paranoidphantom

26 January 2025

What Is Steins;Gate? (Review) [Anime]

Source: Steins;Gate

Release: 2011

Episodes: 24 + 1

Steins;Gate is part of a large media mix, primarily consisting of visual novels and a few anime adaptations. It’s also the most well-known branch of the broader Science Adventure (aka SciADV) universe, which includes several other sci-fi works (the most recent being Anonymous;Code as of now).

Among anime and visual novel enthusiasts, this story holds a cult status and is widely regarded as a masterpiece. On MyAnimeList, Steins;Gate consistently ranks among the highest-rated titles of all time.

The plot follows a group of friends, mostly otaku, who spend their days in Akihabara hanging out, discussing games and anime, debating conspiracy theories, exploring scientific concepts, goofing off, and conducting "mad" scientific experiments.

Don’t be misled by this seemingly light-hearted description—Steins;Gate has "psychological" and "thriller" tags for a reason. At a certain point, these young researchers uncover secrets of the universe that perhaps should have remained hidden.

Over the course of its 24 episodes, viewers will experience boredom, curiosity, confusion, fear, despair, hope, and finally be left alone with this vast spectrum of emotions. It’s a gripping journey. Steins;Gate masterfully plays with audience expectations and emotions, offering a truly compelling sci-fi adventure.

That’s all you need to know for now. This is one of those stories where the experience is far more impactful if you dive in with minimal prior knowledge.

A Few Words About the Plot

The plot of Steins;Gate is exceptionally well-crafted and almost exemplary in its structure. The anime is a near-literal adaptation of the visual novel, which serves as the original source. The novel intricately weaves its story into a spiral, where each ending complements the previous ones and unveils more of the overarching narrative.

Every detail matters, and each arc concludes logically. Both the game and anime answer every single question you might have as you progress. The novel brilliantly integrates its routes in such a way that they don’t contradict one another, while also motivating the player, through story and lore, to explore every route and reach the true ending—walk through the Steins Gate.

At the same time, you can stop at any route without pushing toward the true ending—each route feels like a complete, high-quality chapter of the story.

The Characters

While the plot is undeniably important, what truly elevates an anime—or especially a visual novel—are the characters you spend hours with. And in Steins;Gate, the characters are outstanding!

The story features around a dozen characters in total, with eight main ones. This core group forms the Future Gadget Lab, created and led by the main protagonist, Rintarou Okabe. The lab includes a diverse mix of young people: a childhood friend, a hacker, a neuroscientist, a shrine maiden, and several other quirky individuals. Even more characters appear in the spin-offs.

Despite the relatively large cast, each character is thoroughly developed over the course of the story. The anime has little action; it relies almost entirely on dialogue and character interactions, which are endlessly fascinating to watch. Every character has a well-defined personality, clear motivations, distinct interests, and, of course, skeletons in their closets.

In the game, unlike the anime, the narrative unfolds entirely from Rintarou Okabe’s perspective. Both the game and anime convey the complex emotions he experiences masterfully, though the game does this even better. Okabe is arguably the most compelling member of the lab—eccentric yet easy to empathize with due to his sincerity and simplicity.

The Zeitgeist

The story is set in Tokyo, specifically the Akihabara district, in the late 2000s. Since the story revolves around young adults immersed in Japanese pop culture, Steins;Gate serves as a time capsule, preserving the zeitgeist of the late 2000s.

It captures a transitional period: flip phones are giving way to smartphones, social media is erasing the culture of forums and personal websites, and knowledge of the latest internet memes is both a badge of honor and a source of ridicule. Japan’s entertainment industry—spanning games, anime, manga, and music—was at its peak, both in terms of identity and global influence.

At the same time, Japan faced economic instability and social issues, with young people feeling the pressure of an increasingly uncertain future. The internet and an extraordinarily vibrant entertainment industry became an escape for the younger generation. Steins;Gate tells the story of people living in this atmosphere.

Worried this might be too niche or unfriendly for a casual audience? Don’t be! The game includes an extensive glossary for every pop culture reference, scientific term, or internet meme that might be unfamiliar to players. With several hundred entries, this glossary is the perfect guide to the era.

Beyond that, the game can also be seen as a guide to real-world Akihabara. Almost all the backgrounds in the visual novel and locations in the anime are modeled after actual places. With a bit of effort, fans can easily find the spots that inspired the artists. Pilgrimages to these locations have become a popular pastime among Steins;Gate fans.

Anime or Visual Novel? Spin-Offs and the Right Order

A good question. Personally, I watched the anime first and then played the games. You won’t miss out on much if you do it the other way around.

The anime will take only a few hours of your time (24 episodes plus an OVA), while the game, if you aim for all the endings, can take up to 30 hours. For the most comprehensive experience, I’d recommend the game.

Here’s where to start:

• Steins;Gate (2009): The original visual novel with traditional sprite-based graphics.
• Steins;Gate (2011): The anime adaptation of the original story.
• Steins;Gate Elite (2018): A remake of the game featuring fully animated scenes, mostly taken from the anime.

After that, you’re free to explore the spin-offs if you’re interested, but none of them are essential—the original story is complete and doesn’t require sequels.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Steins;Gate is a milestone. Words can’t fully capture just how much it deserves your attention. It’s an incredibly well-crafted sci-fi story that will appeal to nearly any viewer. If you’ve somehow missed Steins;Gate, make it a priority to fill this cultural gap and experience this timeless masterpiece firsthand.