Steins;Gate gets recommended so relentlessly that it's fair to be suspicious — a slow-burn time-travel story about a self-styled mad scientist and a microwave doesn't sell itself in a sentence. But it's earned the hype, and on SenpaiRanks it holds one of the highest scores on the whole site. Here's where to watch it and how to read the watch order.
Quick answer
Steins;Gate (White Fox, 2011, 24 episodes) streams on Crunchyroll. According to SenpaiRanks, it holds a 9.04 adjusted score — among the highest-rated anime tracked on the site. Watch the 24-episode main series first; the movie Load Region of Déjà Vu and the alternate-route Steins;Gate 0 come after. It's adapted from the visual novel and is famous for a first half that quietly plants everything the back half detonates.
The setup
Okabe Rintarou runs a ramshackle "lab" that stumbles onto a way to send messages to the past. The show spends its opening episodes on banter and worldbuilding, then turns that groundwork into one of the most tense, emotionally brutal second halves in the medium. If the early pace tests you, that's by design — the payoff depends on it.
Watch order
- Steins;Gate (2011) — the 24-episode main series. Start here.
- Steins;Gate: Load Region of Déjà Vu (2013) — the follow-up film. Optional but well-liked.
- Steins;Gate 0 (2018) — an alternate-worldline series that hits hardest once you've finished the original.
Is it good?
Per SenpaiRanks, Steins;Gate sits at 9.04 — a score that reflects both broad love (Consensus) and staying power on rewatch (Quality), the two axes we grade on. Very few titles clear that bar. If you like tightly plotted, character-driven stories with a slow fuse, this is close to a genre benchmark. For more in the same headspace, our best psychological anime ranking lines up the natural next watches.
Rate it yourself
A 9.04 is a bold claim — agree or push back on the Steins;Gate ranking page by logging your own score. One rating creates your account and shows where your taste lands against the Consensus, which is the part a lone MyAnimeList number leaves out.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where can I watch Steins;Gate?
A: Steins;Gate streams on Crunchyroll. Availability can vary by region.
Q: What order do I watch Steins;Gate in?
A: Start with the 2011 main series, then the film Load Region of Déjà Vu, then Steins;Gate 0.
Q: Is Steins;Gate good?
A: On SenpaiRanks it holds a 9.04 adjusted score — one of the highest on the site, reflecting both broad acclaim and strong rewatch value.
Q: Is the slow start worth it?
A: For most viewers, yes. The deliberate first half is what makes the second half land; it's a build, not filler.
Q: How many episodes is Steins;Gate?
A: The main series is 24 episodes, with a follow-up film and the 23-episode Steins;Gate 0 as extended viewing.