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Periphery Synthetic

Explore a planetary system, synthesize new abilities, and reveal its past. This interactive EP offers a chill and non-violent metroidvania experience across procedurally-generated musical playgrounds.

Steam Page
Developer
shiftBacktick
Publisher
shiftBacktick
Release
August 22, 2024
1 year and 345 days ago
Steam Reviews
Positive17 reviews100.0%

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Notes
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Updated: Jul 11, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Search Google: How is Periphery Synthetic and shiftBacktick funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for Periphery Synthetic and shiftBacktick?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.

Media

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About the Game

Greetings surveyor! We have woke you from cryogenic sleep for an exciting opportunity!

Explore musical playgrounds

Alpha Periphery is home to a desert planet, an ocean world, and its icy moon. These worlds function as tracks of an EP, composed of purely synthesized music and sounds, which evolve and react to your input in real-time.

Synthesize new abilities

You start with nothing but a terrain scanner and limited cargo space. By collecting materials, you can unlock new abilities and enhance them further. When fully upgraded, you command these worlds in every dimension.

Uncover a mysterious past

Alpha Periphery is also home to many secrets. With the terrain scanner, you discover new destinations with hidden structures and artifacts to examine. Together, they reveal insights into the true purpose of your expedition.

Stay for a while

With zero combat or risk of death, you are free to linger or experiment. As you catch your tenth sunset on Alpha Periphery C, you wonder how high the sky goes, or what happens when you dive into the water at orbital speeds.

An accessible experience

Periphery Synthetic is fully playable without seeing the screen. Use echolocation and terrain sonification to navigate its worlds. Use your favorite screen reader to navigate its menus and access extra information while in-game. Toggle off its graphics to enjoy with audio alone.
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