STEINS;GATE
Also known as Steins;Gate · シュタインズ・ゲート
Sci-fi, Thriller, Mystery, Drama · by MAGES. Inc. (originally 5pb. and Nitroplus) · published by Spike Chunsoft (Steam) · 2014
A self-styled mad scientist and his friends stumble onto a way to send messages into the past, and every small change starts to ripple outward.
Who it's for: Readers who enjoy hard sci-fi, slow-burn mysteries and a large cast of oddball friends, and who are happy with a long, mostly linear read.
The story (spoiler-free)
In a summer-time Akihabara, an eccentric university student runs a tiny 'laboratory' with a handful of friends, inventing gadgets that rarely work. One accidental discovery changes that, opening the door to experiments with the past.
The story takes its time: the early chapters build the cast, the neighbourhood and a dense web of science and internet lore before the plot begins to tighten.
Choices are made mostly through how you respond to messages on the protagonist's phone, which steers you toward different endings.
Where to play
Why play it
- +A widely cited benchmark for time-travel storytelling in visual novels
- +A memorable, lovable core cast
- +Pays off its slow setup with a tense, carefully plotted second half
- +Full Japanese voice acting
Keep in mind
- −The opening chapters are slow and heavy on jargon
- −No macOS or Linux version on Steam
- −Mobile versions are split between a MAGES app and subscription-only Crunchyroll versions; the older standalone English iOS app is no longer listed
Content warnings
Show 4 content warnings
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