to leave the row, and what is stopping it. Then ask what is blocking that blocker. Following this chain backwards usually shows the first move straight away, while random sliding wastes moves.
Free the long trucks
Trucks are three squares long and often need almost a whole lane to get out of the way. A vertical truck blocking the red car may need to go all the way down or up, which means clearing its entire column. Trucks are usually the key to a lot, so free their lanes first and the cars often follow easily.
Count moves the smart way
Sliding a car all the way in one drag counts as a single move, however far it goes. So when you move a car, move it as far as you will need in one go, rather than in several small nudges. This alone can bring a solution close to the minimum number shown at the top.
Before you move anything, take a few seconds to look at the whole lot. Count how many vehicles stand between the red car and the exit, and which of them have room to move at all. Vehicles boxed in on both ends tell you which cars must move first.
Think about which way to go
Many blockers can move either way to clear the row, but only one direction leaves room for the rest of the solution. Before moving a vertical car down, check whether it would then block another car that needs that space later. Moving it up instead might cost the same and keep the lower part of the lot free.
Hit the minimum
Matching the minimum earns a bonus, and finishing faster adds to your score, while hints cost points. A hint shows the next best move, which is handy for learning, but try to solve on your own first. Solving a Medium or Hard lot in the minimum moves earns the Perfect parker achievement.
Questions
- Does a long slide count as more than one move?
- No. Sliding a car any distance in one drag counts as one move.
- What does the hint show?
- The next move in the shortest solution from your current position.
- Why is the red car still stuck when its row looks clear?
- Check for a vehicle partly in the row near the exit. Even one square of a truck blocks the way.
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