Steins;Gate 0

Steins;Gate 0 is a single-player visual novel adventure game. The story follows Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist who once tried to defy fate by altering the past. In this alternate scenario, he fails to prevent the death of a close friend and abandons time travel research, trying to live a quiet life as a student in Akihabara. His fragile peace is disrupted when he encounters a new artificial intelligence system based on the memories of a fellow researcher. Through his interactions with this program and the people around him, Okabe is drawn once more into a web of conspiracies and world lines, where every decision may influence the survival of the future.

Gameplay is presented primarily through reading branching story text combined with static and animated character portraits and backgrounds. Instead of traditional combat or exploration, the player guides the narrative by making choices that affect the flow of the plot. A key mechanic is the “RINE” messenger system, which allows Okabe to receive and respond to messages on his smartphone. These responses act as decision points, determining which scenes unfold and which story routes become available.

Progression is based on unlocking different narrative branches, with each route revealing new perspectives on the larger mystery. Some paths explore Okabe’s mental decline under pressure, while others focus on alliances with new and returning characters. The game employs a flowchart structure that helps track unlocked storylines and endings.