Syndicate is a 1993 PC (DOS / Windows) game from Bullfrog, catalogued here for 5 defining game mechanics.
PC (DOS / Windows)1993Complexity 62/1002D IsometricCult classic
Syndicate is an isometric real-time tactics and strategic game from Bullfrog Productions created in 1993, and initially released for MS-DOS and the Amiga. It is the first game in the Syndicate series. (via Wikipedia)
The game mechanics of Syndicate
Real Time Action CombatCombatCombat resolves continuously in real time; player inputs compete directly with enemy behavior each frame.
Weapon SwitchingCombatPlayer carries multiple discrete weapons with different properties; active weapon is selected from inventory.
Economy Buy SellResourcePlayer earns and spends currency at merchants; price and value decisions are meaningful.
Research TreeProgressionSpending accumulated resources or turns on a branching tree of options unlocks new units, buildings, or abilities.
Unit PathfindingSimulationIndividual AI units navigate around obstacles to reach dynamically assigned targets.
Each mechanic links to how to build it in Godot, with the retro games that share it.
Study the source
Open-source rewrite (GPL-2.0). FreeSynd reimplements the game; needs the original Syndicate data files. (SourceForge is the project hub.) https://github.com/CeRiAl/freesynd