Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 300 sampled Steam reviews (292 positive / 8 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing29% mention it
- Visuals & art19% mention it
- Music & audio5% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Story & writing50% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
91%
22 reviews
5-15h
94%
35 reviews
15-40h
98%
116 reviews
40-100h
99%
115 reviews
100h+
92%
12 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 87 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 97% | 93 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 93 | 15 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 98% | 94 | 147 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 91.9, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 27,144 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 300 reviews sampled · 421 total reviews in window · weighted 255.3 up / 5.2 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (26)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Visual novels may not be everyone's cup of tea, but anyone that loves delving deep into the world of a great book will be right at home with this intriguing science fiction adventure, being drawn into the heart of the time travel tale thanks to narrative of the finest calibre and some first class voice acting to bring the excellent cast of characters to life.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Steins;Gate is a suitable introduction to the visual novel, but content-wise it's certainly not for everyone.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Having not watched the Anime in the hopes of not spoiling the game’s content, I’m thoroughly blown at what Steins;Gate does with its narrative. Whilst not all characters were incredibly likable with some characters being very cookie cutter archetypes, it’s well written and translated content makes it one of the most recommendable visual novels to play! Let’s hope the rest of the Science Adventure gets released.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“As with any book, you’ll want to take Steins;Gate out and about without being tethered to a desk or sofa.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Despite its shortcomings STEINS;GATE is still a great visual novel with a great story about time travel.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Steins;Gate features heavy scientific themes combined with a confusing choice system in a slow-paced story. Any problems are easily ignored when you really get into it though, with the relatable characters, voice acting and storytelling promising an unforgettable, emotional experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It may not be to everyone’s tastes, but if you’re craving a deep story and interesting characters you won’t find much better.”
read full review ↗ - 69
“I just wish that the dating elements had been more smoothly incorporated into the established narrative and not forced (gruesomely at times) on the player. Sometimes, it’s enough to just be friends.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“By subtly incorporating gameplay mechanics to tell an intelligent story, Steins;Gate is a triumph of the visual novel genre.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The definitive version of a true modern classic. Steins;Gate presents a truly captivating and uncompromising storyline with exquisite characters, powerful themes and often heartbreaking choices to make. It's a beautiful, essential thing.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“I don’t think there are any noteworthy improvements or flaws with this version, and if you’re a fan who’s already played another port then I can’t really see this being of interest to you. For everyone else, however, I would thoroughly recommend if you’re into visual novels or even just the anime or manga. It’s such a great story and theme, with lovable characters and solid writing.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“If you're a fan of sci-fi, drama, comedy, or even a bit of romance - then Steins;Gate is something you shouldn't pass up. El Psy Kangroo.”
read full review ↗
Cubed3
GameGrin
TheSixthAxis
GameSkinny
We Got This Covered
Gamestyle
IGN
RPG Fan
Dealspwn
PushStartPlay
Netto’s Game Room…and 14 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- STEINS;GATE - update patch 2018/02/23Feb 23, 2018
- STEINS;GATE - update patch 2018/02/23Feb 23, 2018
- STEINS;GATE - update patch 2017/02/06Feb 7, 2017
- STEINS;GATE - update patch 2017/02/06Feb 7, 2017
- STEINS;GATE Update 2016/11/24Nov 25, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- STEINS;GATE Update 2016/11/24Nov 25, 2016
- STEINS;GATE Update/Patch Notes 1Oct 17, 2016
- STEINS;GATE Update/Patch Notes 1Oct 17, 2016