Synergia

Synergia has a slow start, a scintillating middle, and some odd ends, but as an entire package it’s a solid yuri cyberpunk visual novel that has some forgivable offenses.

82%Game Brain Score

story, music

gameplay, replayability

88% User Score Based on 474 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About

Synergia is a single player casual role playing game with romance, thriller and science fiction themes. It was developed by Radi Art and was released on July 27, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Synergia is a yuri thriller visual novel that takes place in a cyberpunk future, wrapped up in a beautifully unique, vibrant neon aesthetic. At the end of the world, sometimes love is the ultimate crime.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 474 reviews

story180 positive mentions

replayability4 negative mentions

The art style and music are exceptional, creating a captivating cyberpunk atmosphere.
The story explores interesting themes of love and identity, particularly in the context of human-android relationships.
The characters, especially the protagonists Cila and Mara, are engaging and their development throughout the game is enjoyable.

The pacing of the story feels rushed, especially towards the end, leaving some plot points underdeveloped.
There are very few choices that impact the story, which can make the gameplay feel linear and limit replayability.
Some dialogue and writing contain grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, detracting from the overall experience.

story
590 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
64%
5%
The story of "Synergia" is a complex blend of cyberpunk themes and a yuri romance, praised for its engaging characters and emotional depth, yet criticized for its rushed pacing, particularly in the latter half, which leaves many plot points unresolved. While some players found the narrative captivating and immersive, others felt it lacked coherence and depth, with a limited number of choices that diminished player agency. Overall, the game presents a compelling premise but struggles with execution, leading to mixed feelings about its storytelling quality.
- “Played this game on a whim, but eventually I found myself getting super into the lore and imagining how this world looked like as the story progressed.”
- “A powerful story that gripped me from the very beginning, paired with a soundtrack that created an irresistible current.”
- “I fell in love with the story of both Cila and Mara and how the game presents the crush they're both having and what that means in the society they're living.”
- “After that, the story feels rushed: the rhythm is very different from the beginning/mid game, the plot 'thickens' but gets more confusing at the same time.”
- “Like everyone else says, the story feels very rushed towards the end.”
- “The story and writing are major problems with this game, chiefly because the translation is often low quality.”
music
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in "Synergia" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively complementing the game's cyberpunk aesthetic. Many players praised the soundtrack as fantastic, with a mix of synthpop and ambient sounds that enhance the overall experience, although some noted moments of repetitiveness. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's emotional depth and setting.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, the art's essential yet fascinating style fits perfectly with the cyberpunk atmosphere, the characters are interesting and evolving.”
- “The ambient, pulsing soundtrack (synth-heavy, naturally) really pulls everything together and heightens the immersion, never outstaying its welcome.”
- “A relaxing experience characterized by classic, bold themes of the cyberpunk dystopia that are complemented by a completely original soundtrack!”
- “The music was dramatic and sometimes a little too repetitive to the point where I had to turn it off just so I can focus on reading.”
- “As a result, it is pointless to try to understand most of the settings and story progress; the reader sees the artwork, hears the music, and generates the most generic dystopian sci-fi city in their mind as the backdrop, which really cheapens the experience by failing to introduce any concrete background to the story.”
- “Until then, the questions of the player are usually met with lies, more lies, opaque answers, or with the promise of a vague answer later on, with little to hold the player's interest in the meantime, apart from some relaxing music.”
graphics
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The graphics in Synergia are widely praised for their stunning cyberpunk aesthetic, featuring a rich array of artwork that beautifully complements the game's atmosphere and soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the unique character designs and the effective use of color and lighting, which create an immersive experience, despite some noting inconsistencies in art styles. Overall, the visuals are considered a major strength of the game, enhancing its appeal, especially for fans of the genre.
- “The aesthetics and presentation in Synergia are excellent: the music, the backgrounds, the character art -- it's all so very well done.”
- “It's very easy to appreciate the work that went into the absolutely dizzying amount of artwork and how well it all ties together with the soundtrack to create a game that really screenshots well.”
- “The artwork has a rough, worn, sketched look, which uses a very limited color palette of mostly grays and tons of electric-looking reds with fantastic noir-like use of stark lighting and plenty of dramatic shadows which really matches the feel of the world.”
- “As a result, it is pointless to try to understand most of the settings and story progress; the reader sees the artwork, hears the music, and generates the most generic dystopian sci-fi city in their mind as the backdrop, which really cheapens the experience by failing to introduce any concrete background to the story.”
- “Between the plot holes, spelling mistakes, and the amount of mismatching art styles, this game was a bumpy ride.”
- “Art: 9/10 - with an amazing intro video sequence and an overall style that makes your eyes bleed, it's hard to find fault in the artwork.”
atmosphere
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
34%
7%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive cyberpunk aesthetic, enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack and intriguing art style that effectively convey the world’s complexities and social issues. Reviewers highlight the unique and organic portrayal of the environment, which captivates players and complements character development, despite some criticisms regarding the main characters. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that draws players in and keeps them engaged throughout the experience.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, the art's essential yet fascinating style fits perfectly with the cyberpunk atmosphere, the characters are interesting and evolving.”
- “This game is absolutely unique in its atmosphere.”
- “Holy moly, I binged this game in one sitting, the art style, the atmosphere, and the music pulled me in and kept me there; my eyes were so engrossed by the beautiful ambiance that I couldn't stop.”
- “A 7/10 not-so-thought-provoking plot, but not weak enough to ruin the great cyberpunk atmosphere brought by the delicate artworks and amazing soundtracks.”
- “Another thing I really liked is the realistic atmosphere and how the world is portrayed; of course, a deactivated android who's supposed to get a check-up is not going to wear clothes, it just makes sense.”
- “The music is exactly what you'd expect from a cyberpunk-themed game and keeps the atmosphere afloat without getting in the way of reading.”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The emotional aspect of Synergia is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and strong character relationships, particularly within its cyberpunk setting. Reviewers appreciate the organic and heartwarming romance, which adds depth to the protagonist's emotional journey, though some feel the narrative could benefit from further development and editing. Overall, the game leaves a significant emotional impact, engaging players with its themes of love and isolation amidst a dystopian backdrop.
- “The tale it tells is gripping, emotional, and will keep you sat down till you finish it in one go.”
- “If you, imaginary reader, can't already tell, Synergia has had quite an emotional impact on me.”
- “Like most cyberpunk, it has very strong Blade Runner influences which it wears on its sleeve, right down to the central themes of AI, sentience, autonomy, and transhumanism; there's also a pretty strong neo-noir influence, especially in the protagonist's emotional journey through the story.”
- “Even that isn’t enough to save an otherwise boring story that I find hard not to dislike.”
character development
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
25%
15%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the evolution and uniqueness of the characters, others feel that the strong worldbuilding overshadows or even replaces character growth. The cyberpunk aesthetic and art style are praised, but there is a consensus that character development could benefit from further depth and exploration. Overall, the character designs are well-received, yet the narrative integration of these characters leaves room for improvement.
- “I really enjoyed the character development.”
- “The atmosphere and character development was spot on to me.”
- “While the worldbuilding is actually pretty interesting, it comes in and sours itself by not joining but completely replacing all character development or even presence.”
- “The cyberpunk aesthetic was clearly evident in the character design and that's what really attracted me to even try this out.”
- “Love the artwork and how well the character development evolves throughout the game.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The gameplay is described as straightforward and not groundbreaking, typical of visual novels with minimal interactive elements, primarily focused on narrative choices. Players can expect around 4 to 9 hours of gameplay, depending on the exploration of different endings, with some characters feeling underdeveloped due to the short length. Overall, while the gameplay is serviceable and satisfying, there is a desire for a longer experience.
- “But with easier gameplay and a better ending, this game gives a very satisfying vibe.”
- “Still, I liked what I've experienced and those 9 hours of gameplay were enough to satisfy me; I wish only it would last longer.”
- “It's about a 4-hour gameplay for both endings and the epilogue.”
- “It does not do anything groundbreaking with the gameplay or the story, but they are serviceable enough.”
- “Cila and Mara are great characters, but other characters that hold an integral part of the story fall apart due to the short gameplay length.”
- “For those unfamiliar with visual novels, they're closer to choose-your-own-text-adventures and have a minimum of gameplay.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players noting it elicits a range of emotions, from laughter to tears. The inclusion of quirky elements, such as "funny lesbian robots," adds a unique charm, while unexpected darker themes enhance the overall comedic experience. Overall, the writing successfully balances humor with deeper moments, leaving players both amused and engaged.
- “The story had me smiling, laughing, and crying.”
- “The story went a lot darker than I was expecting at some places, which was a very pleasant surprise, and a couple of lines had me chuckling or smiling dumb by myself.”
- “Funny lesbian robots”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with multiple users noting that it offers very little incentive to play again after the initial experience.
- “This gives the game very little replayability.”