Molek-Syntez

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Use the Molek-Syntez to create small molecules with various pharmacological effects from the comfort of your small Romanian apartment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 365 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Clever and engaging pseudoprogramming puzzles that challenge players to optimize their solutions.
Minimalist aesthetic and atmosphere that enhances the immersion into the game's dystopian theme.
Includes a challenging solitaire mini-game that adds an extra layer of fun and distraction.

Lacks a comprehensive tutorial, making it difficult for newcomers to understand the mechanics and gameplay.
Puzzles can feel repetitive and tedious, especially in the early stages, leading to a lack of variety.
The minimalist presentation may come off as drab and unpolished compared to other Zachtronics titles.

gameplay
64 mentions
11 % positive mentions
84 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of mechanics from previous Zachtronics titles like Opus Magnum and SpaceChem, featuring puzzle-solving and optimization elements, but it lacks the depth and variety that made those games engaging. While the mechanics are well-executed, many players find them repetitive and poorly explained, leading to a sense of frustration, especially for newcomers. Overall, the game offers a minimalist experience that may appeal to fans of the genre, but it struggles with clarity and innovation, resulting in a gameplay experience that feels constrained and sometimes tedious.
- “The gameplay is like SpaceChem combined with Opus Magnum mixed with the minimal aesthetics (and plot) of TIS-100.”
- “Gameplay and art design felt like a mashup of SpaceChem and TIS-100, and as those were two great games I very much enjoyed, there was certainly fun to be had here in advancing through the puzzles and optimizing my solutions.”
- “Clever geometric puzzle and optimization mechanics in the same vein as SpaceChem or Opus Magnum.”
- “Long time fans will be able to intuit most of the gameplay while newcomers will be at a loss quickly with no guidance except what little guidance the fan base has put together.”
- “Sadly, this mechanic can be a bit obscure and hard to predict, and the fact that the game never explains it to the player is truly unfortunate.”
- “The gameplay also doesn't have much variety in the long run.”
story
38 mentions
16 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story in this game is minimal and largely consists of sparse on-screen text, lacking character development, art, and animations, which many players found disappointing. While some appreciated the minimalist approach and the mood it created, others felt the narrative was anticlimactic and underwhelming, with little to engage players beyond the puzzle-solving mechanics. Overall, the story is seen as an afterthought, with many reviewers wishing for more depth and context to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “The moody atmosphere and pared-down story were enjoyable to me.”
- “As far as story, you can actually miss it very easily, but what is there is interesting and clearly thought out rather than just an afterthought.”
- “The storyline is interesting; it reminds me a bit of the Little Inferno story, where you weren't really sure there was a story until you get closer to the end, and more things make sense the more milestones you make.”
- “The story is limited to some on-screen text, so there's no characters, art, or animations, just you and the puzzles.”
- “Ultimately, the story never really amounts to much and is not continued into the bonus set of puzzles.”
- “There is a story of sorts, but it's more of a mood piece than anything, with snippets of the chemist's private thoughts coming in after completing so many levels.”
graphics
37 mentions
19 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist, monochrome aesthetic reminiscent of mid-1980s visuals, drawing comparisons to titles like TIS-100 and Opus Magnum. While some players appreciate the bleak and detached art style for its immersive qualities, others find it lacking in color and charm, leading to a sense of tedium. Overall, the visuals serve the gameplay's focus on puzzle-solving but may disappoint those seeking a more vibrant or detailed artistic experience.
- “The aesthetic is very monochrome and minimalist, which adds to the immersion.”
- “Combined with the stark black and white aesthetic, the setting feels bleakly Eastern European or Russian, about a chemist finding some level of power in restoring drugs to what seems to be some kind of post-apocalyptic world.”
- “If you like puzzles, beautiful visuals, and a vibe of a USSR apartment, you'll love this.”
- “Unfortunately, the graphics are circa mid-1980s, and the lack of color eventually became too annoying.”
- “If you're looking for narrative, character, graphics of pretty much any kind, or anything other than a minimalistic, to-the-roots puzzle game, you'll be disappointed.”
- “It seems very low quality in terms of graphics, sound, and story from the company that brought us epic games such as Infinifactory and Opus Magnum.”
optimization
18 mentions
22 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while many players find it engaging and appreciate the various metrics for ranking their solutions, others feel that the opportunities for deep optimization are limited compared to previous Zachtronics titles. The puzzles are generally easy to solve without focusing on optimization, but those who do engage with it can find satisfaction in refining their solutions across different leaderboards. Overall, the game offers a fun challenge for problem-solving and optimization, though some players note aesthetic frustrations with certain command mechanics.
- “Speaking of optimization, in the usual Zachtronics fashion, you get ranked after each level in a few different metrics such as how fast your automated process is.”
- “Getting a result and seeing the leaderboards motivates you to look for new, optimized, and more elegant solutions.”
- “Generally, I found it not quite as satisfying when I completed a task as with other Zachtronics games, and it feels like there is less opportunity for optimization in any category, fewer nuances to explore.”
- “However, the vast majority of the puzzles are very simple to solve if you don't care about optimization or leaderboards.”
- “Optimizing the puzzles for the 3 different leaderboards (speed, minimum parts, minimum instructions) should be considered as part of the game, as the optimization process is vastly different in all puzzles.”
music
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a cold, ambient soundtrack that effectively complements its Eastern European aesthetic, creating an atmosphere of unease and futuristic marvel. While some players appreciate the calmness of the drone-like ambient music, which aids in concentration during gameplay, others note a lack of the strong musical elements found in previous Zachtronics titles, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding its absence in certain aspects.
- “This game gets its atmosphere perfectly, with the occasional-but-not-too-frequent swell of familiar synths in the background falling to near-silence, which is probably the best work music that a Zachtronics game could have.”
- “One positive note: the drone-like ambient music is some of the best in any Zachtronics game.”
- “You need something calm if you're going to do some thinking, and the music in Molek-Syntez is perfect for that.”
- “Although I eventually grew to enjoy the game's bleak and detached art style - especially the ambient soundtrack with its peculiar mix of coldness, unease, and futuristic marvel deserves a mention - the gameplay became so tedious around the final level tiers that I'm not sure if I want to finish the main campaign.”
- “Nowhere near the production values and story of SpaceChem, Opus Magnum, and Infinifactory, and no music at all when music was a very strong point in earlier games.”
- “I've always found the puzzle music too intrusive in previous games (looking at you, Shenzhen).”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, especially in the early levels, which lack challenge and can feel monotonous. While some enjoy the later levels' increased difficulty, the overall experience can lead to frustration, with many expressing reluctance to complete the campaign due to the grind. The solitaire mini-game is also noted as particularly tedious, contributing to the overall sentiment of a laborious gameplay experience.
- “The first 15 or so puzzles didn't pose any challenge and just felt tedious to complete.”
- “Puzzles are tedious and repetitive.”
- “Although I eventually grew to enjoy the game's bleak and detached art style - especially the ambient soundtrack with its peculiar mix of coldness, unease, and futuristic marvel deserves a mention - the gameplay became so tedious around the final level tiers that I'm not sure if I want to finish the main campaign.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
86 % positive mentions
-29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, featuring a well-crafted blend of ambient synths that enhance the experience without overwhelming it. Reviewers appreciate the moody ambiance and clean user interface, which complement the engaging puzzle mechanics, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive and fun, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “This game gets its atmosphere perfectly, with the occasional-but-not-too-frequent swell of familiar synths in the background falling to near-silence, which is probably the best work music that a Zachtronics game could have.”
- “The moody atmosphere and pared-down story were enjoyable to me.”
- “Totally atmospheric and just plain fun for people who like this kind of thing.”
- “The atmosphere feels lacking compared to their previous titles, making the experience less immersive.”
- “I expected a rich environment, but the atmosphere is surprisingly dull and uninspired.”
- “The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving me feeling disconnected from the world.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its satirical edge, eliciting genuine laughter from players, particularly in its chemistry-themed elements. While some found the storyline to be overly edgy, the comedic aspects were generally well-received and contributed to an enjoyable experience.
- “The storyline was a bit too edgy, though at one point I couldn't stop laughing because it started to feel almost satirical.”
- “Very funny game.”
- “Chemistry but funny.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability due to its streamlined synthesis processes and the esoteric nature of its puzzles, encouraging players to explore creative solutions. Additionally, the integration of the Steam Workshop enhances replayability by providing endless user-generated content. Overall, fans of puzzle games will find ample opportunities to revisit and enjoy the game.
- “While the choice of precursors is pretty accurate as far as what would be available to a clandestine kitchen chemist, the actual reactions and steps are nothing like the real organic synthesis steps (which frankly is probably a good thing for public safety!). It's a great game; a little short, but there's decent replayability, as there's always a way to streamline your syntheses.”
- “While the choice of precursors is pretty accurate as far as what would be available to a clandestine kitchen chemist, the actual reactions and steps are nothing like the real organic synthesis steps. It's a great game, but it's a little short, and the replayability is limited as there are only a few ways to streamline your syntheses.”
- “The puzzles themselves are so esoteric that these games are highly replayable.”
- “If you love puzzle games with solid mechanics, room for creativity in solutions, and endless replayability through the Steam Workshop, then go ahead and pick this game up, along with every other Zachtronics game.”