It is appropriate that relying on a static heuristic to point one's path leaves you unfulfilled, bitter, and dead.
I don't think it does.
Here's the relevant part of the (dart2js'd but slightly cleaned-up) code:
https://gist.github.com/CyberShadow/11329584
Edit: I made a full graph of the entire game: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7652770