Poly Bridge

Poly Bridge – Game Introduction & Guide

Poly Bridge is a bridge-building simulation puzzle game developed by Dry Cactus. You design and build bridges so that vehicles—cars, trucks, etc.—can safely cross rivers, valleys, and other gaps. The game uses physics, materials, and budget limits to challenge your engineering creativity.

How to Play Poly Bridge

• Objective: For each level, you must create a bridge structure that can support given vehicles crossing from a start point to an end point. The bridge must be strong enough so it doesn’t collapse under weight. Also, stay within a budget (you have limited money to spend on materials).

• Materials: You’ll have different materials to build with, each with strengths, weaknesses, and cost. Common materials are wood, steel, rope, and cables. Sometimes hydraulic parts allow moving sections (drawbridges, etc.).

• Design & Build Phase:

  1. Choose supports and connection points (nodes).

  2. Lay out beams or planks to join nodes.

  3. Reinforce with stronger materials or cables if needed.

  4. If hydraulic parts are available, you can plan moving sections.

• Test Phase: Once the bridge is built, you test by letting the vehicles drive over. You’ll see whether the structure holds, bends, or fails. You may need to adjust design if it collapses.

• Constraints:

  • Budget: You cannot spend more than the allowed money for that level.

  • Stress & Load: Vehicles vary in weight; heavier vehicles stress your bridge more. Bridges that are too long, too curved, or poorly supported tend to fail.

  • Level-specific features: Jumps, water, variable terrain, sometimes restricted build zones or material limits.

Tips & Strategy

1. Start simple: Build a minimal bridge with the cheapest material that still meets the requirement. Then reinforce weak spots.

2. Use triangles: Triangular patterns distribute forces more stably. They help reduce sagging and failure under load.

3. Watch the vehicles’ path and speed: Heavy vehicles or fast ones demand sturdier design especially near supports.

4. Reinforce wisely: Rather than overbuilding everything, focus reinforcement on joints, mid-span supports, and places with the most stress.

5. Manage cost vs strength: Expensive but strong materials (steel etc.) are useful but should be used only where necessary to stay under budget.

6. Try hydraulics or moving parts creatively: If a drawbridge or moving section is required, plan how the hydraulic mechanism triggers, and ensure it can handle both movement and loads.

Why You’ll Enjoy Poly Bridge

• It’s a satisfying mix of creativity, engineering, and problem solving. You’ll get to see your designs either succeed or crash in physics-driven ways.

• Replay value is high: even if you beat a level, you can try alternative bridge styles, build under tighter budgets, or experiment in sandbox mode.

• The challenge ramps up: level designs grow more complex, new obstacles and materials are introduced gradually, keeping things fresh.

• Visually and mechanically satisfying: seeing vehicles cross safely, and watching how different materials flex or fail, gives good feedback and encourages iteration.