Hydra is a Game Launcher with its own embedded BitTorrent Client. The launcher is written in TypeScript (Electron) and Python, which handles the torrenting system by using libtorrent.
Publisher’s description
What is Hydra?
Hydra by Los Broxas is open-source Windows software in the pc games category. It is written in TypeScript.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit Windows. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 4.2.0, released on October 15, 2026. The version history goes back to June 22, 2024: 86 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 37 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (hydralauncher/hydra) has 17,426 stars. Similar programs include RetroArch, OpenTTD and PPSSPP.
Project description on GitHub: “Hydra Launcher is an open-source gaming platform created to be the single tool that you need”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
- Frequent updates (about 37 a year)
- Large user base
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Hydra is an open-source pc game tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Hydra safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
1B8E6033FBC35D0773E87D51DB24775A1E6C4E0D989B465A08D727FC85DA9FD0· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 86 versions ›86 versions over 2 years · about 37 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2.0Latest | October 15, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.1.6 | October 2, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.1.5 | September 26, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.1.4 | September 17, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.1.3 | September 4, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.1.2 | August 21, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.1.1 | August 11, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.1.0 | August 7, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id HydraLauncher.Hydra -ehydralauncher-4.2.0-setup.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install hydraInformation
- Publisher
- Los Broxas
- Category
- PC games
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/hydralauncher/hydra
- Written in
- TypeScript
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Version
- 4.2.0
- Released
- October 15, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- July 2, 2024
- Versions listed
- 86
- Updates / year
- 37.2
- GitHub stars
- 17,426
- GitHub forks
- 4,055
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- HydraLauncher.Hydra
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Hydra free?
Yes. Hydra is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is Hydra safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Hydra with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Hydra be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Hydra run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Hydra?
The versions page lists all 86 versions with links to their official installer files, back to June 22, 2024.
Can I use Hydra without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to Hydra?
RetroArch, OpenTTD, PPSSPP, Steam and Playnite. The alternatives page compares them.
