Though the game consists mainly of closed plot lines that may or may not be directly "bounded" to the original Steins;Gate storyline, I'd say it's very refreshing to perceive events from perspectives other than Okabe's. Even if the quality varies from story to story, I'd say it was an enjoyable experience for a fan like myself.

- Paid full price for the game at launch.
- The multiplayer had me completely hooked — every match was fast-paced and absolutely frenetic.
- The challenges were garbage, but they didn’t affect the overall experience or fun factor.

- EA drops a completely free standalone Battle Royale mode.
- Adds a Battle Pass and in-game currency (because of course EA couldn’t help themselves).
- Can’t even get everything on the Battle Pass because I refuse to give more money to this ♥♥♥♥♥♥-up company.
- Instantly killed the paid multiplayer experience—matchmaking is now flooded with bots because why would anyone stick to the paid mode when the BR is free?
- EXP gains in multiplayer are a complete joke if compared to the BR mode.

Thank you EA, you ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ parasites.

If you're here for the second coming of the Troika classic, just turn around. Go reinstall the original with the fan patch. This is a game so cursed by its own development hell that you can feel the ghosts of three different studios fighting for control of the mouse. This game's RPG elements are purely skin-deep. At its heart, it's a linear narrative adventure.
And look, I don't blame The Chinese Room for this. You can feel their signature on the parts that do work. When this game shines, it's brilliant. The dialogue is sharp as a fang, the voice acting is 10/10, and every main character just oozes personality. The way conversations are framed is incredibly stylized — all cool camera angles and moody lighting. It's got the vibe, 100%.

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When you're actually moving through that world, it feels great. Gliding between rooftops and climbing up buildings gives you a real sense of vampire power, and it's easily one of the most fun parts of the game.
The combat is... confusing, but in a way that sometimes works. It's barebones and clunky, and the lack of guns or melee weapons is a bizarre choice. And yet, it can be really fun. I played as a Lasombra and loved the skill tree for letting me mix in Tremere powers — it opened up a lot of possibilities. There are even cool "a-ha!" moments, like discovering you can use telekinesis to lift a corpse and use it as a bullet shield (which the game never tells you). When it clicks, it clicks. But let's be honest here, the skill tree is kinda of a joke and one of the reasons that this game cannot truly be labeled as an RPG.

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My biggest gripe? I'm supposed to be an Elder vampire, but I'm just an errand boy for every other Kindred in Seattle. Opposing someone means nothing; they get mildly annoyed, and the plot marches on. Your clan choice is just as shallow — it's an origin story that only affects your initial combat style and very few lines of dialogue. There is almost zero replayability.
That said, the story itself is good, even if a little unfocused — there are great moments, strong writing, and genuinely interesting characters.

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The world itself is lifeless (no pun intended). It's a pretty but empty box to glide through.
The side quests are an absolute joke — repetitive, disjointed fetch quests with no interesting characters. Even the main quest gets bogged down in tedium, especially with the "Fabien's memories" sections. Now, let me be clear: Fabien is a fantastic character. Watching him interact with other Kindred (or even just inanimate objects) is a total highlight and makes these segments almost worth it. But playing as him? It's a slog. The game strips away your fun traversal powers, turning you into a delivery boy just to pad out the runtime. It's a classic case of the game actively getting in the way of its own best story moments.

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And then there's the technical state. This game is structurally broken and struggles to run most of the time. For a game with underwhelming, last-gen graphics, the performance is sluggish. Even lowering the graphics settings didn’t get rid of the stutters and frame drops.
Oh, and also: NO MANUAL SAVES. The game relies only on checkpoints, and they're busted.
I hit a game-breaking bug. I tried to load an earlier save. The game immediately auto-saved over my backup, trapping me in an earlier save and erasing 3 HOURS of progress.
This happened more than once. I felt like I was constantly praying the next mission wouldn't soft-lock me.
Other than that, some of the bugs I've found consisted of:

• Quest markers randomly vanishing
  
• Elixirs disappearing from my inventory
  
• Video settings resetting on every launch
  
• Civilians vanished completely of the map (also had to reload from a previous save)
  
• Some telekinesis prompts would not work, sometimes in main quests (making me, again, reload from a previous save)

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To me, this game is exactly why Steam needs a "Mixed" review option, because I truly don't hate this game. I love its personality, its style, and its characters. But I hate its technical state, its shallow RPG systems, and its total disrespect for my time.
Final Verdict: 6/10
I cannot recommend it in its current state. Wait for a massive sale and a few months of patches. Buy it for the vibes, but pray the save system doesn't destroy your sanity.

It's a decent game on its own, just not up to Deus Ex standards.

I’ll state this right off the bat: while Steins;Gate 0 is a brilliant game, it doesn't quite match the emotional depth and impact of the original. That said, it’s clear that the developers never intended for it to surpass the first game, but rather to offer something different—an exploration of a darker, more introspective narrative.

The central theme revolves around Artificial Intelligence, specifically the development of an AI that is capable of complex emotional responses and evolving consciousness. This topic feels particularly relevant today, given the rapid advancements in AI and its increasing presence in our lives.

The story centers on a project called "Amadeus", which is an AI system that is capable of storing and emulating the personality and memories of a person, making it indistinguishable from the real person in terms of behavior and interaction. The story explores the implications of this technology: how it affects relationships, the ethics of creating digital copies of consciousness, and the philosophical questions surrounding the nature of identity and humanity. This idea leads to profound emotional conflict, as characters grapple with interacting with AI that is, in many ways, a continuation of lost loved ones.

Fast forward to today, and the ideas presented in Steins;Gate 0 are more relevant than ever. The concept of AI mimicking human emotions, personalities, and even replicating someone’s voice or mannerisms is no longer purely theoretical, but increasingly achievable. Many companies and research institutions are working on making AI systems capable of engaging in conversations that feel human-like, developing deep learning algorithms that allow machines to recognize and respond to emotional cues. This technological landscape brings the game's exploration of AI to the forefront of contemporary debates.

• Can AI truly replicate human consciousness? As AI technology progresses, we see more examples of AI being used in ways that mimic aspects of human behavior. However, as Steins;Gate 0 suggests, there is still a fundamental difference between a digital simulation and an actual person, no matter how convincing the AI might seem.
  
• The ethics of AI consciousness: If AI can simulate consciousness, should it be treated with the same rights as humans? Is it ethical to create digital beings that are aware of their own artificiality?
  
• AI and memory: The emotional weight of memory is central to Steins;Gate 0. AI that preserves memories, like Amadeus, raises questions about the authenticity of these memories. If an AI "remembers" something, is it the same as a human remembering it, or does the experience lose its emotional depth when reproduced by a machine?

I truly believe that Hiyajo Maho is the standout character added to the game. She is a well-rounded character with clearly defined traits, and her dialogues are, by far, the most thought-provoking in the entire game. As a friend of Kurisu's, Maho shared a professional and personal connection with her, having worked together in AI research and development in the U.S. Like Okabe, Maho is deeply affected by Kurisu’s death. The conversations between Maho and Okabe about their shared experiences with Kurisu are some of the most impactful moments in the game. It’s evident that both characters held immense respect and affection for her, with Maho even describing Kurisu as "the Mozart to her Salieri".
Writing a character like Maho without making her feel like a mere replacement for Kurisu must have been a challenge, but I’m pleased to say that Maho is so well-developed that, from the very start, she feels like a fully realized individual in her own right. Her unique presence injects a fresh dynamic into the narrative, adding emotional depth and complexity without feeling like she's some sort of "replacement" for Kurisu.

I have to be honest and say that I do not care much for Kagari. She’s a character who often feels absent, even when she’s physically present in scenes. Unfortunately, Kagari comes across as a shoehorned-in character with too little personality for players to really latch onto. While she does have a role in the story, I found it difficult to connect with her, and her emotional development didn’t resonate as strongly as with other characters. Her ending was, by far, the worst one; it came out of nowhere and honestly it left a sour taste in my mouth.

I honestly had to look up their names to include them in this review— that’s how little of an impact they left on me. To put it simple: they’re both Mayuri's friends and feel totally like filler characters. Both of them are largely irrelevant to the main plot, and their presence never really adds anything meaningful. They don’t stand out in terms of personality, development, or emotional depth, and by the end of the game, it’s hard to remember much about them.

Yuki's character is a bit difficult to assess, as her development can take dramatic turns depending on the route you choose. Overall, though, I don’t feel her presence detracts from the main experience.

Dr. Leskinen is an enjoyable character whose enthusiasm shines through every scene. He’s mischievous and adds humor, especially in the early parts of the game. His character takes some interesting turns, and his ending is sure to surprise many, manipulating both Okabe’s and the player’s attachment to Kurisu in clever ways.

Judy feels underdeveloped, with little screen time and a role that doesn’t justify her presence. The game asks us to accept her suddenly significant role in the plot without giving us the time to develop an attachment to her, which feels lazy. A better example of a more effective character reveal would be Tennouji’s unexpected "double agent" twist in the original Steins;Gate, which felt earned due to the time spent building his character.

• Soundtrack - The music is still top-notch, setting the perfect tone for the game’s emotional moments.
  
• Voice acting - The voice performances are excellent, continuing the high standard set by the original.
  
• Character designs - The updated character designs are a visual improvement, and the addition of mouth movements during dialogue adds a new layer of animation to the scenes.
  
• Enhanced visuals - The game's visuals are more dynamic, and the characters now move their mouths during dialogue, which, though minor, brings more life to the scenes compared to the original’s static images.

• Pacing - Can feel sluggish at times, especially with the shift in perspectives.
  
• RINE - While text messages were important in the original game, the use of RINE messages here feels way less impactful.

In the end, Steins;Gate 0 is an excellent visual novel that builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor. While, in my optinion, it may not surpass the original in terms of impact, it offers a dark, thought-provoking narrative that remains highly relevant to today’s AI discussions. The game’s exploration of grief, memory, and artificial consciousness will leave a lasting impression, even as it explores difficult, philosophical questions about the future of AI.


El. Psy. Kongroo.

I'll buy this game... and PLAY IT.

It's a really nice game; you'll get a lot of nice surprises, especially if you've read 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth'. The eerie atmosphere and haunting visuals truly evoke Lovecraft's world, drawing you into the unsettling mysteries of Innsmouth. The way the game builds tension and reveals the town's dark secrets mirrors the gradual uncovering of horrors in Lovecraft's original tale.

However, I must unfortunately point out that the PC port is beyond broken. I encountered numerous game and immersion-breaking bugs, and even after applying DCoTEPatch, I couldn't make the game run at an "acceptable state". It’s disheartening, particularly when the game excels at capturing the oppressive gloom and the lurking threat of the Deep Ones. If the technical issues were addressed, this could be a truly exceptional experience.

A nice blend of 80's anime/retro culture and 90's shooter gameplay, with some rogue-like elements to spice up the challenge. The artwork and soundtrack are godlike; you can tell that the game was made with a lot of care and passion. The timed gameplay is frenetic and keeps you on your toes the entire time, and the end-level upgrades introduce some really nice twists to your playstyle. The game also has a 'no timer' difficulty level for those players who would like to take their time and experience the game as a classic 'boomer shooter'—an cool option to have, in my opinion.

Loved the game; props to the devs for making such fluid and responsive gameplay with some really stylish aesthetics!

Rooted in Game Dev Tycoon's framework, this iteration introduces notable innovations but also encounters several missteps.

PROS:

• Strategic buyouts empower you to acquire competitors and leverage their studios to develop new games under your company's brand
  
• Flexibility to customize your office space
  
• Granular control over employee placement
  
• Expand your corporate footprint through the acquisition of new buildings
  
• Organize your workforce into distinct teams, you can also reallocate workers from the companies you've bought

CONS:

• The absence of real-life counterparts for consoles becomes a notable source of frustration, as the game inundates players with numerous, unclearly defined platforms, making it challenging to identify target audiences and genre preferences
  
• GOTY outcomes are erratic, often resulting in defeats to obscure companies, potentially influenced by procedural generation, regardless of your game's quality or commercial success
  
• In the absence of compelling challenge modes, the game lacks inherent goals, potentially resulting in a continuous cycle of game creation marked by perpetual GOTY losses
  
• Studios that you've bought will most definetly produce underwhelming/bad games
  
• Achieving a perfect 10/10 rating for games seems like a mythical feat

6/10
Good game with some neat ideas but GDT is still GOAT imo

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I still remember the first time Steins;Gate name-dropped CERN and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). My younger self had seen those terms in news headlines—usually accompanied by ominous warnings about black holes or "the end of physics"—but I never expected them to be the backbone of a visual novel’s conspiracy. Yet there it was: SERN (the game’s fictional counterpart to CERN) manipulating time itself, with the LHC at the center of it all.
That moment ignited something in me. I wasn’t just playing a game anymore—I was falling down a rabbit hole of real-world science, scrambling to understand the theories Steins;Gate treated as fact. And the more I researched, the more I realized: almost everything in this game has roots in actual physics, philosophy, or internet lore.
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The game’s genius lies in how it blurs the line between conspiracy and reality:

• John Titor wasn’t just a plot device—he was a real (well, fake) early-2000s internet phenomenon, a self-proclaimed time traveler who "predicted" a future civil war and mentioned CERN’s involvement in time research. Steins;Gate didn’t invent him; it weaponized his myth.
  
• The LHC’s "black hole" fears weren’t just sci-fi paranoia—they were a genuine (if overblown) public concern in the late 2000s. Some scientists even had to publicly debunk doomsday theories.
  
• The game’s time travel mechanics borrow from real physics:
  
• Kerr black holes (used in the story) are a legitimate theoretical model for time loops.
  
• The Many-Worlds Interpretation isn’t just a cool narrative device—it’s a real (if controversial) quantum theory.
  
• Even Okabe’s microwave experiments riff on real microwave-based plasma physics research.

I remember my dumbfounded realization that Steins;Gate wasn’t making up half of this stuff—it was just twisting reality slightly.
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Most sci-fi handwaves its technobabble. Steins;Gate makes you Google it. It treats its audience like adults, trusting them to engage with complex ideas—and in my case, it worked. I went from passively absorbing news about the LHC to actually reading papers on closed timelike curves and the Novikov self-consistency principle (yes, that’s a real thing).
That’s the magic of this game: it doesn’t just tell a story—it sends you on a quest. Whether it’s diving into quantum mechanics or falling for John Titor hoaxes all over again, Steins;Gate leaves you smarter (and maybe a little more paranoid).
⠀
Steins;Gate isn’t just a masterpiece because of its characters or twists—it’s a masterpiece because it respects reality enough to distort it meaningfully. It takes the eerie, half-understood science lurking in pop culture and turns it into something personal.
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Play it. Then spend the next three months down a Wikipedia spiral, wondering if SERN actually has a time machine.
⠀
El Psy Kongroo.