STEINS;GATE: My Darling's Embrace

About

In "STEINS;GATE: My Darling's Embrace," players navigate a visual novel story set in the world of the popular science fiction series. The game focuses on the main character's romantic relationships with a cast of female characters. Players will make choices that affect the outcome of the story, with multiple endings available. This game is a spin-off and expansion of the original "Steins;Gate," featuring new characters and scenarios.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

STEINS;GATE: My Darling's Embrace screenshot

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 361 reviews

story19 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

A fun and light-hearted spin-off that allows fans to enjoy the Steins;Gate characters in a romantic comedy setting.
Each character route offers unique and enjoyable stories, with a focus on humor and charm rather than the darker themes of the original.
Great voice acting and localization, maintaining the quality expected from the Steins;Gate series.

Some routes feel underdeveloped or repetitive, lacking the depth found in the main entries of the series.
The game may not appeal to those unfamiliar with the original Steins;Gate, as it relies heavily on prior knowledge of the characters and story.
Technical issues such as minor bugs and translation errors can detract from the overall experience.

story
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
68%
4%
The story of "Steins;Gate: My Darling's Embrace" is a light-hearted spin-off that explores the characters in a more casual, slice-of-life setting, diverging from the high-stakes narrative of the original series. While it features multiple routes and endings, allowing for character-specific storylines, it lacks the depth and overarching plot of the main games, focusing instead on humor and romance. Fans of the original will appreciate the familiar characters and the fun, heartwarming scenarios, though some may find the storytelling less compelling compared to the original's intricate plot.
- “Not only do you get different specific routes and endings for the characters, they all have their own unique story centered around them!”
- “The story is fun and the characters feel real, plus plenty of humorous scenes.”
- “To be frank, what I like the most from this game's 'Darling's Embrace' is that the story is actually fun to follow, heartwarming, and filled with humor.”
- “However, if you are more of a casual fan that mostly appreciated the original for its story revolving around time travel and science fiction, [i]Steins;Gate: My Darling's Embrace[/i] may leave you disappointed.”
- “None of these routes have any plot that is too serious or connects to the original game, but they help to explore the characters more, especially for characters like Moeka.”
- “That said, while it retains so much familiarity in story and characters, it has no relation at all with the original timeline; this Steins;Gate is more about side stories.”
humor
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this Steins;Gate spin-off is widely praised for its lightheartedness and charm, featuring quirky characters and a mix of silly, wholesome, and sometimes perverted jokes. Players appreciate the entertaining and funny narratives that focus on love interests, maintaining the franchise's signature comedic style while offering a more relaxed experience compared to the original games. Overall, the game delivers a delightful blend of romance and comedy, making it a worthwhile addition for fans seeking more humor in the Steins;Gate universe.
- “The quirky characters, the silly and sometimes perverted jokes, and the funny scenes you know and love from Steins;Gate are all here.”
- “To be frank, what I like the most about this darling's embrace is that the story is actually fun to follow, heartwarming, and filled with humor.”
- “I've played 16 hours so far and have gotten two endings, and every moment leading up to either one was either heartwarming, heartbreaking, or uproariously hilarious.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
64%
21%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its quality and light-hearted tone, although some find it repetitive and note that certain tracks are recycled from the original game. However, technical issues with sound leveling have been highlighted, as players often struggle to balance voice and music volumes, leading to moments where dialogue becomes inaudible. Additionally, the abrupt fade-outs of background music at chapter ends detract from the overall experience.
- “This is not a bad thing as the original had some excellent music, so it is nice to see it reused here to help tell new stories.”
- “Great storylines, controller support, art is great quality, music is amazing... honestly can't say anything negative about this title.”
- “The tone of the whole visual novel is pretty light-hearted and the OST is pretty good, although a bit repetitive after a while.”
- “Much like with the artwork, some of the music is recycled from the original game.”
- “Technical complaint: throughout the visual novel, I couldn't stop noticing the sound is not properly leveled at all (voice, sound effects, and background music). Even if you lower the background music a lot and increase the voice sound, there are still plenty of instances where the music will make the voice inaudible, or the voice will be too loud and the background music too quiet.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartwarming moments, humor, and unexpected tear-jerking scenes that resonate deeply with players. While it offers a lighter, more wholesome experience compared to its predecessor, it still effectively explores complex character relationships and emotional struggles, making it a touching journey for fans of the Steins;Gate universe. Overall, it strikes a balance between fun and emotional depth, appealing to those seeking both laughter and heartfelt storytelling.
- “However, this game also has really emotional and tear-jerking moments that caught me completely off-guard.”
- “Each route is touching and informative of the characters.”
- “I've played 16 hours so far and have gotten two endings, and every moment leading up to either one was either heartwarming, heartbreaking, or uproariously hilarious.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay of *Steins;Gate: My Darling's Embrace* remains true to its visual novel roots, focusing on decision-making at key story points and utilizing a mail system reminiscent of the original game's phone mechanic. While some players feel the gameplay has been simplified compared to the original, it still offers an engaging experience for fans, particularly those who enjoy character interactions and narrative depth, with over 20 hours of content.
- “Just like the original game, Steins;Gate: My Darling's Embrace is a visual novel, which means the gameplay is essentially making decisions at key points during the story.”
- “Gameplay is all the same as ever, using your phone to send messages to Phonewave, and the game emphasizes reading as usual.”
- “Worth the 20+ hours of gameplay, especially if you are the lovey-dovey kind of person.”
- “If you disliked the phone mechanic from the original game, then I would recommend staying away from this one as the mail system is used a lot.”
- “Overall, I'd say the gameplay has been dumbed down in many ways, but this is to be expected in a spin-off game.”
- “Especially when it could be considered a downgrade, gameplay-wise, from the original.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The graphics feature a stylized anime art style that is consistent with the original game, showcasing new backgrounds and nearly all-new character graphics that maintain high quality. While some elements are recycled, the overall visual presentation continues to be enjoyable and distinctive. Users have noted compatibility warnings for new AMD graphic cards.
- “The art style of the original, a stylized anime style, again sees use here.”
- “The new artwork continues the enjoyable and distinctive style that was present in the original game.”
- “But warning for anyone who is using a new AMD graphics card.”
- “However, despite the recycling, there are some new backgrounds and almost all of the CGs are new, all of which are on par quality-wise with the original artwork.”
- “Therefore, the art style of the original, a stylized anime style, again sees use here.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its authentic capture of the Steins;Gate vibe, providing a delightful and enjoyable experience with the beloved characters. Players appreciate the lighthearted and fun ambiance that enhances their connection to the story.
- “Despite being non-canon, it captures the Steins;Gate atmosphere perfectly.”
- “You just want to have a nice and fun atmosphere with the characters from Steins;Gate?”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, often requiring additional time or effort to progress effectively.
- “This can be a bit tedious at times.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players appreciate the high-quality translation and note that the game offers significant replayability through multiple routes, endings, and collectible content such as CGs and text messages.
- “The translation was really high quality, and there’s also significant replay value with all the various routes and endings, as well as the collectible CGs and text messages.”
- “The game offers multiple paths and endings, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With so many choices to make, I found myself wanting to replay the game just to see how different decisions would change the outcome.”
- “The game lacks significant replayability; once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back.”
- “While there are multiple endings, they feel more like variations of the same story rather than distinct experiences, which diminishes replay value.”
- “After finishing the game, I found that the choices I made didn't really change the outcome enough to warrant a second playthrough.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Character development is notably strong in Luka's route, which stands out for its depth and complexity, prompting thoughtful analysis and engagement from players. Other characters may not evoke the same level of interest or growth, leaving Luka as the standout in this aspect.
- “Luka has always been my favorite character, and their route truly sparked my interest in character development and analysis.”
- “The depth of character development in this game is remarkable, making each character feel real and relatable.”
- “I appreciate how the game allows characters to evolve over time, providing a rich narrative experience.”
- “I would honestly like to say more on any of them, but honestly Luka has always been the best boy and best girl to me, and is the only route that got the gears in my head turning in terms of character development and analysis.”
- “The character development feels shallow and predictable, leaving little room for meaningful growth or change.”
- “I was disappointed by how one-dimensional the characters were; their arcs lacked depth and failed to engage me emotionally.”