Hydro Thunder (1999)
Genres:Sport, Racing
Themes:Action
Game modes:Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen
Story:The gameplay of Hydro Thunder consists of racing high-tech speedboats through treacherous environments, from the cold seas of the Arctic Circle, to a post-apocalyptic, flooded version of New York City.
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.197
I have been playing this game for well more than 20 years, never stopped. It has remained my favorite game of all time, only a select few ever coming remotely close.
This game has never been re-released on a digital store. I want nothing more than for it to have a current release, as it would help accessibility massively, and really help the community to grow. I think GOG is perfect.
I speak on behalf of this game's community as well, we all want this to happen.
I have done reverse engineering work with this game, and i'm the developer of the QoL Patch Tool for the PC version. I am more than happy to assist with improvements if this game was to be added.
This is one of my favorite games to play at the arcade. I have sunk so many hours into it over the years, and it's a shame that there is no way to play the original arcade version at home. All of the console ports are inferior to the arcade in some way and seeing a PC release would breathe so much new life into this wonderful game.
My local town had a Hydro Thunder cabinet that I had followed and played from location to location growing up. I played it at the bowling alley, Pizza Hut, mall, eventually it was retired but I tracked it down, bought it, and fixed it up. Now I have three Hydro Thunder cabinets linked but not everyone is lucky enough to have the coin-op game. This would be the prefect way for the modern generation to play at home. It's a fantastically fun and timeless game!
This game has been an incredibly large part of my life, it was the first videogame I ever played and continued to be one of my favorites for years to come, the idea of this game fading away makes me terrified. This is why the opportunity to preserve it is not something I take lightly, please preserve!!!!
Absolute GOAT of arcade racers. No pizza place was worth the time if they didn’t have it. Would definitely drop more than a few quarters to see it on pc, would name my firstborn after the person who can get a multiplayer function to work as well.
Why Hydro Thunder (Original PC EU Version) Needs to Be on GOG – The Best Boat Racing Game Ever
Hydro Thunder, originally released in arcades in 1999 and later ported to consoles and PC, stands as one of the most exciting and unique racing games ever made. The European PC version, in particular, deserves a spot on GOG to preserve its legacy and allow both nostalgic fans and new players to experience the definitive water racing thrill ride.
What sets Hydro Thunder apart is its fast-paced, explosive gameplay. Unlike typical racing games of its time, it put players behind the controls of high-powered, futuristic speedboats tearing through imaginative tracks — from arctic wastelands to post-apocalyptic ruins. Each course was full of ramps, shortcuts, secret routes, and turbo boosts that kept every race intense and dynamic. The boats themselves had distinct stats and personalities, adding strategy to each race.
The PC version, especially the European release, was notable for its smoother graphics and tighter controls compared to some of the console versions. With modern compatibility, controller support, and GOG’s trademark DRM-free experience, Hydro Thunder could roar back to life for today’s audience.
There’s never been another boat racing game that matched its flair, speed, and pure arcade fun. Hydro Thunder was ahead of its time, and now it deserves a second wave on GOG. Let’s bring this adrenaline-fueled masterpiece back for the fans — and for the future of water-based racers.
Classic arcade action, all packed into a great home release for those of us who couldn't get to arcades regularly!
Brilliant tracks - Lake Powell and Ship graveyard personal favourites
Your boat options matter - It's not just "easy handling" to "hard handling but a bit faster" and a selection of colours, each boat option has genuine characteristics - I liked Thresher and Rad Hazard so much.
The sequel on XBLA just didn't do it for me sadly, but even that is long in the tooth now, and the original hasn't seen a digital platform release!
The Simpsons: Hit & RunStrange wasp-shaped spy cameras, shady black vans lingering about, and a brand new flavor of Buzz Cola that everyone seems a bit too excited about. What could it all mean?
Find out as you take to the streets as America's most beloved dysfunctional animated family: The Simpsons! In this timeless action-adventure game, you can work to uncover the conspiracy taking place in Springfield while playing as these beloved characters.
As you progress through the game, you'll explore 3 unique areas of Springfield made up of many locations from the show. You can ride around in style with a memorable array of vehicles from the show or take a walk around on foot. You'll stumble into adrenaline-pumping story missions, take part in some fast paced street races and help out some of the townsfolk in bonus missions. Around every corner there's pesky wasps to be destroyed, collector cards to find and secret gags to uncover.Trending Open world Action Comedy
Rare ReplayRare Replay is a 2015 compilation of 30 video games previously developed by Rare and its predecessor, Ultimate Play the Game, in their 30-year combined history. The emulated games span multiple genres and consoles - from the ZX Spectrum to the Xbox 360 - and retain the features and errors of their original releases with minimal edits. The compilation adds cheats to make the older games easier and a Snapshots mode of specific challenges culled from parts of the games. Player progress is rewarded with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews about Rare's major and unreleased games.
GoldenEye 007 is added to the game library of anyone who purchases a digital copy of Rare Replay.
Upon GoldenEye 007's release on Xbox One/Series consoles, it was retroactively added to the game library of anyone with a prior purchase of a digital copy.Action Comedy Science fiction
The King of Fighters '98The All-Star dream battle is here at last: It's King of Fighters '98! Here come 38 of your favorite characters from the King of Fighters series. Your favorite characters and teams are back! Filled with new surprises like the Roulette Team Edit and Advantage System, King '98 will pop your cork with unrelenting excitement!Action
Need for Speed: UndergroundNeed for Speed: Underground is a 2003 racing video game and the seventh installment in the Need for Speed series. It rebooted the franchise, ignoring previous Need for Speed games that featured sports cars and exotics. Underground is the first game in the series to offer a career mode that features a comprehensive storyline, as well as a garage mode that allows players to fully customize their cars with a large variety of brand-name performance and visual upgrades.
Need for Speed: Most WantedThe player arrives in Rockport City, driving a racing version of the BMW M3 GTR (E46). Following Mia Townsend (played by Josie Maran), the player proves his driving prowess as he is pursued by a veteran police officer named Sergeant Cross (played by Dean McKenzie), who vows to take down the player and end street racing in Rockport.
Races seem to be in the player's favor until a particular group of racers, led by the game's antagonist, Clarence "Razor" Callahan (played by Derek Hamilton), sabotages and win the player's car in a race.Trending Open world
Tony Hawk's Proving GroundTony Hawk's Proving Ground features deeper customization than ever before, including a Video Editor with full-featured editing tools and visual effects for creating epic skate videos, and a fully customizable online Skate Lounge where players can skate with friends in the ultimate pad. In addition, players will have the freedom to skate from single player to online seamlessly, as well as utilize new gameplay mechanics such as skateable terrain altering and building, and Bowl Carving, delivering the most empowered skating experience ever. Tony Hawk-s Proving Ground also features even more Nail the Trick moves such as Nail the Grab and Nail the Manual intensifying the thrill of pulling off big tricks.Open world Action
Need for Speed: Underground 2Need For Speed Underground 2 takes place in Bayview after the events of Need for Speed: Underground. The prologue begins with the player driving in a Nissan Skyline R34 in Olympic City (though the racing scenes are actually in Bayview), the setting of NFS:UG. He then receives a race challenge from a rather ominous personality who offers him a spot on his crew, but "won't take 'no' for an answer." The player races off — despite Samantha's warnings — only to be ambushed by a mysterious driver in a rage that totals his Skyline. The driver, who has a unique scythe tattoo, makes a call confirming the accident, and the flashback fades out.Trending Action
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!The Mushroom Kingdom just got a whole lot more hectic as Mario and friends double up for furious kart racing. This time around, each kart holds two racers that can switch places at any time, so choose from a huge cast of favorites and pair them up any way you see fit. The character in front handles the driving duties, while the character in the rear doles out damage with six normal items and eight special items that only specific characters can use. Get ready for some intense multiplayer mayhem with your favorite characters, including Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Peach, Bowser, and Koopa.Action Kids
Mega Man Battle & ChaseIt's robot mayhem at the Battle & Chase tournament! Dr. Wily is trying to take over the tournament with his army of Robot Masters, and now Mega Man has to enter to try and save the races! Choose your racer and head out on the tracks, and if you win, you'll get to steal parts off your opponent's cars, and eventually, you'll race against the mad Dr. Wily himself!Action
Tatsunoko VS. Capcom: Ultimate All StarsIn Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, players engage in combat with teams of two characters—owned by Capcom or Tatsunoko Production—and attempt to knock out their opponents. The game is set in a 2.5D environment; characters fight in a two-dimensional arena, but character models and backgrounds are rendered in three-dimensional graphics. The game is designed around a simplified three-button attack system, which was inspired by the simplistic control schemes commonly used by both the Vs. series and the Wii.Action