Science Adventure Series

Science Adventure (SciADV, 科学ＡＤＶ, 科学アドベンチャー, Kagaku Adobenchaa) is a series of visual novels planned by Chiyomaru Shikura and developed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mages_(company)#5pb._Games 5pb. Games] and MAGES., occasionally in collaboration with Nitroplus. The series, which began with Chaos;Head NoAH in 2009, has spanned six main visual novel entries and several side visual novel entries. The series also consists of other material, such as anime adaptations, light novels, and manga.

Spike Chunsoft currently holds the English-version publishing rights for the series in the West. Previous rights holders included PQube Games and JAST USA.

Common elements
Each entry in the Science Adventure Series is part of a continuous, interconnected narrative. This means that the events of one title may be referenced in another, or even affect the other title's events in their entirety. In the same way, a single character may appear in more than one of the entries, either physically or by other means.

At their cores, the titles of the series carry science, conspiracy, and mystery as their main themes. In some cases (particularly in the Chaos; titles), thriller is also a primary theme. It is also worth mentioning that while some entries in the series are relatively light in terms of their imagery, others, such as Chaos;Head and Chaos;Child, sometimes feature heavy depictions of gore.

Main entries
Note: For all intents and purposes, the following order (release order) is the best way to experience the series. It will allow one to catch all references and callbacks, and avoid getting spoiled on previous titles.
 * Chaos;Head: Originally released on April 25, 2008 on Windows PC. It follows Takumi Nishijou, a delusional high school student who accidentally gets involved in a serial murder case taking place across Shibuya. Chaos;Head is technically not part of the Science Adventure Series—its promotional material labelled it a "Delusional Science NVL."
 * An expanded version of Chaos;Head, titled Chaos;Head NoAH, was released on February 26, 2009 on the Xbox 360. It included various improvements such new character routes, improved graphics, and some rewritten content. Chaos;Head NoAH is considered the first official entry in the Science Adventure Series, with it being referred to as a "Delusional Science ADV."
 * Steins;Gate: Originally released on October 15, 2009 on the Xbox 360. It follows the story of the self-proclaimed mad scientist Rintaro Okabe and his group of friends, who accidentally discover that they can send messages to the past thanks to one of their inventions. Steins;Gate is referred to as a "Hypothetical Science ADV."
 * Steins;Gate Elite is a fully-animated remake of the visual novel that uses footage from the anime adaptation in place of the original visual novel's art. It was originally released on September 20, 2018 on the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch.
 * Robotics;Notes: Originally released on June 28, 2012 on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It follows the story of Kaito Yashio and Akiho Senomiya, members of Central Tanegashima High's Robot Research Club. The two members' goal is to build a functional giant robot, based on an in-universe anime called Gunvarrel. Notably, a grown up Nae Tennouji is featured as an important character. Robotics;Notes is referred to as an "Augumented Science ADV."
 * Robotics;Notes Elite, an improved re-release featuring improved visuals, script improvements, and other upgrades was released on June 26, 2014 on the PlayStation Vita. The game was later ported to the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 4 on January 31, 2019. An English release is planned, and it is set to be released in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch, the PlayStation 4, and PC through Steam.
 * Chaos;Child: Originally released on December 18, 2014 on the Xbox One. Chaos;Child is a thematic sequel to Chaos;Head, and features numerous callbacks and shared elements with the latter. The story follows Takuru Miyashiro, the president of the Newspaper Club at Hehiko Academy, as he tries to solve the mystery behind a serial murder case reminiscent of one that took place several years prior.
 * Steins;Gate 0: Originally released on December 10, 2015 on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita. Steins;Gate 0 is an interquel to Steins;Gate, and is integral to understanding how the true ending of the original title was made possible.
 * Robotics;Notes DaSH: Originally released on January 31, 2019 on the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch. Robotics;Notes DaSH is the direct sequel to Robotics;Notes, and takes place half a year after the first title's events. Notably, Itaru Hashida is featured as a main character in this title.

Series chronology
Keep in mind that while this section lists the entries of the series in the order they take place, this is not the recommended order to play them in.


 * Chaos;Head NoAH - 2009
 * Steins;Gate - 2010
 * Steins;Gate 0 - 2010 - 2011
 * Chaos;Child - 2015
 * Robotics;Notes - 2019 - 2020
 * Robotics;Notes DaSH - 2020

Science Visual Novel
While not necessarily a part of Science Adventure, Science Visual Novel is a parallel series that is also developed by 5pb. Games and MAGES. It shares similar themes with Science Adventure. Currently, it consists of two entries:


 * Occultic;Nine: Originally released as a series of light novels written by Chiyomaru Shikura, it eventually received an anime adaptation and, later, a visual novel adaptation for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and the Xbox One. Its main theme is supernatural phenomena. An expanded version of the visual novel, tentatively titled Occultic;Nine: New World and will tentatively release in 2019 as DLC for pre-existing versions of the game and as a full release for the Nintendo Switch. According to Chiyomaru Shikura, this version of the game will expand the story and supposedly connect it to the Science Adventure Series.
 * Anonymous;Code: A visual novel that is currently in development with a tentative release date of 2019. It features hacking as its main theme.