StarCraft rival Synchronizers Undead Marines turns RTS tropes on their heads

No, I didn't just pick up Synchronizers Undead Marines because the titular warriors look kind of like Space Marines. Let's just get that out of the way. They do, in a way, but that's not why this game caught my attention. It was coincidental. Pretty cool, but coincidental nonetheless. I wanted to talk about Synchronizers: Undead Marines because of its unique take on StarCraft-esque strategy, how it turns RTS tropes on their heads to create what the devs call a "reverse tower defense" game. If that's not enough to catch your attention, I don't know what will. Also, the soldiers look like Space Marines.

It's a bold call to compare something to one of the best RTS games ever made, especially something that isn't even out yet, but something about Synchronizers Undead Marines reminds me of StarCraft. Maybe it's the base building, maybe it's that distinct Warhammer flavor.

However, Synchronizers promises to set itself apart from its RTS rivals. As well as building your squad of preferred units, capturing and studying enemies, and upgrading your technologies as you progress through the game, you have to navigate important story beats and switch genres on the fly in order to progress.

The reverse tower defense mechanics aren't explained much on the game's Steam page, but it does go into some other, genre-bending additions that don't traditionally belong in strategy games. There is a gardening minigame, first-person shooter sections, and a focus on a narrative in which your moral choices will dictate which ending you get. It all sounds a bit Mass Effect.

However, the main gameplay loop revolves around that StarCraftian strategy that we know and love. Is Synchronizers trying to do too much? Maybe. But it's all those esoteric additions that grab your attention and make you want to try it, just to see how exactly it marries all these disparate elements of contrasting genres.

You can wishlist Synchronizers: Undead Marines on Steam now. Head to its store page here if you wish to do so.

If you want to check out more weird and wonderful games, try some of our picks of the best indie games for size. Alternatively, our list of the best strategy games is top notch. Take it from me, a completely unbiased stranger.

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