time travel video game
Steins;Gate
By 5pb. Inc., released 1 Jan 2009
- Microsoft Windows
- PlayStation 3
- PlayStation Portable
- PlayStation Vita
- visual novel
- science fiction video game
What it is
Steins;Gate is a science-fiction visual novel from 5pb. Inc., released in 2009. Its story follows a group of tech-savvy students who discover that they can alter the past through email using a modified microwave. Their experiments draw them into a conspiracy involving SERN and a claimant from a dystopian future. The phone-trigger system lets you decide whether to answer calls or respond to messages, with choices affecting the story and its outcomes. The game has multiple endings and lists 30–50 hours of reading time. Steam features include single-player, achievements, trading cards, DualShock and partial controller support, Steam Cloud, Remote Play on Phone and Tablet, and Family Sharing. Steam lists Windows; the broader platform list also includes PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita. The release date listed for Steam is Sep 8, 2016.
What players like, and what they don't
- Choices through the phone system affect the story.
- Multiple endings are listed.
- Reading time is listed at 30–50 hours.
- Supports Remote Play on Phone and Tablet.
- Steam lists Windows only.
- Released in 2009.
Who it suits
It suits readers who want a choice-driven visual novel about time travel, messages, and changing the past. Players interested in branching outcomes and a long reading experience may also find it a fit.
Steins;Gate centers on a time-travel story where phone interactions shape the plot and its endings. It is a reading-focused single-player game, with Steam listing 30–50 hours of reading time.
