Although this game may seem quite depressing at a first impression - it's not as dark as it may seem and I can say without doubt that STEINS;GATE 0 is one of the best science fiction visual novels ever written. As the game description states, it is the sequel to STEINS;GATE. The game is entirely based on a different version of the true ending to STEINS;GATE, so if you haven't already, play STEINS;GATE first! If you haven't completed STEINS;GATE, stop reading my review, because it contains STEINS;GATE spoilers.

In STEINS;GATE 0, you'll truly realize the importance of reaching the STEINS;GATE and learn about the origin of the term "deceive". If you remember, at the end of the true route of STEINS;GATE, Okabe received a video file of himself mentioning the term. In STEINS;GATE 0, you'll see the long term results of Okabe refusing to attempt to undo Kurisu's murder. Throughout STEINS;GATE 0, you'll witness a depressed, hopeless Okabe who wants to forget everything he did as Kyouma. Okabe will often refer to his time as Kyouma as his "dark history" or his "dark past".

Without Kurisu, Okabe is now residing in the Beta worldline with an alive Mayuri. He is no longer living in the Alpha worldline, in which he came from. Okabe wishes to live a peaceful future without Kurisu, but unfortunately, just six months later after he makes his decision to leave Kurisu dead, fate decided to have other plans in store for Okabe. Okabe is introduced to new characters. A few of these new characters have developed AI technology that uses memories that were given to the AI by humans at a specific date. Using those memories, the AI can be like the human up to the latest memory. Kurisu is one of the developers of the AI. Kurisu offered her memories to it at some point and subsequently created a variant of the AI called "Amadeus [Kurisu]" which is basically an AI Kurisu. Fate brings the living AI creators and Okabe together, and Okabe becomes a tester of the AI. Thanks to this, he is now able to interact with an AI Kurisu. Is the privilege of being an AI tester a blessing or a regrettable curse? Read this story to find out!


Just like in STEINS;GATE, there are multiple endings in STEINS;GATE 0. Unlike in STEINS;GATE where D-mailing led to route splits, in STEINS;GATE 0 certain calls lead to route splits.

There's a total of 7 new characters in STEINS;GATE 0 that weren't in STEINS'GATE! One of them was referenced before STEINS;GATE 0 and the other debuted in a spin-off game called STEINS;GATE: My Darling's Embrace which released after STEINS;GATE but before STEINS;GATE 0!

For the first time ever, you'll notice others experiencing Reading Steiner!

Unlike STEINS;GATE, the game isn't entirely first person. Throughout the game, the narrative kind of switches between the perspectives of different characters like how it did in STEINS;GATE: Linear Bounded Phenogram and there is third person narration often at times (especially when we're seeing through another character's eyes).

Remember SERN from STEINS;GATE? Well, they're not the organization you have to fear for in STEINS;GATE 0...there are now other organizations to fear! And remember the WW3 threat in STEINS;GATE? Well, you should add an information extraction war to it.

The visual novel experience has really improved in STEINS;GATE 0! Here are some new features that weren't available in previous STEINS;GATE titles:

1. You can now see sprites of the backs of characters!
2. You can now edit the volume of characters individually. I really felt the need for this sort of feature in spin-off games, I'm glad it made its way to this game.
3. Sprite, map/background and animation quality has significantly improved!
4. Characters now use smartphones with a built in messaging system similar to modern day popular messaging apps.


This game had me in tears from beginning to end! I cried so much! I cried more than I did in any other STEINS;GATE game! It's just so beautifully written and illustrated! Not a lot of series succeed at introducing lots of new characters in a further entry and gaining the admiration of its base, but STEINS;GATE 0 succeeded! I was so attached to all of the new characters - both good and bad! I loved everyone who was new! I absolutely loved all 5 good endings as well!

Most importantly, I loved the true ending. It was the best way to end this depressive story. Well done!

If anyone's curious about the order I received my endings. Here it is:
1. Leskinen
2. Mayuri (used guide)
3. Maho
4. Kurisu
5. Kagari (intentionally did it before True End)
6. True End

If you ask me what the ideal ending order should be, it should be:
1. Maho
2. Kagari
3. Kurisu
4. Leskinen
5. Mayuri
6. True End

I think that would be a more ideal way to experience this visual novel, because getting the True End last for me required me to skip so many chapters I had already read. If you need an ending guide, use these two, I had used them both: https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1383621185, https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1381418631

As extra, feel free to read these notes I took:

- I felt bad for Suzuha for not knowing what a party was since she came from wartime...
- Mayuri's last message to Okabe in her ending route had me in tears!
- Loved Mayuri's ending, I just loved how Okabe regained his confidence. I hope Mayuri slaps him really hard in the past and helps him open the STEINS;GATE!
- If you get good endings you'll see how a hopeless. depressed and exhausted Okabe regains his motivation and life and becomes Hououin Kyouma again. Hearing him say who he was in front of attack helicopters and soldiers was the bravest and best thing ever!
- This is kind of a cool and cute Easter egg I encountered: During the Christmas party, you can call Amadeus twice. She'll wish you a Merry Christmas!
- I was sobbing so much during the "dream" with Kurisu...
- I loved hearing Kaede play Turkish March as a Turk.
- I like how app position changes with wallpaper
- I found Kagari's stories quite interesting. Whoever came up with the story ideas for Kagari was very creative!
- I loved all the RINE stickers! I wish they were all sold on the Steam Points Shop!

Most importantly, at the end of this game, I realized how valuable Makise Kurisu is to us as a friend and scientist. Uncovering her knowledge is like uncovering Pandora's Box! The uncoverer cannot be malicious! Furthermore, I realized that escaping from your problems is not the answer to solving your issues. Work and work hard until you achieve your dreams! All Okabe needed in this story was some motivation and hope to get up and get back to work on reaching the STEINS;GATE!

Aim to reach the "promised place"! Aim to open the STEINS;GATE!

El. Psy. Kongroo.

[h1] About STEINS;GATE 0 [/h1] [b]Although this game may seem quite depressing at a first impression - it's not as dark as it may seem and I can say without doubt that STEINS;GATE 0 is one of the best science fiction visual novels ever written.[/b] As the game description states, it is the sequel to STEINS;GATE. The game is entirely based on a different version of the true ending to STEINS;GATE, so if you haven't already, play STEINS;GATE first! If you haven't completed STEINS;GATE, stop reading my review, because it contains STEINS;GATE spoilers. In STEINS;GATE 0, you'll truly realize the importance of reaching the STEINS;GATE and learn about the origin of the term "deceive". If you remember, at the end of the true route of STEINS;GATE, Okabe received a video file of himself mentioning the term. In STEINS;GATE 0, you'll see the long term results of Okabe refusing to attempt to undo Kurisu's murder. Throughout STEINS;GATE 0, you'll witness a depressed, hopeless Okabe who wants to forget everything he did as Kyouma. Okabe will often refer to his time as Kyouma as his "dark history" or his "dark past". Without Kurisu, Okabe is now residing in the Beta worldline with an alive Mayuri. He is no longer living in the Alpha worldline, in which he came from. Okabe wishes to live a peaceful future without Kurisu, but unfortunately, just six months later after he makes his decision to leave Kurisu dead, fate decided to have other plans in store for Okabe. Okabe is introduced to new characters. A few of these new characters have developed AI technology that uses memories that were given to the AI by humans at a specific date. Using those memories, the AI can be like the human up to the latest memory. [spoiler] Kurisu is one of the developers of the AI. Kurisu offered her memories to it at some point and subsequently created a variant of the AI called "Amadeus [Kurisu]" which is basically an AI Kurisu. [/spoiler] Fate brings the living AI creators and Okabe together, and Okabe becomes a tester of the AI. Thanks to this, he is now able to interact with an AI [spoiler] Kurisu. [/spoiler] Is the privilege of being an AI tester a blessing or a regrettable curse? Read this story to find out! [h1] STEINS;GATE 0 vs. STEINS;GATE [/h1] Just like in STEINS;GATE, there are multiple endings in STEINS;GATE 0. Unlike in STEINS;GATE where D-mailing led to route splits, in STEINS;GATE 0 [spoiler] certain calls [/spoiler] lead to route splits. [b]There's a total of 7 new characters in STEINS;GATE 0[/b] that weren't in STEINS'GATE! One of them was referenced before STEINS;GATE 0 and the other debuted in a spin-off game called STEINS;GATE: My Darling's Embrace which released after STEINS;GATE but before STEINS;GATE 0! [b] For the first time ever, you'll notice others experiencing Reading Steiner![/b] Unlike STEINS;GATE, the game isn't entirely first person. Throughout the game, the narrative kind of switches between the perspectives of different characters like how it did in STEINS;GATE: Linear Bounded Phenogram and there is third person narration often at times (especially when we're seeing through another character's eyes). Remember SERN from STEINS;GATE? Well, they're not the organization you have to fear for in STEINS;GATE 0...there are now other organizations to fear! And remember the WW3 threat in STEINS;GATE? Well, you should add [spoiler] an information extraction war to it. [/spoiler] The visual novel experience has really improved in STEINS;GATE 0! Here are some new features that weren't available in previous STEINS;GATE titles: 1. You can now see sprites of the backs of characters! 2. You can now edit the volume of characters individually. I really felt the need for this sort of feature in spin-off games, I'm glad it made its way to this game. 3. Sprite, map/background and animation quality has significantly improved! 4. Characters now use smartphones with a built in messaging system similar to modern day popular messaging apps. [h1] My Review of STEINS;GATE 0 [/h1] This game had me in tears from beginning to end! I cried so much! I cried more than I did in any other STEINS;GATE game! It's just so beautifully written and illustrated! Not a lot of series succeed at introducing lots of new characters in a further entry and gaining the admiration of its base, but STEINS;GATE 0 succeeded! I was so attached to all of the new characters - both good and bad! I loved everyone who was new! I absolutely loved all [spoiler] 5 [/spoiler] good endings as well! Most importantly, I loved the true ending. It was the best way to end this depressive story. Well done! If anyone's curious about the order I received my endings. Here it is: 1. Leskinen 2. Mayuri (used guide) 3. Maho 4. Kurisu 5. Kagari (intentionally did it before True End) 6. True End If you ask me what the ideal ending order should be, it should be: 1. Maho 2. Kagari 3. Kurisu 4. Leskinen 5. Mayuri 6. True End I think that would be a more ideal way to experience this visual novel, because getting the True End last for me required me to skip so many chapters I had already read. If you need an ending guide, use these two, I had used them both: https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1383621185, https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1381418631 As extra, feel free to read these notes I took: - I felt bad for Suzuha for not knowing what a party was since she came from wartime... - Mayuri's last message to Okabe in her ending route had me in tears! - [spoiler] Loved Mayuri's ending, I just loved how Okabe regained his confidence. I hope Mayuri slaps him really hard in the past and helps him open the STEINS;GATE! [/spoiler] - If you get good endings you'll see how a hopeless. depressed and exhausted Okabe [spoiler] regains his motivation and life and becomes Hououin Kyouma again. Hearing him say who he was in front of attack helicopters and soldiers was the bravest and best thing ever! [/spoiler] - This is kind of a cool and cute Easter egg I encountered: During the Christmas party, you can call Amadeus twice. She'll wish you a Merry Christmas! - [spoiler] I was sobbing so much during the "dream" with Kurisu... [/spoiler] - I loved hearing Kaede [spoiler] play Turkish March [/spoiler] as a Turk. - I like how app position changes with wallpaper - I found Kagari's stories quite interesting. Whoever came up with the story ideas for Kagari was very creative! - I loved all the RINE stickers! I wish they were all sold on the Steam Points Shop! Most importantly, at the end of this game, I realized how [b] valuable [/b] Makise Kurisu is to us as a friend and scientist. Uncovering her knowledge is like uncovering Pandora's Box! The uncoverer cannot be malicious! Furthermore, I realized that escaping from your problems is not the answer to solving your issues. Work and work hard until you achieve your dreams! All Okabe needed in this story was some [b] motivation [/b] and [b] hope [/b] to get up and get back to work on reaching the STEINS;GATE! [b] Aim to reach the "promised place"! Aim to open the STEINS;GATE! [/b] El. Psy. Kongroo. [h1] Overall Rating: 10/10 [/h1]