COALCOM: Power Station — A Gritty Industry Simulator Built Over a Decade

Developed by Pedro Matos, an electrical engineer with over 20 years of experience in the power industry, COALCOM: Power Station launched on Steam on May 12, 2026. This “extreme job simulator” is the result of a 10-year passion project designed to capture the high-stakes pressure of operating a 1980s coal-fired power plant.

The 1980s Control Room Aesthetic

The game avoids modern high-fidelity graphics in favor of a strictly minimalist, retro visual style.

• Visuals: The screen is dominated by the faint glow of green phosphor CRT terminals and blinking text.
• Interface: There is no mouse support; players must use terminal commands and keyboard inputs to navigate the system, simulating the feel of authentic old hardware.
• Audio: The soundscape is filled with mechanical button clicks, system hums, and the persistent, stressful wail of alarms when equipment fails.

Managing the Pressure of Interconnected Systems

Inspired by the stress-inducing mechanics of Papers, Please, COALCOM focuses on the psychological weight of being an operator under constant evaluation.

• Real-Time Management: Players oversee boiler pressure, drum water levels, coal supply, and cooling systems at the Riverside power station.
• Interconnectivity: Every system is linked; adjusting a single value can trigger a chain reaction across the entire plant, potentially leading to a total system collapse.
• Evaluation: Performance is strictly graded from A to F based on fuel efficiency, facility maintenance, and compliance with Transmission System Operator (TSO) standards.

Campaign and Maintenance Mechanics

The game offers a structured campaign along with high-replayability modes for those who survive the initial shifts.

• Shifts and Failures: The campaign consists of 10 shifts featuring 21 distinct types of equipment failure.
• Cumulative Wear: Equipment condition persists between shifts, forcing players to strategically spend points on maintenance to prevent long-term degradation.
• Continuous Mode: After clearing the fifth shift, players can unlock an endless mode to test how long they can keep the grid running.

Quick Specification: COALCOM: Power Station