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Synth Riders

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Synth Riders
Developer(s)Kluge Interactive
Publisher(s)Kluge Interactive
EngineUnity
Platform(s)HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, Pico Neo 3, Pico 4, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2, Valve Index, visionOS, Windows
ReleaseMay 21, 2019
Genre(s)Rhythm
Mode(s)Single-player, Multi-player

Synth Riders is a virtual reality rhythm game developed and published by Kluge Interactive. It involves players touching spheres ('notes'), tracing lines ('rails'), and avoiding obstacles that move towards them.

Following an early access release in July 2018, the game was officially released for Steam VR and Meta Quest on May 21, 2019, and supports most virtual reality headsets including Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2, HTC Vive, Pico 4, Valve Index and Apple Vision Pro.

Gameplay

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The game is designed for virtual reality headsets and requires at least one motion controller on all platforms except for Apple Vision Pro, which utilizes hand tracking. Players have access to a selection of music tracks, each of which can be played at different difficulty levels. Additionally, players can choose from a range of virtual environments known as 'Stages', which can be paired with any song. Alternatively, they may opt for one of the 'Experiences'- visual animations inspired by and synchronized with specific songs.[1] Upon selecting a song, notes and rails appear and move towards the player who must match the correct colored hand to the object. Aside of the regular objects there are also special sections attracting bonus points. These are either gold objects, which must be played with both hands, or green objects, where the player must use the hand first used to complete all objects in that section.[2] Additionally, players need to navigate around obstacles that occasionally appear in the game, which can be accomplished through ducking or dodging to the sides.[3]

Development

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Synth Riders's development started in 2016, when Kluge Interactive began experimenting with VR technology.[4] It was conceived by creative director Abraham Aguero, who collaborated with another developer, Jhean Ceballos, in designing and building the game.[5] The concept took shape through a series of prototypes, and it made its debut on July 12, 2018 as an early access title on Steam. After the release, Aguero listened to community feedback as the game underwent successive updates. Reflecting on the initial years, he mentioned, "The first two years were pretty much me watching people play on Twitch for hours. I'd jump into their stream, hearing their feedback, asking them questions."[4]

The game left Steam early access and was released for Steam VR and Meta Quest on May 21, 2019. In the following years, the game was expanded through the addition of new gameplay modes. Major updates included cross-platform multiplayer,[6] Spin Mode,[7] Spiral Mode,[8] and Mixed Reality Mode.[9] Aguero claims that part of the team's strategy involves porting Synth Riders "everywhere we can".[4]

Mixed reality features for visionOS became available through Apple Arcade with the release of the Apple Vision Pro headset on February 2, 2024.[10]

Song packs

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Base game

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Pack Songs Release Date Notes
Synthwave Essentials Vol 1 20 July 12, 2018 13 songs at launch.

Extra 7 songs added from 2019-2022.[11][12][13][14]

"Carol of the Bells" only appears in this pack during holiday period. [15]

FiXT Essentials Vol 1 12 June 20, 2019 [16] 5 songs at launch.

Extra 7 songs added from 2019-2020.[17][18]

Ninety9Lives 12 October 11, 2019 [19] 5 songs at launch.

Extra 7 songs added from 2022-2023.

Electro Swing Essentials 7 April 24, 2020 [20] 5 songs at launch.

Extra 2 songs added from 2020-2024.[21]

Pack also contains 5 Paid DLC songs.

Cyberpunk Essentials 8 August 15, 2020 [22] 5 songs at launch.

Extra 3 songs added in 2020.

Pack also contains 5 Paid DLC songs.

Synthwave Essentials Vol 2 3 January 14, 2021 [23] 3 songs at launch.

Pack also contains 5 Paid DLC songs.

Adrenaline Essentials 3 March 25, 2021 [24] 3 songs at launch.

Pack also contains 5 Paid DLC songs.

Synthwave Essentials Vol 3 5 July 13, 2023 [25] Pack also contains 5 Paid DLC songs.
Electro Swing Essentials Vol 2 4 January 25, 2024 [26] Pack also contains 5 Paid DLC songs.
Total in Base Game 74
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Pack Songs Release Date Included Experience or Stage
Electro Swing Essentials 5 April 24, 2020 [20] "Rise of the Golden Phoenix" Stage
Cyberpunk Essentials 5 August 15, 2020 [22] "Dystopia" Stage
Synthwave Essentials Vol 2 (Muse) 5 January 14, 2021 [23] "Algorithm" Experience
Adrenaline Essentials (The Offspring) 5 March 25, 2021 [24] "Come Out and Play" Experience
Caravan Palace Music Pack 5 July 9. 2021 [27] "Wonderland" Experience
Muse Music Pack 5 September 17, 2021 [28] "Starlight" Experience
Lindsey Stirling Music Pack 5 April 14, 2022 [29] "Underground" Experience
League of Legends Music Pack (K/DA) 5 September 1, 2022 [30] "Legends Never Die" Experience
Groovin' Essentials (Bruno Mars) 5 December 15, 2022 [31] "Liquid Disco" Stage
Gorillaz Music Pack 9 February 22, 2023 [32] "Psycho Road" Stage
Synthwave Essentials Vol 3 (The Midnight) 5 July 13, 2023 [25] "Back to the Synths Remastered" Stage
Electro Swing Essentials Vol 2 (Jamie Berry) 5 January 25, 2024 [26]
80s Mixtape - Side A 5 April 18, 2024 [33] "Endless Café" Stage
Total DLC 69

Reception

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Synth Riders received "generally favorable" reviews according to Metacritic.[34]

The game was featured by Forbes in their list of The Top 50 VR Games of 2019.[35] In 2020, The Guardian acknowledged the fitness aspect of the game, placing it among the top 10 VR fitness apps, calling it "Joyful, even if you look ridiculous to onlookers."[36] Push Square appreciated the ability to personalize gameplay according to one's preferences. As they noted, "The game is also a very malleable one, with an almost overwhelming number of modifiers and settings to play around with."[37]

Awards

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Year Award Category Result Ref.
2020 XR Awards 2020 VR Game of the Year Finalist [38]
VR Fitness Insider’s 2020 VR Fitness Awards Best VR Fitness Game of the Year Finalist [39]
Best VR Rhythm Game of the Year Finalist
2022 UploadVR's Best of VR 2022 Best Updated VR Game Nominated [40]
2024 Apple Design Awards Spatial Computing Finalist [41]

References

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  1. ^ Burke, Ron (March 4, 2023). "Synth Riders Remastered Edition Review on PSVR2 -- Smooth as Silk". GAMINGTREND. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  2. ^ DiPersio, Francis (August 10, 2021). "Synth Riders Review: Beat Saber For the VHS Generation". Hey Poor Player. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Spoonauer, Mark (January 30, 2024). "Apple Vision Pro review: A revolution in progress". Tom's Guide. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Stockdale, Henry (August 16, 2023). "Synth Riders Dev Plans Continued Updates While Building Horizon Project & Fighting Game". UploadVR. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Kamel, Omar (October 31, 2019). "DevTalk | Synth Riders Q&A with Kluge Interactive |". 6DOF Reviews. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Hayden, Scott (February 28, 2020). "Rhythm Game 'Synth Riders' Gets Cross-platform Multiplayer in New Update". Road to VR. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  7. ^ Treese, Tyler (July 16, 2020). "Synth Riders Introduces Spin Mode For Free In Packed Update". VR Fitness Insider. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "It's Synth Riders With a Twist - Free "Spiral Mode" Update Coming to Synth Riders on All Platforms This Thursday". Games Press. October 26, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  9. ^ Erl, Josef (October 10, 2023). "Meta Quest 3: Synth Riders is getting a Mixed Reality mode". MIXED Reality News. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  10. ^ "Apple announces more than 600 new apps built for Apple Vision Pro". Apple Inc. February 1, 2024.
  11. ^ "Synth Riders Drops A Free Spooky Update In Time For Halloween". UploadVR. October 27, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  12. ^ ""It's Synth Riders With a Twist - Free "Spiral Mode" Update Coming to Synth Riders on All Platforms This Thursday" - Games Press". www.gamespress.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Treese, Tyler (July 16, 2020). "Synth Riders Introduces Spin Mode For Free In Packed Update". VR Fitness Insider. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Bashara, Richard (April 1, 2019). "Synth Riders Gets New Songs, Levels, and More Updates". VR Fitness Insider. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  15. ^ Square, Push (December 25, 2022). "Synth Riders Closes Out the Year with Merry Synthmas Update". Push Square. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "YUR.FIT Integration Officially Coming To Synth Riders To Track Your Calories In VR". UploadVR. June 20, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Hayden, Scott (November 1, 2019). "Rhythm Game 'Synth Riders' Arrives on Oculus Quest, Leaves Early Access on PC VR". Road to VR. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  18. ^ Hayden, Scott (February 28, 2020). "Rhythm Game 'Synth Riders' Gets Cross-platform Multiplayer in New Update". Road to VR. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  19. ^ Hayden, Scott (November 1, 2019). "Rhythm Game 'Synth Riders' Arrives on Oculus Quest, Leaves Early Access on PC VR". Road to VR. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Synth Riders receives a 10 song DLC pack, the "Electro Swing Essentials"". April 24, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  21. ^ "'Synth Riders' and 'OhShape' Debut Free Song Update | Meta Quest Blog". www.meta.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Synth Riders Adds Cyberpunk Essentials Music Pack With 10 EDM Tracks". UploadVR. August 15, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Hayden, Scott (January 13, 2021). "'Synth Riders' Music Pack Featuring Muse Gets Full Tracklist Reveal, DLC Launching Jan. 14th". Road to VR. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Synth Riders Punk DLC Pack Including The Offspring Available Now". UploadVR. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Rigsby, Noah (July 13, 2023). "Synth Riders celebrates 5-year anniversary with Synthwave Essentials 3 collection". GAMINGTREND. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Synth Riders Adds 9 Songs With Electro Swing Essentials 2". UploadVR. January 25, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  27. ^ "Synth Riders And OhShape Team Up For Caravan Palace DLC". UploadVR. July 9, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  28. ^ "Synth Riders Launches New 5-Track Muse DLC Pack". UploadVR. September 17, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  29. ^ "Lindsey Stirling Music Pack Launches Today For Synth Riders". UploadVR. April 14, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  30. ^ "League Of Legends Music Pack DLC Now Available In Synth Riders". UploadVR. September 1, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "Bruno Mars joins Synth Riders in "Groovin' Essentials" Music Pack | 6DOF Reviews". December 15, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  32. ^ "Synth Riders Adds Gorillaz Music Pack For PSVR 2 Launch". UploadVR. February 15, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  33. ^ Cunningham, James (April 19, 2024). "Synth Riders Dips its Toes into the '80s with Mixtape Side A DLC". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  34. ^ "Synth Riders". Metacritic. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  35. ^ Damiani, Jesse. "The Top 50 VR Games Of 2019". Forbes. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  36. ^ Dredge, Stuart (July 26, 2020). "Can virtual reality really get you fit?". The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  37. ^ Banas, Graham (August 10, 2021). "Synth Riders (PSVR) – A VR Rhythm Game with a Different Sound". Push Square. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  38. ^ "Winners and Finalists 2020". XR Awards 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  39. ^ Hoalst, Shane (December 30, 2020). "VR Fitness Insider's 2020 VR Fitness Awards". VR Fitness Insider. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  40. ^ "UploadVR's Best of VR 2022 – Game Of The Year & More". UploadVR. December 21, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  41. ^ "2024 winners and finalists - Apple Design Awards - Apple Developer". developer.apple.com. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
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