If you combined the vibrant alien setting and AI companionship of Halo with the retrofuturism and post-apocalyptic vibes of Fallout, you might get something like SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada. This brand-new release is my first game of 2025, a multiplayer third-person shooter set in a dystopian (yet very beautiful) world called Amasia. The prologue – half Fallout and half anime – explains that the world has been decimated by a mysterious rain called the Tears of the New Moon, forcing the surviving dregs of humanity underground into bunkers and garages. The only way to go aboveground safely is in a mechanical suit called a CRADLECOFFIN, aided by a floating AI called a Magus that monitors your suit and provides you with information and backup. Throughout the colorful wasteland, online players – called Drifters – compete for resources, with particular emphasis given to the red AO Crystals that power the underground bunkers.
Sounds simple, right? The only catch is, if you run afoul of an enemy Drifter and they kill you, you lose everything you’ve collected on your current run (called a Sortie) and have to start from scratch. It’s high-risk, high-reward, and there’s certainly an element of strategy that goes into deciding which resources to go for and when.
A short tutorial introduces you to the gameplay, the Magus system, and the available resources, and then it tosses you into the shallow end of the open world. You get to pick from several available Magus templates, each of which comes with unique skills, and you can customize your Magus’ appearance before receiving your first Request. Requests come from the Association, humanity’s governing body, and involve turning in specific resources for reward items. There are also Bounties, placed by the Association on players who have turned against them and joined the Black Market.
On your Sortie, you can explore the world, collect resources, cooperate or fight with other players, and defeat the wide variety of enemies that populate Amasia. Non-Crystal resources include Lumber, Scrap Metal, Herbs, and Rope, and can be used to craft, customize, and upgrade your items. If you’re in danger of dying on your Sortie, you do have the option of an emergency bailout, but it’ll cost you all of your items. Fortunately, you can always get free starter weapons and armor from the Item Shop before heading out on your next trip – the game recommends that you stick to these free items until you get your bearings.
Visually, the game is reminiscent (to me) of the Halo series and its bright, detailed alien worlds. I will say that some of the visuals were a bit clunky for a 2025 game – blocky clouds and chunky shadows that jitter in and out – but this could easily be because it’s in Early Access. Everything runs smoothly, the voice acting from the Magus characters is strong, and the controls are easy to grasp. You have plenty of ammo and powerful weapons, but your CRADLECOFFIN suit is vulnerable to weather and can quickly run out of durability if you don’t pay attention. Magus templates like the Weather Gazer and Cradle Monitor can help you keep a close watch on the status of your suit, so it doesn’t die on you before you return underground.
At the end of the day, your path in SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is your own to forge, and I love that. Want to go rogue and join the Black Market? Go for it. Prefer a quieter gameplay and want to spend your time exploring the details of the world and collecting resources? All the better. There’s no one single way to play the game, so it should attract a wide range of players. I myself am not a huge multiplayer person, so I enjoyed creeping around the world, disposing of alien enemies, and trying to sneak into bandit strongholds without being noticed. If you’re a fan of Halo-type games but want the freedom of an open world and a healthy dose of post-apocalyptic mayhem, be sure to check out SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada! 8.5/10
For more information, visit the official website, X, Twitch, and Facebook. The game is now available for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Related: Reviews by Ian Robinson-Lambert
I've loved video games ever since I started playing Mario Kart on my parents' Wii back in seventh grade. These days, you can find me playing a mix of historical RPGs and horror (shout-out to Assassin's Creed and Resident Evil). I also love a good puzzle, and of course I still have a soft spot for the Super Mario series!
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