Hydro

Hydro is a simulation of a 1930s-era hydro-electric power station. As the sole custodian of old No. 101, you generate electricity for the township while maintaining the station, managing supplies and fatigue, and responding to changing conditions across day and night shifts.

Run the power station

Connect the station to the township grid without blowing the grid fuse, then manage the machinery to deliver power. When the township faces a shortage, it can send demands for extra power, including for mayoral press conferences, town carnivals, evening radio shows and new factory commissioning events. The game includes over three dozen unique township power demands, with rewards that can vary.

You also need to order supplies, monitor reserves and maintain gear oil, fuses and battery acid. Keep the on-site battery accumulators charged to power station services such as lighting, while looking after their condition: charging them too quickly reduces it and makes them less efficient. Maintain the power poles to prevent grid output drop-outs, and guide passing ships with marker lights along the riverbank.

Shifts and maintenance

Work day and night shifts, managing fatigue so you can stay on duty and meet power demands. Rest in the sleeping quarters between shifts. When the river is calm, you can replace or repair fuses, clean power-pole insulators and the air filter, research upgrades, top up machinery oil and clean windows and oil stains.

The station can be upgraded with an Upgrade Blueprint. Research and apply over a dozen upgrades to improve its machinery and performance. You are also responsible for keeping the premises presentable, including cleaning graffiti before auditors arrive.

Risks and reputation

Careless operation can cause serious problems. The generator can overheat and catch fire; if it is destroyed, your career at Hydro ends. A primed Generator Fire Control system may save it if used promptly. Poor lubrication can cause sparks and noise complaints, which may bring fines and harm your reputation. Neglecting the accumulators affects the station’s power needs, while poorly maintained poles cause power drop-outs.

You begin with the township’s support, but your reputation can suffer if you fail to meet expectations. Your actions may be reported in the township newspaper, for better or worse. You also need to stay profitable and keep funding in the green: excessive debt can attract the treasury department and put the station at risk of shutdown. Auditors visit to assess your performance and may issue fines; some are stricter than others.

Changing conditions

The day-and-night cycle, rest periods, weather and river flow shape each run. Random fog, rain, thunder and lightning can affect gameplay, and river conditions can change between shifts. Rain can soak newspapers or clean power-line insulators, while lightning strikes on the station or player have variable consequences. Supply costs, funding rewards, oil use and fuse wear can also vary, so events do not unfold the same way each time. The game includes multiple ways for a run to end.

Adjustable settings

Adjust the difficulty to suit your preferred experience. Settings let you disable or enable noise complaints, put auditors on strike, close the shipping lane and choose daylight saving time to lengthen the days, among other options.