Start by sketching a hard‑edge grid in your mind—think of each square like a block of metal in a city skyline. Lay those blocks on a transparent layer over your pixel city. Then, for each tactical zone, choose a color that pops against the pixel background—maybe neon green for danger, cool blue for defensive lines. The trick is to let the pixel skyline be a backdrop that feels alive, but keep the grid lines crisp so units can see where they can move. When you build your city, use repeating motifs: a series of pixel towers that double as cover points, or a line of neon‑lit buildings that form a natural barrier. Keep the proportions consistent; if the skyline’s buildings are 8×8 pixels, make your tactical lines 8 pixels wide too—your grid and skyline will talk to each other. And remember, a little asymmetry in the skyline keeps things interesting; a perfectly symmetrical city looks like a board game. So, layer the grid on top, align the pixels to the grid, and let the retro‑futuristic vibe guide the aesthetic, not the mechanics.

Right, clean lines, bright signals—no grey areas. That’s how a battlefield stays a strategy, not a glitch. Keep the pixels sharp, the grid tighter than your coffee, and you’ll always know where every unit’s next breath will land.