Synthesia (video game)

Synthesia
Original author(s)Nicholas Piegdon
Developer(s)Synthesia LLC.
Initial releaseOctober 2006 (2006-10)
Stable release
10.9 / 21 December 2022 (2022-12-21)
Written inC++
Operating systemWindows XP and later, macOS 10.6 and later, iOS 9.3 and later, Android 5.0 and later
PlatformIA-32, x86-64, ARM ARM64
PredecessorPiano Hero
Available in15 languages
TypeMusic software
Websitehttps://synthesiagame.com/
As ofNovember 2024

Synthesia is a piano keyboard trainer for Microsoft Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android which allows users to play a MIDI keyboard or use a computer keyboard in time to a MIDI file by following on-screen directions, much in the style of Keyboard Mania or Guitar Hero. Additionally, Synthesia can be paired with MIDI keyboards that have illuminated keys, or with virtual player piano on screen, which some people believe makes learning piano easier for beginners. It was originally named Piano Hero, due to the similarity of gameplay with Guitar Hero, until Activision (the owners of the rights to Guitar Hero) sent a cease and desist letter to the program's creator, Nicholas Piegdon.