{"id":71248,"date":"2026-08-20T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=71248"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:33:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T07:33:15","slug":"adult-sci-fi-visual-novel-2236-a-d-offers-a-birds-eye-perspective-on-the-self-and-the-other-steam-gems-from-japan-you-might-be-missing-out-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/column\/adult-sci-fi-visual-novel-2236-a-d-offers-a-birds-eye-perspective-on-the-self-and-the-other-steam-gems-from-japan-you-might-be-missing-out-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Adult sci-fi visual novel 2236 A.D. offers a bird\u2019s eye perspective on the self and the other: Steam gems from Japan you might be missing out on"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With countless games released on Steam every single day, Japanese games from smaller independent devs tend to get lost in the shuffle, but there\u2019s no shortage of unique titles featuring original ideas with their own distinct identity. So, AUTOMATON has recently decided to start \u201cSteam gems from Japan you might be missing out on\u201d, a new series which aims to shine a spotlight on these overlooked indie gems by highlighting one game per article and sharing its appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2236<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A thought-provoking sci-fi visual novel that offers an overhead view of the self<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

For the second article in this series, I\u2019d like to introduce 2236 A.D<\/a>., a visual novel from the doujin circle Chloro. The game was first released in 2015 as an adult title for PC, but later received an all-ages version alongside an English translation in 2018. The prequel spin-off 2236 A.D. Secretary Stories<\/a>, which centers on conversations between the Personal A.I. Secretary System (PASS) Masuko and the protagonist Yotsuba from the main game, highlights the worldview and unique dialogue of 2236 A.D. Given that it\u2019s a free title, it\u2019s likely that many fans discovered the 2236 A.D. series through this spin-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story of 2236 A.D. unfolds while alternating between two timelines, one taking place in the year 2231 and the other in 2234. In the world the game is set, a new form of communication known as telepathy has become widespread, allowing people to communicate directly with each other\u2019s minds. In the 2234 segments, the high schooler Yotsuba participates in the experiment club with Hime-senpai, who has doubts about their telepathic society, and Masuko, the A.I. While drawn to the eccentric Hime-senpai, Yotsuba reminisces about a certain girl he met in 2231 and the events that unfolded that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2236<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the 2231 scenes depict Yotsuba in middle school, where he notices the existence of a girl who cannot use telepathy named Shion Haru in his new class. One day, finding himself strangely drawn to an abandoned building near his home, Yotsuba meets another girl who has the exact same name and appearance as Shion Haru, but she is only <\/em>able to communicate via telepathy. At first glance, this seems like a slice-of-life story set in the near future, but as you continue reading it blurs the lines of time, memory, and reality, gradually morphing into a sci-fi tale interwoven with mathematics, quantum physics, and philosophical conundrums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2236<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Set in a society where widespread telepathy enables the complete understanding of others, this title   explores themes such as  \u201clack of mutual understanding\u201d and \u201cindividuality.\u201d However, its developments are centered around events in the protagonist\u2019s personal life, posing the questions of  \u201cwhat happened in Yotsuba\u2019s past?\u201d and \u201cwhy  are there two girls who call themselves Shion Haru?\u201d Despite its heavy sci-fi themes, the narrative is structured in a way that makes it easy to get invested in by following characters\u2019 relationships and emotional developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2236 A.D.\u2019s underlying theme is the question of what it truly means for people to understand each other. A world where telepathy is commonplace, allowing people to directly communicate without words, seems like a society that has achieved the ideal form of communication on the surface. This is precisely what gives rise to questions about the meaning of existence and connections with others, and as the description of \u201ca visual novel that gives a bird\u2019s eye view of the self\u201d suggests, the story develops into a work that examines humanity and the individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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