Developer: Leikir Studio 
Platform: Steam (PC)

If you’ve ever wondered what SimCity would look like after a yoga retreat and a crash course in botany, Synergy by Leikir Studio answers the question.

Released in April 2025, this city-builder swaps coal and concrete for solar panels and mindful landscaping, and then politely dares you to survive a dry season with your eco-conscience intact.

Monet Called, He Wants His Clouds Back

Synergy’s art style is so Moebius-inspired that I half-expected a pastel dune worm to eat my city. But honestly, it also reminds me of paintings by the French painter Monet—with soft palettes of gentle colors that imbue the landscape with a dreamlike quality. It’s almost like gazing beyond a group of fluffy clouds: everything is just a bit ethereal, slightly out-of-this-world, but still completely captivating.

The solarpunk design—think of it as Easter eggs on an alien planet—creates an environment as soothing as it is strange. Don’t be fooled by the gentle colors, either: beneath that tranquil vibe lurks a planet ready to turn your citizens into dried fruit if you forget to stock up on water. And I mean lots of water. At least, if your colony fails, it’ll be the prettiest disaster you’ve ever orchestrated.

Spreadsheet Survival

At its core, the game is about managing food, water, and shelter—plus whatever those weird purple plants do. The climate cycles keep you on your toes, alternating between pleasantly brisk and “oh dear, everyone’s dehydrated again.”

The Knowledge Book system keeps your reading skills up and adds a scientific twist: you’ll study local flora, unlock new techs, and feel like David Attenborough if he was really into spreadsheets.

Two research tracks -Technology and Culture- mean you can geek out over irrigation or focus on making your settlement the alien equivalent of downtown Portland, Oregon.

The district system is clever yet complex: build science labs in one corner, libraries in another, and watch bonuses stack like eco-friendly Jenga blocks. It’s all very strategic, assuming you can resist the urge to make everything symmetrical for Instagram screenshots.

Into the Wild (and Occasionally Lost)

The game is geared towards exploration and Synergy doesn’t just want you to hunker down; it sends you out into the wild with expeditions that double as story moments. Sometimes you’ll discover new resources; other times, your explorers come back with tales of strange flora—or just a sunburn.

The campaign offers multiple scenarios with unique objectives, while sandbox mode lets you ignore objectives entirely and build the solarpunk utopia of your dreams. Or, you know, a waterless wasteland. Both are valid.

From Zen Garden to Drought Simulator

Before I end this review, I want to address the dehydrated elephant in the room: Synergy can be tough. Underestimate the environment, and your citizens will be thirstier than a cactus at happy hour.

Thankfully, difficulty modes let you switch between 'Easy' and 'I just want to grow pretty plants.' You can even swap challenges mid-game if things go from manageable to hectic. So quick tip: save often. Your citizens will thank you—and so will your ego.

Pro's

• Moebius-meets-Monet visuals: It's so pretty you’ll want to frame your screenshots.
• Ecosystem-driven gameplay: Finally, a game where composting actually matters.
• Deep research and planning: For the spreadsheet lovers and city city builders among us.
• Peaceful growth: No combat here. Your biggest enemy is your neglect.
• Flexible difficulty: Hardcore challenge or chill gardening sim? Yes to both.

Con's

• Resource management is unforgiving: Forget to plan, and suddenly your utopia is holding a drought festival.
• UI needs work: Finding that one elusive resource sometimes feels like a game of Where’s Waldo?
• Plant quirks: Some flora have minds of their own. I suppose that’s, um, realistic?