Skip to main content

SYNESTHESIA

SYNESTHESIA Game Cover
91%Game Brain Score
story, music
graphics, character development
100% User Score Based on 42 reviews

Platforms

LinuxXbox Series X|SPCMac OSXbox OneXboxWindows
Buy Nowfrom €14.79
Buy NowGet on Steam €14.79Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store
SYNESTHESIA Game Cover

About

SYNESTHESIA is a single player casual action adventure game with romance, mystery, anime and science fiction themes. It was developed by Spire Games and was released on June 20, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

The year is 2029. The Huntley Scientific Research Institute has opened its doors to a select few—young individuals gifted with extraordinary mental powers and mysterious abilities. Among them is Ziek, a university student with a rare form of “synesthesia”—a perception that allows him to see the hidden significance of objects through vibrant splashes of color. But what begins as an exciting oppor…

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
SYNESTHESIA screenshot
+3
Skip User Reviews

100%
Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews
story29 positive mentions
  • Engaging and well-written sci-fi story with deep philosophical and scientific themes that provoke thought and reflection.
  • High quality, colorful art style with smooth character animations and a fitting, emotional soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
  • Innovative flowchart gameplay that allows exploration of multiple routes with minimal backtracking, plus occasional puzzles that serve the story.
  • Voice acting predominantly uses AI speech synthesis which can sound robotic and detract from emotional immersion; option to disable is available.
  • Some key characters and plot points are underdeveloped or feel rushed, leaving unanswered questions and weaker emotional impact.
  • Limited interactivity and mostly linear story paths with minimal player choice beyond route order, which might disappoint those expecting complex branching.
  • story
    92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of Synesthesia is a thoughtful, sci-fi visual novel blending scientific and philosophical concepts with a gripping, multilayered narrative that often draws comparisons to works like Steins;Gate and Zero Escape. While the plot is engaging and thoughtfully paced with intriguing mysteries and character development, some key characters and plot points feel underdeveloped or rushed, and its slower start and abstract themes may challenge some players. Overall, it’s praised for its originality, clever integration of choices, and emotional depth, making it a rewarding experience for those who enjoy cerebral, complex storytelling.

    • “For a story that built itself on the concept of there being multiple worlds where information is transferred subconsciously between them, there was real opportunity to play around with multiple routes based off decisions or the use of the cast's various powers, that themselves lead to learning details that can be used to resolve puzzles in other routes that branch out into more world lines, all leading to a crescendo when all these differing journeys come together in the big climax at the end.”
    • “The pacing is good, the characters are interesting and realistic, the science / tech jargon is accurate but not over-explained, the art is engaging and animated, the puzzles serve the story and are infrequent (so a nice change of pace), the music pulls you in, the romance feels natural, and the voice acting (though the game implies it is AI-voiced) is good.”
    • “I am awestruck not just by how well written and engaging the story itself was, but also by how much fun I had reading the story.”
    • “Certain plot points in the story were not fully explored and two key characters were also not developed fully to make sense of those plot points.”
    • “Because of the way the character development is planned in this novel, I had no possibility of relating to the characters given the story until later on, by which time I forgot about the parts that I'd consider to be important to the portrayed characters in the novel, and that's quite a miss that had a chance to deliver something absolutely amazing, beautiful even!”
    • “For a story with a flowchart element much like the nonary games that it's modelled itself after, there isn't much complexity involved.”
  • music
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the story and various scenes. The soundtrack features memorable and diverse tracks that set the mood, from gripping and mysterious to upbeat arcade-style tunes. Overall, the music is considered a strong and immersive aspect that complements the game's narrative and tone.

    • “The music is really amazing, just as with the previous game of this developer, and is one of the strong aspects of the game, as it did a magnificent job in conveying the emotions and atmosphere of each scene and place.”
    • “Gripping story and fitting music will give you something to think about even after 100%.”
    • “The pacing is good, the characters are interesting and realistic, the science/tech jargon is accurate but not over-explained, the art is engaging and animated, the puzzles serve the story and are infrequent (so a nice change of pace), the music pulls you in, the romance feels natural, and the voice acting (though the game implies it is AI-voiced) is good.”
  • graphics
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics feature a beautiful, vibrant art style with a clean, eastern-inspired anime aesthetic that is well-executed and lively. Visual elements, including dynamic character images and interactive scenes, enhance the experience, though some narrative visuals feel slightly rushed. Overall, the graphics meet or exceed expectations for the game's price point, contributing positively to its appeal.

    • “The art style for Synesthesia is really beautiful, everything is crafted in vibrant colors and feels very alive.”
    • “I am normally not a huge fan of the anime aesthetic of characters (I usually have mixed feelings on it and prefer other visual styles more), but in Synesthesia it is definitely done to a good quality, and the character images are not static.”
    • “Overall the graphics are comfortably up to expected standard for the price bracket of the game.”
    • “It took quite a while to get to the point of getting to know some more about them, and even this part of theirs that I'd consider to be the most interesting part of the visual novels along with their art styles, of course, felt as if it was cut short.”
    • “Overall, the graphics are comfortably up to the expected standard for the price bracket of the game.”
    • “Now it's truly non-linear (you have few alternative scenes and even two to four routes), graphic style is more Eastern and clean, OST felt nicer than VII Enigma's and, most importantly, this game kills its predecessor with inclusion of small 'move between location' or 'search for clues' scenes, few puzzles and mini-games.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game offers moments of impact primarily through relatable situations rather than deep character empathy, as the characters feel simplistic and underdeveloped. While the mystery adds intrigue, the lack of sustained emotional depth and brief, compressed scenes limit its overall resonance. Some unique features and characters show potential but remain underutilized, reducing the emotional engagement.

    • “There was definitely some emotional impact in some situations, but that was purely out of relating to the presented situations rather than feeling empathy for the characters. Due to how shortly cut those situations appeared to be, it wasn't as powerful as I was hoping each time I experienced it. With more depth, I would have remembered it more clearly and enjoyed it all the more.”
    • “But it doesn't fully resonate emotionally for me, even though it strives to be emotive, a result of those compressed routes and simplistic characterizations.”
    • “It was hard for me to really relate to the characters and feel very emotional about them; they're kind of basic and not that interesting, though the special abilities were a neat touch. Special mention to Jase, who is the best character but seems to be a bit underutilized and just... there.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users appreciate the character design and personalities but feel the character development and storylines are too brief and insufficiently explored. This limited depth made it difficult to relate to the characters until late in the narrative, resulting in a missed opportunity for a more impactful experience. There is anticipation that future works from the developer will offer deeper and more engaging character development.

    • “I've really liked the character design together with their personalities.”
    • “I'm looking forward to whatever will be this developer's next visual novel, as I'm sure it will also be incredibly interesting and deep regarding world building and character development.”
    • “I do wish the character development and their stories were more expanded, preferably to continue for at least an hour or two for each involved character.”
    • “I do merely wish the character development and their stories were more expanded, preferably to carry on for at least an hour or two for each involved character, but that's not been the case here.”
    • “Because of the way the character development is planned in this novel, I had no possibility of relating to the characters given the story until later on, by which time I forgot about the parts that I'd consider to be important to the portrayed characters in the novel, and that's quite a miss that had a chance to deliver something absolutely amazing, beautiful even!”
    • “I'm looking forward to whatever will be this developer's next VN, as I'm sure it will also be incredibly interesting and deep regarding world building and character development.”
  • gameplay
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is praised for its clever integration of a flowchart mechanic that allows players to explore alternate story pathways and deepen character understanding. Additionally, the unique synesthesia element enriches both the gameplay and narrative, creating a vibrant and immersive sci-fi experience.

    • “One inclusion into the game mechanics that I really liked and appreciated is the flowchart of different pathways that result from our choices.”
    • “We get to try alternate paths and learn some things about characters this way, and this mechanic of experiencing the alternate pathways from our choices is connected to the game's story and integrated in a very clever way.”
    • “The designative synesthesia is interwoven throughout, as a gameplay and story element alike; not to mention, it makes for a colourful and illuminating world.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is generally well-crafted, with music that effectively conveys emotions and enhances the tension in each scene. While the tracks fit the moments appropriately, some users felt they lacked deeper impact. Overall, the soundtrack remains a strong aspect of the game.

    • “The music is really amazing, just as with the previous game of this developer, and is one of the strong aspects of the game, as it did a magnificent job in conveying the emotions and atmosphere of each scene and place.”
    • “I love the tension and atmosphere so far.”
    • “The tracks do seem to be fitting the atmosphere at the given moments.”
    • “The tracks do seem to fit the atmosphere at the given moments, but they haven't really managed to hit that deep, unfortunately.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users praise the game's optimization for balancing high-quality graphics with smooth performance, resulting in a visually appealing experience that runs efficiently across various hardware configurations.

Skip Game Offers

Buy SYNESTHESIA

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like SYNESTHESIA

Games Like SYNESTHESIA

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog Image
93%413reviews

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog

2025Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchLinuxPC+4
Games like Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog
Stories from Sol part 1: The Gun-Dog ImageStories from Sol part 1: The Gun-Dog ImageStories from Sol part 1: The Gun-Dog Image
93%387reviews

Stories from Sol part 1: The Gun-Dog

2023Role Playing
PC
Games like Stories from Sol part 1: The Gun-Dog
Return to Shironagasu Island Image
91%594reviews

Return to Shironagasu Island

2020Action
Nintendo SwitchPCWindows
Games like Return to Shironagasu Island
Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition Image
89%352reviews

Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition

2016Action
PCWindows
Games like Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games Image
90%4kreviews

Zero Escape: The Nonary Games

2017Survival Action Adventure
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game Pass+9
Games like Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
More games like SYNESTHESIA
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

SYNESTHESIA is a casual action adventure game with romance, mystery, anime and science fiction themes.

SYNESTHESIA is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS, Xbox One and others.

SYNESTHESIA was released on June 20, 2023.

SYNESTHESIA was developed by Spire Games.

SYNESTHESIA has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked SYNESTHESIA for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

SYNESTHESIA is a single player game.

Similar games include Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog, Stories from Sol part 1: The Gun-Dog, Return to Shironagasu Island, Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition, Zero Escape: The Nonary Games and others.