Steins;Gate is famous for its layered storytelling and meticulous handling of time travel, but that same complexity can make it hard to decide where to start and what to watch next. Between the 2011 series, the movie, the Steins;Gate 0 sequel, optional OVAs, and the original visual novels, the franchise offers multiple entry points, each with a different impact on your understanding of the story. This guide breaks down the canonical material from the playful side stories and provides several watch orders — from the safe release order to the emotionally charged chronological path — so you can experience the full weight of every world line shift and character decision.

The Mechanics of Steins;Gate’s Timeline

Before diving into watch orders, it helps to understand how Steins;Gate treats time. The story does not use a simple linear model; instead, it’s built on a constellation of world lines, each a possible version of reality. The key device is the Divergence Meter, invented by the protagonist Rintarou Okabe. It assigns a numerical value to the current world line, with 1.048596% representing the fabled Steins Gate line — a reality free from the dystopian futures that dominate the two main attractor fields.

An attractor field is a cluster of world lines that converge toward a specific outcome, no matter how small changes appear to be. The Alpha attractor field leads inevitably to a future ruled by SERN’s dystopia, where Mayuri Shiina dies in mid-August 2010. The Beta attractor field results in a World War III scenario, in which Kurisu Makise is killed and a time machine race spirals out of control. These fields enforce certain fated events; Okabe’s battle is not just about sending D-Mails but about shifting the world line enough to cross into Steins Gate without triggering convergence.

Understanding this structure is crucial because the watch order you choose directly affects when you encounter the emotional core of each attractor field. Steins;Gate and Steins;Gate 0 together paint a full picture of Okabe’s repeated failures and eventual triumph, and how you sequence them changes the narrative pressure.

Defining Canon and Non-Canon in the Science Adventure Universe

“Canon” in the Steins;Gate franchise generally means content that directly contributes to the main storyline and is acknowledged as part of the official timeline. Because the original visual novel was developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus, the anime adaptations supervised by the original creators are considered canonical — but with some nuance. The 2011 anime faithfully follows the true ending route of the visual novel, while Steins;Gate 0 anime incorporates elements from multiple routes of its source VN to create a cohesive timeline. Films like Load Region of Déjà Vu were written with input from the series’ staff and exist as side stories that expand character arcs without contradicting established events.

Non-canon content, on the other hand, includes comedy shorts, parody episodes, and branching visual novel scenarios that explore “what-if” situations. They’re entertaining and offer deeper looks at the cast, but they do not influence the core plot. While they may reference main events, they often break the fourth wall, rely on exaggerated character traits, or follow light-hearted premises that are incompatible with the main story’s serious tone.

Canon Material – The Core Timeline

If you want to stick exclusively to the essential story, these entries form the backbone of the Steins;Gate timeline.

Steins;Gate (2011 Anime Series)

The 24-episode television anime, produced by White Fox and directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki and Takuya Satō, adapts the visual novel’s true ending. It covers the entire Alpha and Beta attractor field struggle, from the accidental invention of the PhoneWave (name subject to change) to the final operation Skuld that opens the Steins Gate. Every episode contributes vital information: the slow-burn character building in the first half pays off masterfully once the time leaps begin. This series is the absolute starting point for any watch order.

Steins;Gate: The Movie − Load Region of Déjà Vu

Released in 2013, this film takes place one year after the events of the original series and explores the emotional fallout of Okabe’s ordeal. After reaching Steins Gate, Okabe begins to experience “Reading Steiner” overload — spontaneous shifts that threaten to pull him out of the stable world line. The movie dives deep into Kurisu’s perspective and offers a heartfelt resolution to their relationship. While it was not part of the original visual novel, it was written by the series’ scenario writer and fits seamlessly as a canon epilogue.

Steins;Gate 0 (2018 Anime Series)

Steins;Gate 0 is not a side story; it is the missing piece that explains how the original series’ ending was made possible. Set in the Beta attractor field, it follows a version of Okabe who gave up after failing to save Kurisu. This 23-episode anime (plus an optional OVA) adapts the visual novel of the same name and shows the long, painful journey of a broken Okabe as he slowly rediscovers the will to fight. Without Steins;Gate 0, the plan to reach Steins Gate — including the video D-Mail from the future — feels like a deus ex machina; watching it turns that moment into a hard-earned culmination of years of suffering. It’s essential canon.

The Original Visual Novels (For Reference)

For those who want the source material, the Steins;Gate visual novel (2009) and Steins;Gate 0 visual novel (2015) remain the most detailed versions of the story. The 2011 anime follows the true ending path, but the VN includes alternate endings that explore each character’s backstory in greater depth. Steins;Gate Elite (2018) is a fully animated remake of the original VN that uses footage from the anime, offering an enhanced reading experience. These games are canonical and can replace the anime if you prefer interactive storytelling.

Non-Canon and Supplementary Content

Beyond the main entries, the Steins;Gate franchise has produced numerous bonus episodes, visual novels, and shorts. They’re delightful but entirely optional. Knowing what to skip — or when to enjoy the fluff — can keep your viewing experience from feeling diluted.

Steins;Gate Episode 25 (OVA) – Egoistic Poriomania

Often referred to as the “true” episode 25, this OVA was bundled with the final Japanese Blu-ray volume. It’s a light-hearted epilogue set in the United States where the lab members reunite for a goofy adventure. There are no world line consequences here, just comedic antics and fanservice. While fun, it is widely regarded as non-canon because its tone clashes with the series’ ending and it introduces situations that contradict character arcs.

Steins;Gate: Soumei Eichi no Cognitive Computing

A series of four short ONA episodes created to promote IBM’s cognitive computing technology. These shorts place the lab members in absurd comedic situations (Okabe trying to cook a dish, Kurisu as a maid, etc.) and are explicitly advertisements. They have no bearing on the story.

Steins;Gate Onshu no Braunian Motion (Drama CD)

A drama CD that acts as an epilogue to the series, exploring Mr. Braun’s past and his connection to the lab. While emotional, it’s a side story that most anime-only viewers will never encounter. It offers context but doesn’t reshape the timeline.

Spin-off Visual Novels and Games

Titles like Steins;Gate: Linear Bounded Phenogram (2013) and Steins;Gate: Darling of Loving Vows (2011) are official but non-canon. Phenogram presents ten side stories written by various authors, some of which revisit key moments from different perspectives; Darling is a romantic comedy that ignores the time travel tragedy entirely. They can be enjoyed as supplementary material but should never be mistaken for part of the main timeline.

Steins;Gate 0 Episode 24 (OVA) – Valentine’s Day Special

This OVA, included with the Steins;Gate 0 Blu-ray, is a sweet, comedic look at the lab members celebrating Valentine’s Day in the Beta world line. It sits firmly in non-canon territory, designed as a thank-you to fans rather than a narrative continuation.

Now that you know what’s essential and what’s extra, you can choose a path. Below are the three most popular viewing orders, each with distinct advantages. Pick the one that matches how you want to experience the story’s emotional beats.

The Standard Release Order (Safe and Simple)

This order follows the broadcast sequence and is ideal for first-time viewers who want to avoid spoilers or complicated placements.

  1. Steins;Gate (Episodes 1–24) – Watch the complete original series.
  2. Steins;Gate OVA – Egoistic Poriomania (Episode 25) – Optional, light epilogue.
  3. Steins;Gate: The Movie − Load Region of Déjà Vu – Canon epilogue movie.
  4. Steins;Gate 0 (Episodes 1–23) – The core sequel/prequel.
  5. Steins;Gate 0 OVA (Episode 24) – Optional, comedic extra.

This path works because Steins;Gate 0 was released years after the original, and its narrative expects you to know the ending of Steins;Gate. Watching it this way, you’ll experience the original catharsis first, then go back to see the price that made it possible. The emotional gut-punch of Steins;Gate 0 lands differently — more like a tragic prequel that recontextualizes a victory you already witnessed. It’s the easiest order for new viewers and the one most streaming platforms assume.

The Chronological Narrative Order (Maximum Emotional Impact)

This fan-favorite approach reorganizes the episodes to mimic the internal timeline of the characters. It places the entirety of Steins;Gate 0 right before the final two episodes of the original series, aligning the viewer’s experience with Okabe’s perspective. Here’s the step-by-step:

  1. Steins;Gate Episodes 1–22 – All the way up to Okabe’s first failed attempt to save Kurisu.
  2. Steins;Gate Episode 23β (Missing Link – Divide By Zero) – An alternate version of episode 23 that branches into the Beta attractor field where Okabe gives up. This episode is included as a bonus in many releases and sets up Steins;Gate 0.
  3. Steins;Gate 0 Episodes 1–23 – The full journey of the hopeless Okabe.
  4. Steins;Gate Episodes 23–24 – The original ending, now back-loaded with all the sacrifice from Steins;Gate 0.
  5. Steins;Gate OVA (Episode 25) and Load Region of Déjà Vu – Wrap up with the lighter epilogues.

This order turns the story into a marathon of despair and redemption. You spend dozens of episodes inside a world where Okabe has been broken, only to witness his past self succeed in the original episodes 23 and 24. The video message from 0’s Okabe, the realization that Operation Skuld was a desperate effort spanning years — it all hits with overwhelming force. Note for first-timers: This order spoils the arrangement of the narrative, but many die-hard fans believe it replicates the author’s intended structure. If you’re the type who prefers a puzzle that snaps together at the very end, this is your path.

The Visual Novel First Approach (Purist Run)

If you prefer reading to watching, start with the visual novel. The original Steins;Gate visual novel on Steam offers full voice acting and multiple branching endings that the anime condenses. After achieving the true ending, move to Steins;Gate 0 and complete all routes. Then switch to the anime adaptations for a fresh take — many scenes gain new weight when you already know the hidden details. This route demands the most time but provides the richest understanding. The movie and OVAs can be enjoyed afterward as dessert.

How Steins;Gate 0 Fits Into the Timeline

At first glance, Steins;Gate 0 appears to be a direct sequel, but it actually takes place in the middle of the original narrative — from the perspective of world line iteration. In the original episode 23, Okabe receives a video message from his future self that finally gives him the plan to save Kurisu and reach Steins Gate. Steins;Gate 0 is the story of the Okabe who failed, lived through World War III, and eventually created that very video message after years of trauma. The timeline loops: Steins;Gate 0 ends with the message being sent, which then enables the ending of the original series. So chronologically, the events of Steins;Gate 0 happen “before” Operation Skuld, even though they occur on a different iteration of the Beta world line. This paradoxical loop is what makes the chronological watch order so appealing — it visually represents the causality loop and makes the final victory feel earned not just by the characters on screen, but by you, the viewer, who has endured every failure alongside them.

Choosing Your Own World Line

There is no single correct way to watch Steins;Gate. Every order has trade-offs: the release order preserves the original storytelling rhythm but postpones the understanding of the video message; the chronological order builds toward an unparalleled climax but demands patience and a tolerance for a very long detour into tragedy; and the visual novel route provides maximum detail at the cost of time. Pick the order that aligns with your taste, and don’t be afraid to revisit the series — Steins;Gate rewards rewatches with new layers of foreshadowing and emotional nuance.

For further exploration, the official Steins;Gate website and the Wikipedia entry provide comprehensive overviews. If you want a fan-curated timeline diagram, the Steins;Gate Wiki is a solid resource. No matter which world line you jump into first, the most important thing is that you enjoy the lab members’ journey — el psy congroo.