An exhilarating arcade powerboat racer with wild tracks and dizzying jumps. Speed intoxicates, controls feel immediate and multiplayer fun is absolute. A cathartic classic.
Your verdict
Category
Racing4 players3+
Split screen
Description
Speedboats race on lakes and rivers at high speed in this Midway Dreamcast nautical racing game. Published by Midway, released in the United States in September 1999. Powerboat racing with varied aquatic circuits, boosts and spectacular jumps, solo and multiplayer modes. American version.
Hydro Thunder review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Hurling a speedboat at full power across watery courses riddled with shortcuts and spectacular jumps: aquatic racing finds an overflowing energy here. The boost rewards risk-taking and every wave cleared brings an instant rush. Pure arcade, readable and snappy, it heads straight for the fun with no detours.
Standard American run of Hydro Thunder, the most widespread NTSC pressing of this flashy water-racing game. Widely distributed as a safe Dreamcast launch bet, it stays easy to find and its desirability is low in itself. Its only real collecting stake arises from comparison with the earlier revision, which turns a common title into a small playground for variant enthusiasts.
Is Hydro Thunder still worth playing in 2026?
A conversion of the Midway cabinet, Hydro Thunder races overpowered speedboats along watery tracks packed with shortcuts and boost pickups. The handling is arcade through and through, all speed, jumps and spray, with no pretense of simulation. Content stays thin and the difficulty ramps quickly, yet the immediate thrills still land well in short sessions. For anyone nostalgic about late nineties arcades and fans of pure racing, the fun remains intact.
