Anonymous;Code

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 319 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Anonymous;Code Game Cover
Anonymous;Code is a stellar addition to the Science Adventure that’s sure to please fans, but still holds enough for newcomers to jump into as well.
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"ANONYMOUS;CODE" is a single-player adventure game with an interesting plot, good graphics, and music. In 2037 Tokyo, pro hacker Pollon Takaoka meets a mysterious girl named Momo and receives a "Save & Load" app, leading them to confront the genius hacker Cicada 3301 and the Gaia Institute. Together, they uncover a wholesome story set in a world recovering from the "Sad Morning" disaster.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 319 reviews
story64 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating story and fast-paced narrative that keeps players engaged from start to finish.
  • The visuals and soundtrack are exceptional, with a unique art style and high-quality voice acting that enhance the overall experience.
  • Anonymous;Code introduces innovative gameplay mechanics, such as the 'Save and Load' feature, which adds a fresh twist to the visual novel format.
  • The game is criticized for being too short and lacking in character development, leaving players wanting more depth and emotional investment.
  • Many players found the control scheme and gameplay mechanics to be frustrating and overly finicky, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
  • The pricing is considered steep for the length and content of the game, leading to disappointment among some fans of the series.
  • story235 mentions

    The story of "Anonymous;Code" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging and fast-paced narrative that expands the sci-adv universe, while others criticize it for being predictable and lacking the depth of previous entries like "Steins;Gate." Many players found the plot interesting but felt it fell short in character development and emotional resonance, often describing it as a more action-oriented and less nuanced experience. Overall, while newcomers may enjoy the story, veterans of the series might find it lacking in comparison to earlier titles.

    • “The game still proved to be an enjoyable experience with phenomenal voice acting and a fast-paced story that kept me engaged, with a very interesting concept behind it as a whole.”
    • “The story is incredible and really thought-provoking, the characters are well written, the concepts are really cool and it is overall an incredible entry to the sci-adv series.”
    • “Story is pure 10/10 for me.”
    • “The story here is really boring.”
    • “The story overall feels short and a bit lackluster compared to previous visual novels, impacting the character development a lot.”
    • “The save/load gimmick caused the plot to lose all sense of danger or suspense.”
  • gameplay71 mentions

    The gameplay of Anonymous;code is characterized by a unique but underexplained save/load mechanic that can feel rigid and frustrating, often leading to lengthy text passages with minimal interactivity. While the game offers an innovative approach to storytelling, many players find the lack of clear choices and character development disappointing compared to other visual novels in the genre. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a blend of intriguing concepts and execution flaws, making it a mixed experience for players.

    • “Gameplay-wise, this is the most unique visual novel I've played; there is nothing out there similar to this.”
    • “One of a kind visual novel, must play just for the unique gameplay mechanic.”
    • “The 'save and load' mechanic is also pretty neat and very reminiscent of Steins;Gate's Reading Steiner, while still putting its own spin on things.”
    • “This leads to mostly just hours upon hours of passing through conversations and text walls with no real gameplay, occasionally reloading a particular chapter to repeatedly hit the button on every line of text because it's sometimes hard to figure out why the game devs made that specific line the only one you can interact with.”
    • “4 hours of gameplay and I haven't seen a single decision point yet; I've barely even interacted with the 'game'.”
    • “The mechanic itself is annoying in practice, as you're expected to know exactly what line of dialogue to activate the load at.”
  • music41 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising Takeshi Abo's work for its catchy and recognizable themes that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as one of the best in the sci-adv genre, noting its ability to elevate both action-packed moments and emotional scenes. Overall, the music is described as top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's engaging presentation and atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is also my favorite thus far among the sci-adv games.”
    • “Anonymous;Code has an incredible presentation and a beautiful soundtrack.”
    • “Oh and almost forgot to mention that every time something is going right, 'zyzz' music starts playing.”
    • “Abo also did a wonderful job with music and sound; the main theme is extremely catchy, so I'll recognize it from thousands of others.”
    • “The music delivered by Takeshi Abo is divine again and it is easily recognizable as it has all his signature elements.”
  • graphics38 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the exceptional visuals and polished presentation, while others criticize the inconsistent 2.5D art style that fails to effectively blend 2D and 3D elements. While the animated sprites are noted as a significant improvement, the overall aesthetic can feel jarring due to varying art styles in different scenes. Despite these criticisms, many players find the visuals to be impressive and fitting for the game's themes, contributing positively to the overall experience.

    • “Both visuals and OST blew me away.”
    • “For one, the visuals are great and the animated sprites are a massive step up from Robotics;Notes/Dash.”
    • “The visuals, presentation, and artwork are exceptional.”
    • “They have this terrible 2.5D art style that seems like it's trying to blend together the 2D sprites of Steins;Gate and the Chaos; games with the 3D models of Robotics;Notes, but doesn't commit to either, and comes out looking awful.”
    • “How bad they look is made especially apparent with the CGs and manga triggers, which change the art style completely and look a thousand times better.”
    • “In some cases, though, artwork remains static despite major developments in the story.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling a strong attachment to the story and characters reminiscent of past titles like Steins;Gate, while others criticize its pacing and design choices for lacking depth and emotional impact. Many noted that the fast pace and focus on scientific concepts detracted from meaningful character development, resulting in a less emotionally resonant experience compared to previous entries in the series. Overall, while there are moments of emotional connection, they are often overshadowed by structural shortcomings.

    • “I'm more emotionally attached to these stories than I am to some of my distant relatives.”
    • “Reading this made me feel like I was experiencing Steins;Gate all over again for the first time, and sadly they might not be able to pull it off ever again, so I think this game should be enjoyed regardless of its shortcomings.”
    • “This is hardly explored further with only a glimpse of emotional tingles towards the end that nicely wraps around the beginning of the story.”
  • character development15 mentions

    Character development in the reviewed game is criticized for being underwhelming, with many users noting a lack of depth for side characters and a focus on plot over character arcs. The overall story feels short and lacks the engaging slice-of-life elements that fans appreciate, leading to a disappointing experience compared to previous titles in the genre. While the main character shows some development, the limited routes and endings hinder the potential for a richer narrative.

    • “But this did come at the expense of side-character development and fun slice of life scenes, which made me a little sad, as that's a big part of what I like about this series.”
    • “Anonymous;code offers a visually engaging experience and strong main character development but falls short in fully realizing its genre's potential.”
    • “The story overall feels short and a bit lackluster compared to previous visual novels, impacting the character development a lot.”
    • “The lack of such routes in a;c hurts the character development and world-building considerably.”
    • “Where a;c fails to elevate itself to cult status (in my opinion) is character development (or lack thereof).”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting that voiceovers fail to function and the game frequently freezes after just a few minutes of dialogue.

    • “The game's voiceovers don't work, and it freezes after about 5 minutes of dialogue.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere in the 'neo' sci-adv games, such as Anonymous;Code and Occultic;Nine, is criticized for being lacking and underdeveloped, especially when compared to the more immersive environments of earlier titles like Steins;Gate and the Chaos;Head series. Reviewers note that the fast-paced storytelling detracts from the world-building and character impact, resulting in a diminished sense of presence for players.

    • “Compared to something like Steins;Gate and the Chaos; sub-series, while those games are more limited in their scope, adequate time is dedicated to their mechanics and impact on the characters. So far, the 'neo' SciAdv works (Anonymous;Code, Occultic;Nine) both have this problem of breakneck pace, resulting in a substantial lack of atmosphere and presence in the world for the reader.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is subtly woven into the experience, often arising from the player's need to seek help or guides during challenging moments, which adds a lighthearted touch to the visual novel format. Overall, players appreciate the cleverness and thoughtfulness of the humor, prompting them to replay the game.

    • “I had to think and even look for guides when I got stuck a few times, which is a little funny for a visual novel, but looking back it was so nicely done and thought out that I want to play through it again.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

Buy Anonymous;Code

Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
4-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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