Steins;Gate Re:Boot is a ground-up remake of the 2009 visual novel. The characters, backgrounds, and events have been rebuilt from scratch, with the original character designer returning. This goes well beyond a simple HD upgrade.
The new animation system is the first thing that stands out. Characters have more expressive faces and move much more naturally than they did in the original. The remake also features newly recorded lines from the original Japanese cast, a remastered soundtrack, and about 20% more artwork, plus almost double the amount from original events. For returning fans, though, the biggest addition is the new scenario and ending.
As a visual novel, there isn’t much in the way of gameplay. Most of your interaction comes through the branching story, where your choices determine which route you follow. You can open an in-game phone to read and reply to messages, which becomes important as the phone-based time travel device sits at the centre of the story’s major events. The messages you respond to, along with your replies, influence how things play out. The phone trigger mechanic from the original is back in more or less the same form.
The story branches into different character routes, and reaching the true ending requires a specific sequence of replies. Newcomers won’t have much of an idea which messages need answering or what they should say. Most first-time players will probably stumble across the right path by chance or end up looking for a guide. Another new addition is a visual timeline that arranges events in chronological order. It’s a useful reference when you lose track of what’s happened and how the different events fit together.
Time travel is the foundation of the story, and it’s a concept that appeals to me. The idea of going back and changing a decision you’ve made is easy to relate to, even if the consequences aren’t always what you’d expect.
You play as Rintaro Okabe, a student who likes to call himself a mad scientist. Along with a small group of friends, he runs the Future Gadget Laboratory, where they spend their time putting together strange inventions. One day, Okabe creates a microwave device connected to a phone. It begins sending messages into the past, and the group gradually realises they’ve discovered a way to travel through time.
An incident early in the story leaves Okabe deeply shaken. He feels as though he’s experienced the same events before and grows increasingly afraid that someone is following him. As the group continues working towards building a proper time machine, their experiments begin changing the timeline. By the time they understand the consequences of their actions, the damage has already been done, and people start suffering because of it.
If the original’s presentation put you off, Re:Boot might change your mind. The visuals have been completely redone, and there’s even a nod to Steins;Gate 0. There is a new route centred on Moeka Kiryu that introduces a storyline that wasn’t part of the original visual novel. It serves as a loose lead-in to a side story set on the Gamma Worldline.
Unfortunately, this was also where the remake disappointed me. The route offers a glimpse of an alternate timeline, but it’s short and doesn’t feel fully developed. I came away wanting more from it, especially given the potential of the scenario.
I discovered Steins;Gate through the anime rather than the visual novel. When I eventually played the original game, I loved it, largely because its story does things you don’t see very often. It explores how complicated time can be and shows how even seemingly harmless decisions can have far-reaching consequences for the timeline. It’s one of my favourite stories in the genre, and I think it’s something everyone should experience.
The updated visuals and character animations are easily the remake’s strongest features. Everything looks great on the Switch 2, and the port has been handled well. Characters feel much more alive during conversations, with their expressions and movements making them seem as though they’re reacting to what’s being said.
With multiple endings, including the true ending, there’s a good reason to revisit the story and explore the different routes. Figuring out how to reach certain endings can be a little fiddly, but that does give the game some replay value. Still, the limited interaction might leave some players satisfied after a single playthrough. That alone can take between 20 and 30 hours, so there’s a fair amount of time to set aside.
The Switch 2 port itself is solid, with both handheld and docked modes running well. My only minor gripe is the lack of touchscreen support. It’s a small omission and doesn’t have much of an impact on the experience.
I’d recommend Steins;Gate Re:Boot to anyone who enjoys time travel stories. If you’re new to the series, this is a good place to start. Returning fans have plenty of reasons to give it another go, thanks to the improved visuals, smoother character animations, and additional content. The original story remains excellent, and this remake gives it another chance to reach an audience.
Game Information
- Game Title: STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT
- Price: $59.99
- Publisher: Spike Chunsoft
- Developer: MAGES.
- Platform: Switch 2
- Review Code: Provided by the publisher
