Synergy for Windows

Paid terraforming strategy challenge

Synergy is a paid simulation game from the Leikir Studio team. This city-building challenge puts you in charge of a budding settlement in a hostile world. Filled with naturally challenging landscapes with extreme conditions and disasters that are far more difficult than those on Earth, you’ll need to find a way to create a habitable settlement that will make your residents happy.

With stylized visual designs, wide possibilities for decision-driven gameplay, and a compelling premise, Synergy is a terraformer with a learning curve. Imagine the visual quality of Sable with the strategy aspect of Dune: Spice Wars.

Find peace in a hopeless place

Synergy is set in a hostile world. The first thing to note here is its learning curve. It’s not immediately accessible, especially to players who are not too much into city-builders. Next, the parts that make it look or feel like the modern world works as a misdirection. There are counterintuitive choices to be made, whether for growth, sustenance, or satisfaction of your residents.

Happiness is also the main goal of this game, giving it a more wholesome approach to the player vs. environment aspect. There’s little to no combat involved, and conflicts are mostly social or political in nature. As you gather resources, grow your city, or achieve new levels of technology, the game has mechanics in place that will remind you to always keep your people’s mental state first.

Lastly, the visuals are something that greatly helps in making this game a relaxing sim. Its stylized linework goes well with its use of pastel colors, making it visually similar to modern French comics like The Adventures of Tintin. Even in its worst conditions, such as natural disasters, the game still looks calming and visually pleasing. It’s also complimented by a good soundtrack that evokes the same feeling.

Explore strength and resilience

Overall, Synergy feels more than just a simple city-building simulator. Its compelling premise and the combination of its graphics and audio all create a calming feel. This is especially appreciated once you realize that the game is particularly difficult and takes some time to get used to. If you can stick around to learn the game's ropes, you get a fun city-building experience with enough challenges.