Stella of the End

Starting at €16.79Buy now

In "Stella of the End" , players follow Jude Gray, a courier who must protect Philia, an android with a human soul, as they navigate a world overrun by mechanical beasts. Together, they embark on a journey to save humanity, with Philia striving to become human and Jude serving as her guardian. Along the way, they encounter various threats and challenges, raising the question of whether humanity can be saved. The game features two main characters: Jude, the courier, and Philia, the android with a dream of becoming human.

Play Modes

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

Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 175 reviews

story51 positive mentions

Stella of The End features a beautiful and emotional storyline with strong character development and world-building.
The visuals and soundtrack are stunning, enhancing the overall experience and immersion in the game.
The game effectively explores deep themes about humanity and relationships, making it a memorable and impactful read.

The story is linear with no choices, which may not appeal to players looking for interactive gameplay.
Some characters, particularly Philia, can be perceived as annoying or naive, which may detract from the experience for some players.
The pacing can feel rushed towards the end, leaving some plot points underdeveloped or unsatisfying.

story
144 mentions
35 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Stella of the End" is praised for its emotional depth, strong character development, and engaging world-building, set in a post-apocalyptic landscape where a courier and an android navigate their relationship amidst societal collapse. While some reviewers note its predictability and reliance on familiar tropes, the execution and thematic exploration of humanity and connection resonate deeply, making it a compelling experience. Overall, the narrative is described as beautifully crafted, with a mix of sci-fi, drama, and heartfelt moments that leave a lasting impact.
- “This is a perfect example of what a good story can be - great characters and development, incredible world-building and atmosphere, gorgeous visuals, and engaging sound design and music check all of the boxes.”
- “A very impressive work of art with a moving story and characters that will stick with you for a long while.”
- “The story is nothing short of incredible and with the addition of great artwork from swav makes this a must-read for visual novel fans.”
- “There are literally only two characters, they're tropey as hell, the mission they are on is so vague as to be nonexistent, and the game seems utterly allergic to actually interesting prose, as though written by a bizarro Dickens incentivized to use as few words as possible.”
- “The story is alright with a few character contradictions and an overarching narrative that struggles to work; characters say one thing then act another way, and the explanation of the 'motive' left me thinking it made little sense, with many alternatives and logic flaws.”
- “What's supposed to be its main theme is never really explored, characters are forgettable and predictable, and the vast majority of chapters between the first few and the last few are one giant filler that's there only to drag the story out for absolutely no reason.”
music
34 mentions
41 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional impact and ability to enhance the storytelling, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack and effective sound design that complements the narrative. While some found certain tracks forgettable or repetitive, the overall consensus is that the music, especially the opening and ending themes, significantly contributes to the immersive experience. Voice acting is also noted as a strong point, adding depth to the characters and further enriching the game's atmosphere.
- “Everything about this visual novel is so beautiful, from the story, to the character development, to the art, especially the music that fits the theme so well.”
- “The sound design is quite phenomenal as well, with every soundtrack doing what it's supposed to do whether it's to help accentuate the intensity of a situation, the sadness, the happiness, or the contentment; whatever feelings it seems like the story wants you to feel at the moment, the soundtrack is there to really help bring the mood and atmosphere towards it.”
- “Tear-jerking, one of the most emotionally impactful visual novel soundtracks I've ever heard.”
- “The music is entirely forgettable.”
- “However, the soundtrack aside from the opening song is nothing to write home about, and the repetition of the soundtrack during some scenes makes some long narration bits in the story somewhat boring.”
- “You could only tell that it's made by Key from the music and ending.”
emotional
33 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players reporting tear-jerking moments and deep connections to the characters, particularly in the context of a father-daughter relationship. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its beautifully crafted narrative and impactful soundtrack, making it a compelling experience for those seeking an emotional journey. Overall, it is described as a heartwarming and engaging story that resonates deeply with players, often leaving them in tears.
- “I cried my eyes out after playing this game.”
- “Worth every second of it if you're in for a very emotional trip through this beautifully crafted sci-fi world.”
- “Overall, an engaging and emotional story that doesn't overstay its welcome.”
graphics
17 mentions
71 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics in this visual novel are widely praised for their stunning quality and unique art style, with many reviewers highlighting the breathtaking artwork, character designs, and immersive backgrounds. The visuals effectively complement the storytelling, enhancing emotional scenes and overall atmosphere, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the combination of high-quality graphics and engaging sound design contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The game's art, including CGs and backgrounds, is simply breathtaking—arguably some of the best visuals from Key to date.”
- “An amazing and short-ish visual novel featuring really high-quality graphics from the mind of the man that brought us 'Rewrite' and 'Humanity Has Declined', Romeo Tanaka.”
- “The artwork done by Swav is fantastic and brings the characters to life, especially during some emotional scenes.”
- “Just remember it's more an interactive book with graphics (manga?) and music, than a game.”
- “An amazing and short-ish visual novel featuring really high quality graphics from the mind of the man that brought us Rewrite and Humanity Has Declined, Romeo Tanaka.”
- “While nothing too graphic is shown, themes of slavery, sexual servitude, and violence are shown in realistic and sometimes heartbreaking ways.”
character development
10 mentions
70 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in this visual novel is widely praised, with reviewers highlighting its depth and emotional resonance despite the story's short length. The main character's naivety is seen as a deliberate aspect of her growth, while the relationships and motivations of supporting characters, such as Jude and Phillia, add layers to the narrative. Overall, the combination of strong writing, world-building, and artistic elements contributes to a compelling character-driven experience.
- “A good kinetic visual novel that serves as a great example of how to do character development and worldbuilding properly. On top of having some neat and slick visuals, this is a visual novel I would definitely give a try.”
- “Decent world building and superb character development given the relatively short length of this story; the art and soundtrack are also top-notch.”
- “Thank you for creating excellent character development; Jude and Phillia's story is deeply sentimental, as Jude's mission is to deliver Phillia to Willem, while Phillia wants to be human and Willem wants to revive humanity. These goals can't be achieved together, and we all know the ending will be very emotional.”
- “The FMC is a bit naive and will get on your nerves a lot of times, but I think that's part of her character development.”
- “The last of us with more character development and more -”
- “The world building and character development are surprisingly strong for a short visual novel.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its exceptional world-building, stunning visuals, and immersive sound design, which effectively enhances the emotional depth of the story. Reviewers note that the soundtrack plays a crucial role in accentuating various moods, contributing to a beautifully crafted overall experience.
- “This is a perfect example of what a good story can be - great characters and development, incredible world-building and atmosphere, gorgeous visuals, and engaging sound design and music check all of the boxes.”
- “The sound design is quite phenomenal as well, with every soundtrack doing what it's supposed to do, whether it's to help accentuate the intensity of a situation, the sadness, the happiness, or the contentment. Whatever feelings the story wants you to feel at the moment, the soundtrack is there to really help bring the mood and atmosphere.”
- “Beautiful atmosphere, beautiful story, beautiful message.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I expected.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to engage the player.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is inconsistent, swinging from moments of tension to stretches of boredom without any real cohesion.”
gameplay
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The gameplay of 'Stella of the End' is characterized by its immersive experience, offering 10-20 hours of playtime that deepens emotional engagement and broadens narrative complexity, building on the legacy of its predecessors from Studio Key.
- “From the creators of Harmonia and Planetarian, Studio Key presents its latest and longest sci-fi dystopian visual novel, 'Stella of the End.' As a direct successor to their previous titles, this game intensifies the emotional stakes and expands the narrative scope, offering between 10-20 hours of immersive gameplay.”