Reactor — free browser game

As a nuclear reactor operator, your job is to keep the reactor within a safe temperature range while meeting the variable power demand coming from the electrical grid — in other words, a simplified simulation of what a power-plant operator does in the real world. There are 4 control rods on screen; as you pull a rod up (with the ▲ arrow or by dragging with the mouse), the portion withdrawn from the reactor increases, the reactive material is exposed to more neutrons, and both power output and temperature rise. By pushing the rods down (▼) you do the opposite: the reaction slows, and power and temperature fall. The top panel shows your instantaneous power output in MW, the target power demand, and a temperature gauge; the aim is to meet the target demand within ±25 MW and keep the temperature between 200° and 900°. If the temperature exceeds 900°, efficiency starts to drop and you have to pull the rods out further for the same power; if it exceeds 1200°, a MELTDOWN occurs and the game ends. Your score earns 1 point for every second you run stably, so staying stable for a long time is critical for a high score. Strategy: don't move all the rods at once — open the 4 rods gradually and keep each at a different level, so that when one rod's efficiency drops the others compensate. When power demand suddenly spikes, it is safer to open 2-3 rods a little more on average rather than pulling a single rod far out, because heat builds up locally around each rod. As you approach 1100°, immediately lower the highest rod by half; keeping the temperature around 600° is the sweet spot for efficiency and safety.