STEINS;GATE is the award-winning time travel science-fiction interactive visual novel developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus. It is widely considered to be one of the finest Visual Novels ever made.
STEINS;GATE follows a rag-tag band of tech-savvy young students who discover the means of changing the past via mail, using a modified microwave. Their experiments into how far they can go with their discovery begin to spiral out of control as they become entangled in a conspiracy surrounding SERN, the organisation behind the Large Hadron Collider, and John Titor who claims to be from a dystopian future. Interaction with the game takes place through the “phone trigger” system, where the player can receive calls and text messages and decide whether to reply to them or not, changing the outcome of the game’s plot.
Making excellent use of the visual novel medium to tell its story, Steins;Gate is a beautifully crafted piece of interactive fiction that blends character drama, sci-fi and critique of popular culture into a compelling and memorable whole.
Steins;Gate is one of the finest visual novels translated to date. If you are a fan of Japanese culture and/or time travel plots, you will love this game.
What visual novel Steins;Gate lacks in gameplay it certainly makes up for with one of the best, most complex and most touching stories I have experienced in video games. It centers around a few youths in Tokyo who accidentally invents a machine that can send messages back in time. The mix of science fiction and drama is further lifted by its memorable characters, in part thanks to good Japanese voice actors. On the negative side, the rare parts of interaction among all text boxes feel a bit illogical at times, some of the characters are less memorable and there is a little bit of unnecessary fan service. These things will hardly be on the mind of anyone getting into the story though.
Overall, Steins; Gate could be considered the pinnacle of visual novels with its brilliant storytelling combined with beautiful visuals.
Whilst not all characters were incredibly likable with some characters being very cookie cutter archetypes, it’s well written and translated content makes it one of the most recommendable visual novels to play!
Steins;Gate is one of the best visual novels on the market.
Steins;Gate features heavy scientific themes combined with a confusing choice system in a slow-paced story. Any problems are easily ignored when you really get into it though, with the relatable characters, voice acting and storytelling promising an unforgettable, emotional experience.
November 23, 2020
Cyberpunk 2077 retail copies already out there, leaks are coming…. Read more
November 19, 2020
iO Interactive unveils its new project called Project 007. Watch video
November 19, 2020
Among Us is getting a new map. Read more
November 19, 2020
Far Cry 6 release date listed as May 26 in Microsoft store. Read more
August 17, 2020
Sony Confirms Work On ‘Next-Generation’ VR Headset That Might Not Be PSVR 2. Read more
August 17, 2020
About 40% of worldwide population plays video games of some form, only 8% on consoles. Read more
August 14, 2020
Ubisoft potentially teasing return of delisted Scott Pilgrim game. Read more
August 13, 2020
Fable job listings suggest game is still a long ways away. Read more
