SHUTEN ORDER

Shuten Order is messy in places and far more linear than it wants you to believe, but it still finds ways for you to engage with its mix of genres and sharp storytelling. The constant illusion of choice can be frustrating, and the padding doesn’t always feel earned, but the variety across its five routes, unfleshed though they may be, keeps things from ever getting dull. It’s wordy, yes, sometimes to a fault, but even with all its rough edges, it makes you want to keep pushing through its murder mystery anyway.

SHUTEN ORDER is an ambitious game that combines five distinct genres into a cohesive experience. Each section reveals more about the world and characters, with a story that deepens over time. However, frequent dialogue and gameplay interruptions can make the pacing feel slow and limit player engagement. Despite this, the gameplay is solid and the unique art style and Japanese voice acting reflect the developers' own style and cultural background.

Shuten Order is smart, stylish, and a bit messy. It’s a visual novel that bounces between genres and tones, striving for freshness as if the world will end in four days, and Kazutaka Kodaka still has some points yet to make. Look past the clunky localization and relish five routes penned by one of gaming’s most audacious storytellers.

Shuten Order breaks up the traditional visual novel experience with a gameplay conceit or two you’ll love, plus a few you’ll likely just need to deal with, to tell a compelling sci-fi mystery with a unique take on the genre.