Hyperwired is a chaotic new shmup where you're tethered to a power cord

Picture the most irresponsible pilot in the Space Corps: someone who would head into battle with their starfighter’s charging cable dangling behind them like a stray ribbon of toilet paper. That is exactly the premise behind Hyperwired, a chaotic new top-down arcade shooter from Zaragoza-based developer Sidralgames.

Scheduled for a July 2, 2026, release on PC, Hyperwired tasks players with navigating procedurally generated levels while managing a constant energy crisis. You aren't just blasting lasers at waves of gremlins; you are also tethered to a physical power cable. To keep your ship functional, you have to latch onto solar-panelled satellites to recharge your battery. The catch is that your cable has a finite length, limiting your movement radius while you’re plugged in, though you can use the tether to yank satellites around the map.

Tactical Tethering and Upgrades

The developers describe this "Plug n' Shoot" mechanic as the core of the experience. If you find yourself in a sector without any satellites to dock with, you can deploy a disposable satellite to generate emergency power. Managing these connections is also the primary way to access power-ups, such as incendiary ammo and shield upgrades.

For those looking for a bit more depth, the game features a surprising amount of customization for a shmup:

• 10 unique ships to pilot.
• 40 different upgrades.
• Approximately 250 possible bullet modifier combinations.
• A slow-motion ability fueled by collecting fragments from destroyed enemies.

The gameplay loop also allows for a bit of camaraderie; you can rescue smaller NPC fightercraft and attach them to your current satellite to create a roving defensive ally presence. The levels themselves are interactive, with certain weapons capable of blasting away the environment to clear a path through the traps and grabbing claws that populate the screen.

Try It Yourself

If the concept of a tactical, "pleasantly bewildering" shooter sounds appealing, you don't have to wait until July to see it in action. A demo is currently live on Steam. For those interested in the project's roots, an earlier prototype—which began life as a game jam project—is also available to play on Itch.io.

Whether you're looking for a high-intensity PC Gaming experience or just want to see how much trouble you can get into while literally attached to a power cord, Hyperwired looks to offer a distinct, hectic take on the genre.