TheSynthwaveaesthetic is difficult to miss; vibrant neon colors are combined with retro-futuristic imagery and a plethora of sights and sounds that bring to mind films, TV, and other multimedia from the 1980s. This same aesthetic has been popularized in recent pop culture hits likeStranger Thingsbut there have also been plenty of tributes in the world of video games.
The rise in popularity behind retro gaming has also been accompanied by a number of newly-made games which mix fresh gameplay elements with sounds and visuals that bring to mind an archetypal synthwave feel. With so many of these games available at the press of a button, it can be a challenge to find the best titles, so here is a list of the best synthwave aesthetic games.
Hotline Miamifeels like the world of cut filmmaker Harmony Corinne come to life; a self-contained world teeming with unsavory characters, seedy visuals, and brutal aspects, with good taste placed firmly on the back burner. The game is set in an alternate Miami in what feels like the 1980s, with the player as a mysterious hitman known only as Jacket.
Jacket is tasked with some serious wet work, the instructions for which are passed on via bizarre phone calls. The gameplay involves a steady hand and swift reflexes, with the wrong move costing the player dearly. The eye-popping graphics and retro soundtrack crystallize this game’s synthwave credentials to a tee.
Paying tribute to 80s action movies likeRobocopand over-the-top arcade titles likeNARC,Huntdownis a game that owns a dictionary in which the word ‘subtlety’ has been removed completely. The game takes place in a dystopian future in which street gangs run rampant across the city and anarchy is rife. Only a trio of bounty hunters with some heavy-duty firepower can save the day.
Huntdownpositively prides itself on the carnage unfolding onscreen, as missiles, bullets and other projectiles tear through hordes of bad guys. A cover system freshens up the side-scrolling gameplay, and there is a boss fight at the end of each level, heavily reminiscent of the classic filmThe Running Man
A compelling cross between an 80s platform action game and a modern-daycyberpunk anime,Katana Zerowearsseveral influences on its sleeve and mixes different elements to winning effect. The story is set in a murky world where a lone assassin questions what is or isn’t reality as he takes on a series of missions.
The one-hit-kill gameplay and time-manipulation mechanic are what make the game stand out, but it also brings to life an incredibly gritty, neo-noir world that is reminiscent ofBlade RunnerandThe Matrix.Add some fiendish difficulty and all the ingredients are in place for a synthwave classic.
Far Cry 3’s synthwave credentials are utterly impeccable, as the game’s soundtrack is provided by venerated music duo Power Glove, whose incredible music in the game pays tribute to soundtracks includingThe Terminatorand the movies of 80s studio Cannon Films. Not only that, iconic actor Michael Biehn plays the protagonist, cyber-commando Rex Colt.
As with the otherFar Crygames, the focus is on first-person shooting and exploration. Along withan amazing soundtrackthere are also numerous fond tributes to 80s science-fiction and some endearingly over-the-top features including a rampaging cyborg army and a giant neon dragon, among other things.
Another extraordinary synth soundtrack complementsHyperlight Drifter’spixelated imagery and apocalyptic setting, this time courtesy of composer Disasterpiece, whose CV includes other video games likeFez,and also the 2014horror movieIt Follows. His music fits this game perfectly, as the player takes control of a lone warrior wandering a desolate landscape.
The game’s minimalist approach to story and character is combined with a brutal but never-unfair gaming mechanic that mixes swordplay with ranged attacks and furious enemy attacks that keep the player on their feet at all times. Drenched in neon colors and a haunting atmosphere,Hyperlight Drifterdeserves its status as a great title.
Only the most hardcore gamers should apply when it comes toFuri,a mixture of hack-and-slash gameplay and furious bullet hell shooting that requires a steady hand and a strong stomach. The game consists of several boss rush encounters as a mysterious figure called The Stranger fights their way to freedom after escaping a futuristic jail.
The game’s look owes a heavy debt to 80s cyberpunk anime, which makes sense, given that it was designed by anime auteur Takashi Okazaki. Each of its boss fights is heavily tied to the in-game music that plays in the background, with synthwave luminaries including Carpenter Brut and Danger supplying the tunes.
