Steins;Gate, a sci-fi visual novel, was jointly developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus. Originally launched in 2009 on the Xbox 360, it has seen subsequent releases on various platforms such as the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and Windows. The game’s success led to the creation of an anime series in 2011, and in 2015, a sequel game titled Steins;Gate 0 was introduced.
Both the visual novel and the anime series are enigmatic. If you’re unable to decide whether to watch the anime or play the visual novel, here’s how you can find out.
Main Storyline
The story of Steins;Gate revolves around Rintaro Okabe, a self-proclaimed “mad scientist”, and his pals Mayuri Shiina and Itaru “Daru” Hashida, who share an apartment.
- During a time travel conference, Okabe stumbles upon the apparent death of Kurisu Makise, a neuroscience researcher. He sends a message to Daru about it, only to discover later that Kurisu is alive, and the message arrives before he sends it.
- Realizing they’ve accidentally crafted a device, the “Phone Microwave,” capable of sending texts into the past, they start to experiment with it. However, they quickly understand the consequences of time traveling and how it has the potential to reshape the future.
As the story unfolds, Okabe and his friends employ their time travel technology to prevent various disasters, including the threat of World War III. They also understand the consequences of their actions and the fact that they’re not the only ones who are interested in time travel.
Mayuri’s Death
In Worldline 1, Mayuri is killed by a falling satellite. This is the first worldline in Steins;Gate in which Okabe witnesses her death firsthand, and he is unable to do anything to save her.
- In Worldline 3, Mayuri is killed by a terrorist attack. Okabe learns about her death through a news report, and he gets consumed by grief once again. He tries to use his time-travel device to save her, but he is ultimately unsuccessful in this world line.
- In Worldline 4, Mayuri is killed by a computer virus. This is a particularly tragic death, as it is caused by a technology that Okabe himself created.
- In Worldline 7, Mayuri is killed in a laboratory accident. Okabe is present when the accident happens, and he is unable to save her. This death is even more painful for Okabe, as it occurs in a world line where he had already lost Kurisu.
- In Worldlines 10 and 11, Mayuri is killed by a Russian spy followed by an assassin.
Kurisu’s Death
- In Worldline 1, Kurisu is killed in a laboratory accident. This is the first world line in which Okabe experiences her death, and it results in a devastating event for him.
- In Worldline 7, Kurisu is killed by a laboratory fire, and Okabe loses both Kurisu and Mayuri in this worldline.
However, in the main worldline of Steins;Gate, Kurisu survives. Okabe is able to save her by sacrificing his memories of her. As we delve deeper into the intricacies of this topic, I’d like to invite you to join our newsletter community. By subscribing, you’ll stay updated on all our latest insights, tips, and exclusive content related to Anime and Manga.
Steins;Gate (Anime Series) Ending Explained
This is the original story that follows Rintaro Okabe and his friends as they accidentally discover a way to send text messages to the past. They use this technology to try to prevent several different disasters, but they soon realize that it is dangerous and has the potential to alter the future. The ending is bittersweet as Okabe is forced to choose between saving Mayuri Shiina or saving Kurisu Makise, he ultimately chooses Mayuri and sacrifices his memories of Kurise.
Steins;Gate 0 (anime series)
This is a prequel series that takes place before the events of the original anime series. It follows the story of Okabe as he tries to prevent Kurisu’s death. The ending of Steins;Gate 0 is even more bittersweet than the ending of the original anime series.
Okabe fails to save Kurisu, and he is forced to confront the reality that he cannot change the past along with the guilt and regret of his actions. However, the ending is also hopeful, because it shows Okabe finding strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Steins;Gate: Load Region of Déjà Vu
Steins;Gate: Load Region of Déjà Vu is the sequel movie, which was released in 2013. It is set one year after the events of the anime series. The movie follows the story of Okabe as he struggles to deal with the trauma of having to sacrifice his memories of Kurisu. He is eventually given the chance to restore his memories of Kurisu, but he must travel back in time and relive the events of the anime series in order to do so.
Okabe restores his memories of Kurisu, but he has to watch her die again. However, Okabe moves on with his life and finds happiness, even after experiencing such a great loss.
Steins;Gate OVA: Episode 23 Beta
It is an alternate ending to the original anime series. It shows what would happen if Okabe had chosen to save Kurisu instead of Mayuri. Okabe is able to save Kurisu, but he has to live with the guilt of knowing that Mayuri died. Here, Okabe is able to find love and happiness with Kurisu.
Conclusion
The Steins;Gate series, movie, and OVA ending are all interconnected, but they can be confusing to follow if you’re not familiar with the franchise. In most of the endings, Okabe is forced to accept that he cannot change the past without creating new tragedies. Okabe is forced to grieve the loss of Kurisu, but eventually, he is also able to find hope and move on with his life.
The ending of Steins;Gate can also be seen as a commentary on the nature of fate and free will. Okabe’s attempts to change the past suggest that he believes in free will, but his ultimate failure suggests that fate is ultimately fixed. It also shows that even though we cannot change the past, we can still learn from it and move on to a better future.