Tornado: Research and Rescue

Tornado: Research and Rescue

Early access since May 2023

Chase violent tornadoes across 1990s Tornado Alley. Read the forecast, deploy scientific probes, warn towns and upgrade your equipment as every procedurally generated storm pushes you closer to disaster.

85% positive · 401 reviews
Not yet
In early access, still in active development
High confidence
Active Development
Not yet
In early access, still in active development
High confidence
Active Development

Where to buy

Steam $12.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
We couldn't confirm these stores carry this game.
Green Man Gaming Steam key Search IndieGala Steam key Search
Prices in USD, as listed by each store.
Buying through an affiliate store helps support the site

Evaluation

Tornado: Research and Rescue is a solo-developer Early Access game that continues to receive an exceptional pace of updates. On July 27, 2026, the developer published a major announcement explaining that the entire game had been rebuilt from scratch in a new Unity project, with the rebuilt version already live on Steam. The developer explicitly stated this rebuild "provides a much stronger foundation for everything still to come." Since that announcement, development has accelerated further. Between September 5 and September 22, 2026 alone, the developer shipped six updates (v0.29.0 through v0.33.1), adding freight trains and level crossings, road signs, major debris physics optimisations, a tornado logbook, updated tornado lifecycle behaviour, procedurally generated farmsteads and industrial zones, basement sheltering, a free camera mode, and the Andover 1991 historical tornado scenario. The Red Truck DLC — which adds a cosmetic vehicle and the ability to deploy two probes simultaneously — launched on August 28, 2026. The developer has also signalled specific content still to come: the September 22 update post mentions plans to add the Pampa, TX 1995 tornado scenario, and the September 19 update notes that the gas station asset is in the game but "not functional yet," with plans for refueling and repair mechanics. The game remains at version 0.33.x, well short of a 1.0 release, and the developer has given no indication that development is winding down.
Evidence
Announcement of Red Truck DLC releasing that Friday, alongside a major map generator optimisation update (v0.26.0). Signals continued feature development and paid content.
news post · Aug 25, 2026 source content planned
high
Developer announces the game has been completely rebuilt from scratch in a new Unity project, with the rebuilt version already live. States the rebuild 'provides a much stronger foundation for everything still to come.'
news post · Jul 27, 2026 source development ongoing
high

Content

1 of 1 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Sam Kennedy
Achievements
30
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player

About this game

Tornado: Research and Rescue is a storm-chasing game set during the golden age of 1990s tornado research. Read the forecast, track violent storms across Tornado Alley, deploy scientific probes and warn communities before it is too late.

Every chase is different. Forecasts, road networks, towns, tornadoes and destruction are procedurally generated, forcing you to make decisions with limited time and incomplete information. Choose your route, position your equipment and decide how close you are willing to get as the storm evolves around you.

CHASE THE STORM

Use Doppler radar and visual clues to locate developing tornadoes, then navigate rural roads to intercept them.

Tornadoes can change direction, grow rapidly and become wrapped in heavy precipitation. What begins as a distant funnel can become a violent, debris-filled wedge cutting off your escape route. Getting close produces better research opportunities - but one wrong turn can place you directly in the path!

DEPLOY SCIENTIFIC PROBES

Place portable probes ahead of the tornado and attempt to capture measurements from inside the circulation.

Collect data including:

  • Wind speed

  • Pressure

  • Temperature

  • Dew point

Stronger tornadoes can produce more valuable readings, but reaching their path and escaping safely becomes increasingly difficult. A perfectly positioned probe could fund your next set of upgrades.

WARN TOWNS

Research is only part of the job.

When a tornado threatens a community, issue warnings and give residents time to reach shelter. Your decisions have consequences. A successful chase is not measured only by the data you collect, but by how many people survive the storm.

MANIPULATE THE TORNADO

Experimental atmospheric chemicals allow you to influence a tornado's behaviour.

Release different chemical types to alter properties such as intensity, width and movement. Each tornado responds differently, so every experiment requires observation, repeated sampling and a willingness to take risks.

You may weaken a dangerous storm - or accidentally create something far worse: tornadoes beyond an F5 rating are possible in this game!

UPGRADE YOUR EQUIPMENT

Sell research data and earn rewards from successful rescues to prepare for increasingly dangerous chases.

Improve your:

  • Storm-chasing vehicle

  • Doppler radar

  • Research probe

Better equipment allows you to detect storms earlier, collect more valuable data and survive conditions that would have ended previous chases.

BUILD YOUR STORM-CHASING CAREER

Begin with limited equipment and work your way towards the most extreme tornadoes the atmosphere can produce.

Each forecast presents a new combination of risk and opportunity. A quiet-looking day may struggle to produce a tornado, while an exceptional environment could create a violent outbreak capable of overwhelming entire communities.

Spend your earnings carefully, improve your research capabilities and decide whether the next chase is worth the danger.

CREATE YOUR OWN CHASES

Alongside the career experience, Sandbox mode allows you to configure custom storm-chasing scenarios.

Experiment with different environments, tornadoes and equipment without putting your career progression at risk, or create the most destructive storm you can survive.

You can also recreate historic tornadoes and experience them yourself in-game: the Bridge Creek/Moore 1999 tornado and the Jarrell 1997 tornadoes are included.

Forecast the storm. Deploy the probe. Warn the towns. Survive the chase.

Last evaluated Oct 1, 2026
Something about this evaluation looks wrong Report illegal or harmful content