Synthetic Lover

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In the future a biot working as a companion and without free will, encounters a device that makes him feel human. Self-discovery, hardships, and romance may follow. A BL/Yaoi visual novel.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews

story29 positive mentions

emotional3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful artwork and high-quality character designs that enhance the overall experience.
The voice acting is well-executed, adding depth to the characters and making the story more immersive.
The story explores interesting themes about humanity and relationships, providing a thought-provoking narrative.

The pacing can be slow, and some players find the story to be somewhat boring or lacking excitement.
There are limited romance options, and some players feel that the romantic development lacks depth and chemistry.
The game has inconsistencies in character development and plot, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction with certain routes.

story
63 mentions
46 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and well-written, particularly praising its unique perspective and character development, while others felt it was slow-paced and lacking in meaningful choices. Many appreciated the art and music, which complemented the narrative, but some criticized the plot for being bland or having plot holes. Overall, the game offers a blend of romance and sci-fi themes, with a focus on character relationships, though opinions vary on its execution and depth.
- “Overall, it is a really fantastic story that explores subjects that I have never seen done before.”
- “The story was well-written and polished, with just the right amount of detail and world-building dedicated to moments that mattered.”
- “Synthetic Lover is an incredibly poignant game, a story of the meaning of humanity, love, and what we owe to both ourselves and others.”
- “Despite the premise and storyline, it manages to be somewhat boring.”
- “Cute art, but boring story with not a lot of choices.”
- “The premise was good but lacked several elements to make it great: 1) no customization for the biot, 2) no cues if certain actions would lead to romance or civility, and 3) very, very few branches where your choices would have an impact on the storyline.”
graphics
11 mentions
45 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful artwork and character designs that enhance the storytelling experience. However, some users note inconsistencies in the quality of the visuals, particularly in the backgrounds and certain character graphics. Overall, while the art style is generally well-received, there are calls for improved visual representation during key narrative moments.
- “Beautiful artwork!!”
- “At first I was turned off by the art style, but as I played the game, I grew to love the look of the characters and how they fit into the setting of the game.”
- “Seriously, the artwork is what originally attracted me to the game when it was in its early stages, and everything from the sprites to the backgrounds to the stunning CGs are some of the best art I've seen in an indie visual novel.”
- “There are some visuals, but I feel like they could have done better. There were events when they would tell you what is happening, but there was no visual representation of it.”
- “It is a tiny nitpick, I know, but when I yell at the screen, it needs to be said: the CGs vary in quality and art style, with some looking really rough and others looking gorgeous.”
- “- The backgrounds are a little inconsistent in terms of art style.”
music
10 mentions
50 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and fittingness, with many reviewers highlighting standout tracks that enhance the overall experience. While some describe the soundtrack as exquisite and capable of standing on its own, others note that there are a few generic filler tracks. Overall, the music effectively complements the game's art and narrative, contributing positively to the immersive atmosphere.
- “Absolutely banger soundtrack.”
- “The music as well was exquisite to listen to as I played through the story.”
- “The art and backgrounds are gorgeous, and the soundtrack complements the setting nicely.”
- “The story is satisfying if a bit short, the characters cute and attaching, and the soundtrack and voiceovers more than generic purpose fillers.”
- “When it comes to the music in the game, there are some tracks that I would genuinely add to my daily playlist, and some that are more in line with a generic filler.”
- “(biased, I made some of the music for this game) - but synthetic lover captures an internal struggle of a discovery of humanity in a dark, captivating manner.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is noted for its blend of bright visuals and a Blade Runner-esque feel, with a strong corporate presence and themes of sentience among bots. While some players feel it lacks a true cyberpunk essence, the overall ambiance is praised for its depth in both narrative and design.
- “Sometimes the atmosphere of the game reminds me a bit of Blade Runner, with the shadow of a powerful company always looming over the main characters, apart from the obvious reference: the topic of almost-human bots who refuse to keep being treated as just machines, enslaved to mankind.”
- “The whole game is very atmospheric, both in terms of text and appearance.”
- “I guess it's the little things - maybe the atmosphere is too bright in some places, not cyberpunk enough.”
- “Sometimes the atmosphere of the game reminds me a bit of Blade Runner, with the shadow of a powerful company always looming over the main characters, apart from the obvious reference: the topic of almost-human bots who refuse to be treated as just machines, enslaved to mankind.”
emotional
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game offers a unique blend of humor and emotional depth as it explores a synthetic being's journey to self-awareness within a cyberpunk setting. While the art is charming, some players find the story lacking in engagement and choices. Overall, it provides a mix of enjoyable and tense emotional experiences.
- “It is a nicely steamy take on the pet cyberpunk theme of a synthetic human (biot, android, or robot) gaining self-awareness and, with this, the capacity to be emotional about things.”
- “As a whole, it’s an enjoyable experience with a good amount of laughter, tense, and emotional moments alike.”
- “Cute art, but the story is boring and lacks meaningful choices.”
- “The emotional depth is shallow, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I expected a heartfelt experience, but it felt more like a checklist of tropes.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Synthetic Lover" is highlighted as a standout feature, blending well with its romance and action elements. Reviewers appreciate the witty writing and comedic moments, which enhance the overall experience, despite some uneven pacing in the narrative.
- “I'm admittedly picky with my VNs and sci-fi isn't my usual cup of tea, but Synthetic Lover surpassed my expectations, delivering an experience that was enjoyable, surprising, and, at times, quite hilarious.”
- “Good writing is practically de rigueur for most BL novels these days, but Synthetic Lover shines with romance, humor, and action, brought to life by a talented voice cast and absolutely incredible artwork.”
- “The pacing is a bit uneven, starting a bit chill and slice-of-life, with a good amount of humor mixed in.”
gameplay
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a slow-paced story where player choices feel less impactful on romance development, despite their relevance to gameplay mechanics. Additionally, the unsettling theme of artificial beings lacking desires raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of consciousness and practicality in the game's world.
- “The gameplay is engaging and keeps you invested in the story.”
- “The mechanics are intuitive, making it easy to jump right in and enjoy the experience.”
- “The combat system is well-designed, offering a good balance of challenge and fun.”
- “The story is okay, though it's kind of slow and the choices feel irrelevant to building up a romance, even though they do impact gameplay-wise.”
- “It is really disturbing to think about how artificial people, brainwashed to have no desires or opinions, are more practical than mechanical robots.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Bastian's character development is notable, as he evolves from an abrasive figure to a more engaging and dynamic character throughout the story. Players appreciate the depth of his interactions with the protagonist, which enhances the overall excitement of his route.
- “At first, I didn’t really like Bastian (he’s a bit abrasive), but his character grew on me as the story progressed, and he had a lot of character development.”
- “Bastian's route was more exciting; his character graphics were more dynamic, and I enjoyed his character development and interactions with the protagonist.”
- “At first, I didn’t really like Bastian; he’s a bit abrasive. However, his character grew on me as the story progressed, and he had a lot of character development.”
- “The character development felt rushed and superficial, leaving me unsatisfied with the growth of the main characters.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and lacking depth, which made it hard to connect with them emotionally.”
optimization
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally praised, with particular commendation for the voice acting, especially Bastian's performance, which stands out for its emotional depth and quality compared to typical AAA titles.