Steins;Gate: My Darling's Embrace

{{See also|Steins;Gate#Plot}}

My Darling's Embrace is a spin-off from Steins;Gate, and is a romantic comedy visual novel taking place in a different world line than those in the original game.{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2011/11/29/steinsgate-love-comedy-spin-off-follows-original-game-to-psp/ |title=Steins;Gate Love Comedy Spin-Off Follows Original Game To PSP |author=Ishaan |date=August 20, 2014|website=Siliconera|publisher=Curse, Inc. |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820114930/http://www.siliconera.com/2011/11/29/steinsgate-love-comedy-spin-off-follows-original-game-to-psp/ |archive-date=August 20, 2014|url-status=live}} In the world line the game takes place in, the characters still have the possibility to change the past by using D-mails, but SERN has little influence and does not have rounders hunt the main cast. Instead, the player character Rintaro Okabe's main problem is paying the bills for the laboratory, having to take a part-time job as a waiter. The game has multiple routes, each focusing on Okabe building a romantic relationship with one of the characters from Steins;Gate.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/the-three-steins-gate-spin-off-games-you-ve-probably-ne-1720563944 |title=The Three Steins;Gate Spin-off Games You've Probably Never Heard of |author=Eisenbeis, Richard |date=July 29, 2015|website=Kotaku |publisher=Gizmodo Media Group |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824175952/http://kotaku.com/the-three-steins-gate-spin-off-games-you-ve-probably-ne-1720563944 |archive-date=August 24, 2016|url-status=live}} The player affects the direction of the plot by picking choices, by answering Okabe's phone, and by clicking on highlighted text within text messages on the phone.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-june-13-19-zelda-3d/1100-6321036/ |title=Big in Japan June 13–19: Zelda 3D |author=Leo, Jon |date=June 24, 2011 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904184834/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-june-13-19-zelda-3d/1100-6321036/ |archive-date=September 4, 2016|url-status=live}} The game does not feature any game over states or routes where the player loses.

The game was developed by 5pb., and was produced by Naotaka Hayashi. While 5pb.'s Chiyomaru Shikura planned the story for the original Steins;Gate game on his own, My Darling's Embrace was written by other writers under scenario supervision by Tatsuya Matsubara. This change came from when Shikura was working on the anime adaptation of Steins;Gate, and realized that since the concept of the game's world had been fully established, he could let other writers who understand the world work on Steins;Gate projects and bring new ideas to it.{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/3/6/4070188/steins-gate-creator-talks-up-the-new-sequel-and-anime-film |title=Steins;Gate creator talks up the new sequel and anime film |author=Gifford, Kevin |date=March 3, 2013|website=Polygon |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625042757/http://www.polygon.com/2013/3/6/4070188/steins-gate-creator-talks-up-the-new-sequel-and-anime-film |archive-date=June 25, 2015|url-status=live}} The concept for My Darling's Embrace as a romance game, according to Matsubara, came from how there was a trend in Japan to develop secondary games after the release of a visual novel, that explored characters more in depth; he did however not want to water down the main Steins;Gate narrative by portraying Okabe's struggle from the original game again, so he decided to set the game in a "peaceful, fun worldline".{{cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/2019/02/28/steinsgate-elite-producer-on-stringing-together-its-worldlines-and-a-science-adventure-teaser/ |title=STEINS;GATE ELITE Producer On Stringing Together Its Worldlines And A Science Adventure Teaser |author=Sato |date=February 28, 2019|website=Siliconera|publisher=Curse, Inc. |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301094850/https://www.siliconera.com/2019/02/28/steinsgate-elite-producer-on-stringing-together-its-worldlines-and-a-science-adventure-teaser/ |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}

My Darling's Embrace was announced in February 2011 by Famitsu, and was described as a fan disc.{{cite web |url=http://andriasang.com/comty5/5pb_adventure_games/ |title=5pb. Announces New Adventure Games |author=Gantayat, Anoop |date=February 27, 2011 |website=Andriasang |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225040415/http://andriasang.com/comty5/5pb_adventure_games/ |archive-date=December 25, 2012|url-status=live}} It was originally released for the Xbox 360 on June 16, 2011, and was later released for several other platforms: the PlayStation Portable on April 26, 2012,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=25428 |title=シュタインズ･ゲート 比翼恋理のだーりん まとめ [PSP] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101070908/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=25428 |archive-date=November 1, 2015|url-status=live}} the PlayStation 3 on May 24, 2012,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=25952 |title=シュタインズ･ゲート 比翼恋理のだーりん まとめ [PS3] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609190343/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=25952 |archive-date=June 9, 2015|url-status=live}} the PlayStation Vita on March 14, 2013,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=28725 |title=シュタインズ・ゲート 比翼恋理のだーりん まとめ [Vita] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830155611/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=28725 |archive-date=August 30, 2016|url-status=live}} and iOS on October 3, 2013.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=29932 |title=シュタインズ・ゲート 比翼恋理のだーりん まとめ [iPhone/iPod] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830160516/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=29932 |archive-date=August 30, 2016|url-status=live}} The Xbox 360 version became playable on Xbox One through backward compatibility on May 19, 2017, along with the original Steins;Gate and its spin-off Steins;Gate: Linear Bounded Phenogram.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201705/19133467.html |title=『シュタインズ･ゲート』などXbox 360の5タイトルがXbox One下位互換機能に対応 |language=Japanese |date=May 19, 2017|magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304182559/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201705/19133467.html |archive-date=March 4, 2019 |url-status=live}} The game was also released for the Nintendo Switch as part of the collection Steins;Gate: Divergencies Assort along with Steins;Gate 0 and Steins;Gate: Linear Bounded Phenogram on March 20, 2019 in Japan.{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2018/12/steinsgate-divergencies-assort-announced-for-switch |title=Steins;Gate: Divergencies Assort announced for Switch [Update] |author=Romano, Sal |date=December 24, 2018|website=Gematsu |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225175541/https://gematsu.com/2018/12/steinsgate-divergencies-assort-announced-for-switch |archive-date=December 25, 2018|url-status=live}} The Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita versions were both available separately and in bundles with the original Steins;Gate;{{cite web |url=http://andriasang.com/comwj2/media_create_sales/ |title=Zelda Propels 3DS Back Into First Place |author=Gantayat, Anoop |date=June 23, 2011|website=Andriasang |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225051130/http://andriasang.com/comwj2/media_create_sales/ |archive-date=December 25, 2012|url-status=live}} the PlayStation Vita bundle also included a ticket to Steins;Gate: The Movie − Load Region of Déjà Vu and a metal charm.{{cite web |url=http://gematsu.com/2012/10/steinsgate-coming-to-playstation-vita |title=Steins;Gate coming to PlayStation Vita |author=Romano, Sal |date=October 29, 2012|website=Gematsu |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019154602/http://gematsu.com/2012/10/steinsgate-coming-to-playstation-vita |archive-date=October 19, 2015|url-status=live}} The game was published in English for the first time by Spike Chunsoft on December 10, 2019, for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steinsgate-0-is-out-now-on-nintendo-switch-and-my-/1100-6472097/ |title=Steins;Gate 0 Is Out Now On Nintendo Switch, And My Darling's Embrace Comes West |author=O'Connor, James |date=December 10, 2019|website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211091701/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steinsgate-0-is-out-now-on-nintendo-switch-and-my-/1100-6472097/ |archive-date=December 11, 2019|url-status=live}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = NS: 73/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/steinsgate-my-darlings-embrace/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Steins;Gate: My Darling's Embrace for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219041026/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/steinsgate-my-darlings-embrace |archive-date=February 19, 2020|url-status=live}}

| Fam = X360: 30/40{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=20409 |title=シュタインズ・ゲート 比翼恋理のだーりん まとめ [360] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026075103/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=20409 |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}
VITA: 32/40

}}

My Darling's Embrace was met by "positive reviews", according to the review aggregator Metacritic. Zenji Ishii at Famitsu compared My Darling's Embrace favorably to other bishōjo games, saying that it manages to create drama and tension despite how the game does not have a tragic element to it like the original Steins;Gate. He praised the writing as the work of a skilled scenario writer with a great understanding of the characters and world, and said that it manages to develop the characters and world further, giving them more depth, and that the portrayal of characters' emotions was well handled, allowing the player to feel immersed in the world. He particularly cited Luka and Moeka's routes as interesting, due to the different atmosphere that comes with a romantic route with an otokonoko character, and how the game manages to make the player reconsider their opinion on Moeka from the original Steins;Gate. He did note that because of the story's sense of safety and how it does not go off into a more serious direction, the game might feel unsatisfying of something impactful to some players, but also said that it fits in with the tone of the early chapters of the original Steins;Gate, where he considered the characters' everyday activities and light conversation part of what makes the game good.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201106/27045787.html |title=キャラへの愛が深まる『シュタインズ・ゲート 比翼恋理のだーりん』インプレッション |language=Japanese |author=Ishii, Zenji |date=June 27, 2011|magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714192319/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201106/27045787.html |archive-date=July 14, 2016|url-status=live}} Richard Eisenbeis at Kotaku called the art excellent, and said that the game might "sate [players'] appetites" while waiting for the then upcoming game Steins;Gate 0. Patrick Gann of RPGFan described the game's opening theme, "La*La*La Labolution", as "wretched", particularly noting the singers' "super-cute, super-nasal unison choir thing".{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/steinsgate-complete/index.html |title=The Sound of STEINS;GATE Complete |author=Gann, Patrick |website=RPGFan |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104022922/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/steinsgate-complete/index.html |archive-date=January 4, 2017|url-status=live}} Famitsu gave the PlayStation Vita version of the game their "Gold Award".

During its debut week, the Xbox 360 version was the fourth best selling game in Japan, with 31,666 copies sold, and with the Steins;Gate bundle in fifth place, selling an additional 11,041 copies; this boosted sales of the Xbox 360 console, putting it in seventh place on the Japanese hardware charts for the week.{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2011/06/22/japanese-charts-%E2%80%93-ocarina-of-time-takes-3ds-to-the-top/ |title=Japanese charts – Ocarina of Time takes 3DS to the top |author=Nunneley, Stephany |date=June 22, 2011|website=VG247 |publisher=Videogaming247 Ltd |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517104402/http://www.vg247.com/2011/06/22/japanese-charts-%e2%80%93-ocarina-of-time-takes-3ds-to-the-top/ |archive-date=May 17, 2016|url-status=live}} The PlayStation Portable version was the sixth best selling game in Japan during its first week, with 24,849 copies sold,{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-april-23-29-resident-evil-operation-raccoon-city/1100-6374901/ |title=Big in Japan April 23–29: Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City |author=Leo, Jon |date=May 3, 2012|website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131230224/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-april-23-29-resident-evil-operation-raccoon-city/1100-6374901/ |archive-date=January 31, 2014|url-status=live}} while the PlayStation 3 version was the eighteenth with 5,397 copies sold and an additional 9,223 copies of the PlayStation 3 Steins;Gate bundle.{{cite web |url=http://gematsu.com/2012/05/media-create-sales-052112-052712 |title=Media Create Sales: 05/21/12 – 05/27/12 |author=Romano, Sal |date=May 30, 2012|website=Gematsu |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617132544/http://gematsu.com/2012/05/media-create-sales-052112-052712 |archive-date=June 17, 2012|url-status=live}} The PlayStation Vita version, however, did not enter the weekly top 20 charts at all during its debut week.{{cite web |url=http://gematsu.com/2013/03/media-create-sales-31113-31713 |title=Media Create Sales: 3/11/13 – 3/17/13 |author=Romano, Sal |date=March 24, 2013|website=Gematsu |access-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814084641/http://gematsu.com/2013/03/media-create-sales-31113-31713 |archive-date=August 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.spike-chunsoft.com/games/steinsgate-my-darlings-embrace/}}
• {{vndb|6618}}

{{Science Adventure series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Steins Gate: My Darling's Embrace}}

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