If you are tired of the usual neon-soaked cyberpunk power fantasies, independent developer Komisoft and publisher Crytivo are cookin’ up something that feels refreshing, dark, and deeply paranoid. Their newly announced project, Synchro, takes a hard swerve away from generic sci-fi tropes. Instead, it drops you directly into a gritty, post-apocalyptic cyberpunk setting inspired by the crushing atmosphere of Darkest Dungeon and the classic, hidden-reality horror of John Carpenter’s They Live.
In this dystopian world, humanity is kept entirely under control by a ruthless megacorporation that hides human experiments and horrifying atrocities behind corporate smiles and friendly digital billboards. The core narrative fires up when your protagonist suddenly gains the ability to see through the matrix. Once that reality cracks, you realize the world around you is completely artificial. With your eyes wide open to the corruption, you are tasked with leading a desperate resistance squad to expose the corporate lies, recruit allies, and survive against terrifying monstrosities that pretend to be ordinary citizens.
Master the Mind Game of Synchronized Combat
The absolute standout feature of this experience is its brilliant twist on classic strategy mechanics: fully synchronized turn-based combat. In traditional tactical RPGs, you take your sweet time moving your units while the enemies stand around like mannequins, waiting for their turn to react. This game completely throws that comfort zone out the window.
During the tactical planning phase, you assign movement paths, regular attacks, and unique character abilities to your entire squad at the exact same time the enemy AI plots its own maneuvers. Once both sides confirm their plans, the actions resolve simultaneously. This transforms every single encounter into an intense, brain-melting game of prediction, reading intent, and psychological anticipation. A brilliant, predictive repositioning move can completely avoid a massive wave of incoming damage. On the flip side, a poor read on enemy behavior can send your favorite fighter running straight into a devastating trap. It rewards team synergy, thoughtful combinations, and genuine foresight rather than fast clicking or reactionary panic.
Expose Hidden Terrors with the Reality Scanner
To navigate this landscape of deception, your squad is equipped with a highly specialized reality scanner. This tool is not just a simple visual gimmick, as it serves as a core pillar of both the storytelling and the active gameplay loop. Activating the scanner peels back the fake digital layer of the environment to expose what is truly lurking underneath.
As you move through the maps, seemingly harmless advertisements might morph into grotesque propaganda messages, and average, everyday civilians walking down the street can suddenly stand exposed as horrifying, disguised monsters. From a tactical standpoint, using your scanner is absolutely critical for gathering information before a fight starts. It helps you locate hidden environmental clues, spot concealed enemy ambushes, identify structural traps, and properly prepare your resistance fighters before you initiate a chaotic combat engagement.
Base Building, Paranoia, and the Kickstarter Push
Between high-stakes operations in the field, you will manage and expand your secret resistance headquarters, hidden inside a massive corporate skyscraper. Back at base, you can unlock and upgrade unique modules to research new technology and heal your crew. The title features ten distinct character classes that you can freely mix, match, and customize to suit your personal tactical playstyle.
However, you have to manage much more than just numbers and gear. True to its psychological horror roots, you must constantly monitor the fragile psychological state of your fighters. The paranoia of living in a world where anyone could be a monster directly impacts their mental traits, which can either give them unique combat bonuses or completely ruin your meticulously planned strategy mid-battle.
The developmental journey behind this deep roguelite experience has been quietly building momentum, and the team is finally ready to share it with the world. The project is officially heading to Kickstarter this summer to secure final community funding, offering backers a chance to secure exclusive rewards and actively shape development. If you love deep, complex strategy and want an RPG that forces you to read your opponent’s mind, keep a close watch for this crowdfunding campaign to launch.
