Syndicate is a strategic action Main Game, first released in 1993, where you manage a corporate syndicate in a dystopian future, aiming for world domination. The core loop involves expanding influence across a world map by deploying agents for covert operations and tactical combat in captured territories. Success requires balancing resource management, imposing taxes for revenue, and defending against rival incursions. Its distinct feature is blending high-level global strategy with real-time tactical squad control.
The game immerses the player in a high-tech, low-life future where corporate warfare is the primary mode of conflict. The atmosphere is one of constant tension, requiring calculated risk-taking as you manage your agents and resources across various global sectors.
The gameplay loop is centered on strategic resource management combined with tactical, real-time action sequences. Players must allocate funds to research new technologies, recruit and equip agents, and maintain infrastructure.
Key mechanics include:
The blend of high-level global strategy—managing revenue and territorial spread—with immediate, ground-level tactical combat sets this title apart. Players are not just moving icons on a map; they are directly controlling small squads of cybernetically enhanced agents in intense firefights during the infiltration phase of conquest.
The ultimate objective is total global supremacy. This requires not only eliminating rival syndicates through force but also maintaining a robust economic base capable of supporting continuous military and technological advancement. Outmaneuvering opponents on the world stage while ensuring your agents are properly equipped for the inevitable confrontations is crucial for achieving this goal.
Originally launched for DOS and PC (Microsoft Windows), the game also saw releases on platforms such as PC-9800 Series, FM Towns, and Mac.
While this is the main game, it features one official expansion pack that adds further depth and challenges to the core experience.

The Jaguar port is graphically mostly the same as the 3DO port. The main differences are different music due to different sound generation, the button highlights are different, and the mini-map is in the same style as the original DOS version but it retains the colors of the 3DO, as well as the mouse is tracked on the mini-map unlike any other version. All the video sequences including the intro is replaced with a static image of the video.

The 3DO port controls the game through a controller instead of mouse. The game also has different colors on the HUD and the mini-map, the menus before missions have different button highlights due to the controller, as well as having overall different sound generation for music.

The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Sega CD port of Syndicate features much more cartoony styled graphics, different control set and completely new levels. The Sega CD version has a different soundtrack which is the only difference between the two.

The Super Nintendo/Famicom port of Syndicate has a more cartoony graphics style, different control set, and completely new levels.

The Amiga and Amiga CD32 ports of Syndicate has a different color palette and lower resolution and most significantly, lacks any music – besides the intro – found in the original DOS release.

American Revolt is an add-on pack to Syndicate. It requires the original game and includes 3 new weapons, 21 new single player missions, and 10 multiplayer missions.