Frozen Synapse: Prime

Frozen Synapse: Prime is a follow-up to Frozen Synapse and just like the original title it is a simultaneous turn-based strategy game. The game was originally created for the Vita and later ported to PC and the PS3. It was created by a different studio, but overseen by the original developer. Rather than a sequel it is considered a large overhaul of the original game, also available on more platforms. The basic gameplay is identical to the original game. Matches are played in small, enclosed areas with various rooms and objects. Both sides command a squad of units with the aim to kill all opposing ones. Turns are split up in two parts and are then executed simultaneously. Both sides plan all moves and strategies for the squad and then in the outcome part everything is executed at once without intervention from the player. Games are played in a campaign, as skirmish matches or in the synchronous and asynchronous multiplayer modes where multiple games can be played simultaneously while waiting for another player's turn to finish.

Visually the game's minimalist simulation design was replaced with a more realistic real-life sci-fi environment. The game now has a full 3D engine with lighting and shadows, motion captured animations, zoom, and different third-person camera options show how the actions are executed. The campaign, about leading a rebel faction to overthrow a powerful corporation controlling the city of Markov Geist, has been restructured and contains more than 40 missions, taken from the original game and the Frozen Prime: Red expansion pack. The multiplayer modes have been tweaked and replays of matches can be watched in a replay theatre. The options for strategies are extended with new commands. Sweep allows units to sweep around a fixed point and Aim is used to aim in a fixed direction. The cone of vision is tweaked to focus quickly on individual rooms. Firefights can now also end with both units dying and rockets can now directly hit units and explode on impact. Other new commands are Slide and Continue-on-sight.

The UI has been tweaked to make it more accessible and on the Vita touch controls are supported. On the PC the space bar opens the command wheel where the different options are available and the commands are mapped to the number keys. There are new sound effects, the map layout and units of skirmish and multiplayer maps can be customized before a match, there are two new tutorials and an in-game hints bar, there are more localization options and on the PC a wider range on input devices (XInput) is supported. The cooperative missions, as introduced in the Red expansion, are not available in this version. The Arena mode is exclusive to the PC version of the game. It offers five new maps to play against the AI or online, that are not randomly generated like the skirmish matches, but with a specific balance design. The PC version also comes with an additional copy to gift to a friend.