Synonymy
- March 5, 2015
- Christopher Cinq-Mars Jarvis
Get on Steam"Synonymy" is a strategy-based word game for single and multiplayer, narrated by Richard Dawkins. Players find a path between random words using their network of synonyms, with the option to participate in weekly global challenges. All profits benefit educational charities, and the game's model is visually represented by a 3d graphing software, illustrating each word as a planet with gravitational pull relative to its number of relationships. Music by Daduk.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Linux
Mobile Platform
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and interesting concept of connecting words through synonyms, making it a fun mental exercise for language enthusiasts.
- It provides educational value by allowing players to learn new words and their meanings, especially in higher difficulty settings.
- The game is inexpensive and can be enjoyed in short bursts, making it a good casual option for players.
- The game is poorly optimized for PC, with a clunky UI, lack of options, and numerous technical issues that hinder gameplay.
- Many players found the gameplay confusing and frustrating, with questionable synonyms and a lack of clear instructions or goals.
- The claim of narration by Richard Dawkins is misleading, as there is little to no actual narration in the game, leading to disappointment.
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay is noted for being somewhat confusing, with challenging controls and navigation, yet it encourages critical thinking and offers a fresh take on certain concepts. While it may lack depth, it provides an entertaining mental exercise for players.
“Not much in terms of gameplay, but entertaining nevertheless for those who want a mental exercise.”
“The gameplay is kind of confusing, and the controls and navigation are hard to use.”
“But the gameplay makes you think, and is a change up of some concepts.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, user reviews on stability are mixed; while some players report a smoother experience with fewer glitches, others highlight significant bugs and poor optimization for PC.
“It's not optimized for playing on PC; super buggy and meh.”
“I didn't run into any glitches this time around, and the game was much more achievable.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received negative feedback, with users noting the absence of a soundtrack and criticizing the repetitive and irritating sound that plays with each word click. Many express a desire for improvements in the musical elements to enhance the overall experience.
“There is no soundtrack, just one single, annoying sound every time you click a word.”
“The music is repetitive and quickly becomes grating.”
“The lack of variety in the audio makes the experience feel dull and uninspired.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization on PC, resulting in numerous bugs and an overall lackluster performance.
“It's not optimized for playing on PC; it's super buggy and feels lackluster.”
“The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it frustrating to play.”
“Optimization seems to have been an afterthought, resulting in frequent crashes and lag.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that while the game can become tedious if you feel lost, audio cues are available to help guide you, alleviating some of the grinding experience.
