One of my favorite satires is The Screwtape Letters, an epistolary novel by C.S. Lewis, the author of the Narnia series. It features messages from an elder demon to his nephew on how to manipulate the soul of a human. It’s a darkly comical take on office politics and family favoritism, set against the backdrop of World War 1. Sintopia is a lighter and more comedic interpretation of this concept, set in a world divided between Earth and Hell. Players are tasked with managing the movement of sinful souls between the two realms. Check out the trailer below.
The developers, Piraknights, describe themselves as a mix of pirates and knights, which seems dubious. However, Team 17, the publisher of the game, is a real entity with only 17 team members. The game, Sintopia, combines elements of a builder and God game, with a unique asymmetrical loop. Players must influence a civilization of chickpea people to commit sins and damn themselves, while managing Hell and punishing souls effectively.
Sintopia is a mix of builder and God game, with an asymmetrical loop. On the OVERWORLD, influence a silly civilization of chickpea people make their mark on the world and unfortunately for them, damn themselves by committing a host of sins. Punish the dead souls, keep your receipts for accounts and generate profit to help you build and sustain your Hellish empire.
The game adds a twist by requiring players to prevent the chickpea people from becoming too sinful, as it could lead to explosive consequences for Hell. Souls must go through a re-education process to avoid excessive corruption and demonic invasions. Sintopia is set to release in early access in 2025.
While there isn’t a store page available yet, you can find more information on the game’s official website. Stay tuned for updates on this unique and humorous management simulation game.
