The Power Tycoon
Manage a real-time power grid. Place solar farms, wind turbines, coal plants, and more. Balance generation against demand. Keep the grid frequency stable. Survive weather crises.
GridSim is a browser-based strategy game that combines the satisfaction of building infrastructure with the tension of real-time grid operations.
Core Gameplay Features
Isometric Field View
Place power plants and transmission lines on an intuitive isometric map. Watch generation facilities adapt to weather conditions and consumer demand in real-time.
- 7 generator types (solar, wind, coal, gas, hydro, nuclear, battery)
- 3 load asset types (town, business, industrial)
- Transmission network with realistic loading constraints
- Dynamic weather affecting generation output
SCADA Control Room
Switch to the gritty utility control room. Monitor grid frequency, power balance, and transmission line loading. Real-time charts and digital readouts keep you in command.
- Frequency monitoring (58–62 Hz nominal 60 Hz)
- Real-time power flow visualization
- Single-line diagram of grid topology
- 60-second trending charts for generation mix
- Relay status and blackout risk assessment
Dynamic Weather & Emergencies
Storm systems roll across the grid, reducing renewable output and triggering line faults. Dispatch repair trucks to restore service and keep your customers happy.
- Weather states: clear, cloudy, rain, storm
- Variable solar and wind output per weather
- Random transmission line faults during storms
- Truck dispatch system for line repairs
- Emergency alerts and blackout warnings
Real-Time Economy
Balance your budget. Each generator has OpEx costs. Each customer generates revenue. Manage your balance to afford expansions and handle emergencies.
- Tick-based economy: revenue and costs update every ~500ms
- Asset build costs: $300k–$8,000k depending on capacity
- Operating expenses: coal, gas, nuclear cost $k/tick
- Customer revenue: towns, businesses, industrial parks pay $k/tick
- Pollution tracking: carbon intensity per fuel type
Play Modes
Starter Valley
TUTORIAL
Perfect introduction. Manage a small valley utility with clear objectives: build renewables, expand transmission, and serve new loads.
Starting balance: $12,000k
Storm Recovery
MEDIUM
A severe storm has knocked out critical infrastructure. Restore service, stabilize the grid, and handle the chaos with limited repair crews.
Starting balance: $18,000k
Renewable Transition
HARD
An aging coal fleet must be replaced with renewables while meeting rising demand. Rising costs and tight timeline make this a challenging scenario.
Starting balance: $25,000k
Free Play Sandbox
CREATIVE
Build your own grid from scratch with unlimited possibilities. Test your strategies with configurable starting balance: $5k, $15k, $50k, or unlimited.
Pick your own challenge level
Built With Modern Web Tech
Game Engine
Phaser 3.70 for rendering and game loop
UI Framework
React 19 for SCADA dashboard overlays
State Management
Zustand for game state persistence
Charting
Recharts for real-time grid analytics
Build Tool
Vite 6 for fast development
Audio
Web Audio API synthesizer for immersion
Ready to Manage the Grid?
Load the game and start playing. Choose a scenario to learn the ropes, or jump straight to sandbox mode.
Launch GridSim →Full source code available on GitHub