Steam Prison Review (Nintendo Switch/Steam)
Steam Prison is an otome visual novel set in a richly detailed steampunk society sharply divided between “The Heights,” a strict and privileged world, and “The Depths,” a harsh underworld filled with danger and injustice. You play as Cyrus Tistella, a dedicated young police officer from The Heights, whose life is turned upside-down after being wrongfully accused of a crime.
Far from a typical romance, Steam Prison shines brightest through its complex characters and thought-provoking exploration of social issues like justice and morality. Choices made throughout the game directly impact Cyrus’s journey, uncovering dark truths and determining her ultimate fate in a society fraught with inequality and corruption.
It’s a story-driven adventure that offers far more depth and intrigue than a simple love story, compelling players to question the very foundations of the world around them.
🌸Overview
Title: Steam Prison/スチームプリズン
Developer: HuneX
Publisher: HuneX, Dramatic Create & MangaGamer
Release Date: 16 December 2016
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam (PC)
Genre: Romance, Adventure, Steampunk, Fantasy
Played On: Steam (PC) first, Nintendo Switch later, both times in Japanese, with English subtitles. All routes completed 100%
Rating: ESRB M (Mature 17+) / PEGI 16 — Themes include violence, blood, suggestive content, and emotional trauma (trust me on this one).
💌 First Impressions
This game was initially recommended to me by my bestie, as it was (and still is, after 14 playthroughs!) her favourite otome of all time. At first, I have to admit I wasn’t particularly interested in it. I was still deeply immersed in Collar x Malice, which remains my personal favourite to this day, and at the time, Steam Prison just seemed a little too different — both in terms of art style and story tone.
So when my boyfriend surprised me with the game, picking it from my Steam wishlist, I was grateful… but it still ended up sitting in my backlog for years.
Then I saw that a sequel — Steam Prison: Beyond the Steam — was finally being released. Knowing how much my bestie loved the original, I had zero doubt she was going to dive into it immediately. That’s when I decided it was finally time to catch up and experience the game for myself — so we could enjoy the sequel together! 🥰
She was so happily surprised by my decision that she even restarted the main game herself while waiting for me to catch up, just so we could start the new one side by side. Friendship: level max. 💖
And then I finally started it.
The very first thing that caught my attention was the music — oh my god, the music. It was so beautiful and hypnotic that I ended up listening to the OST during my bus rides, and to this day it’s still one of my favourite playlists.
In fact, the soundtrack alone is what pushed me to buy the Nintendo Switch version later on, even though I already had the game on Steam. The Switch version includes two additional opening songs and videos, two extra ending songs and videos, plus six special ending themes, each one sung by the love interests’ own voice actor during their route’s final scenes. I simply had to have them — there was no resisting. That, and the Switch version also includes a ton of extra stories! Honestly, I don’t regret spending the extra money for a second — it was totally worth it.
As for the art… I honestly don’t know what I didn’t like about it at first, because once I started playing, I was stunned. The visuals are breathtakingly detailed, from the character sprites to the CGs to the absolutely adorable chibis. While I still prefer the character designs of Collar x Malice, I have to say that Steam Prison has nothing to envy. The illustrations are amazing — elegant, expressive, and full of emotion.
The first character who caught my eye was Ulrik, but it didn’t take long before I started falling for all of them. Every love interest is beautifully portrayed by their voice actor, backed by stellar art and enriched with a genuinely compelling backstory. It’s a strong cast through and through.
📖 Story & Worldbuilding
The story of Steam Prison is both intriguing and ambitious — and the world it unfolds in is just as compelling. The common route is fairly long, but I never felt like it dragged. On the contrary, I found myself eager to keep going, wanting to uncover every detail the game had to offer. It does a great job of laying a solid foundation for the individual character routes while also immersing you in the world’s lore, politics, and social dynamics.
Depending on the route you choose, you get to explore different regions on the vast world map, each with its own unique atmosphere, history, and characters. It’s only by experiencing every route that you begin to piece together the bigger picture behind the mystery surrounding the protagonist, Cyrus, and her circumstances. I found this approach really rewarding — it’s like assembling a puzzle, one route at a time.
Now, the concept of a stratified world — a privileged city in the sky contrasted with impoverished, crime-ridden ground cities — isn’t particularly new or original (Gunnm, Final Fantasy VII, to name the two that popped into my head right away). But that doesn’t make it any less immersive. What really stood out to me was how detailed the government structure is, and how its policies shape the daily lives of the citizens. The world feels lived-in, ruled by an inflexible system that dictates your job, your path, and even your emotions.
That said… I do think the storytelling didn’t fully live up to the potential of the world it built.
My biggest issue was with the portrayal of the main protagonist, Cyrus. She’s often depicted as cold and emotionless, almost robotic at times — and I just couldn’t relate to her. Her reactions to certain events felt stiff, sometimes even unbelievable, and that emotional disconnect took me out of the experience more than once.
The Grand Ending in particular felt rushed. For something meant to tie all the routes together, it didn’t offer much in the way of closure or deeper insight into the mysteries that had been slowly unraveled across the story. Some routes also had minor inconsistencies — like the one where Cyrus is said to leave her pendant in her room in the Heights for safekeeping, yet somehow pulls it out at the end of the route as if she’d been wearing it all along. 😅
Still, despite those flaws, Steam Prison was a highly enjoyable experience. The character development is strong across the board, the cast is diverse and compelling, and the voice acting brings everyone vividly to life. The world may not be perfect, but it’s absolutely worth exploring.
💞 Characters & Romance
I played the game in the suggested order—which is honestly the way to go if, like me, you prefer saving the juiciest bits for last and avoiding major spoilers. Each route was a ride, packed with emotions, reveals, and a few good heartbreaks (and, uh… therapy sessions). 😅
So let’s meet the bois, shall we? 😍💖
Eltcreed Valentine
The poster boy of Steam Prison and the unofficial “main route” for many fans, Eltcreed is usually the first love interest people dive into—and with good reason. At 25, he’s a dashing banker and politician from the Depths, full of charm, wit, and enough swagger to make even the coldest ice queen melt (eventually). He’s flirty, confident, and constantly teasing Cyrus in ways that’ll make you either giggle or go “sir, this is harassment.” 😆
At first, I thought he was a bit too much—creepy even. But beneath the playful bravado lies someone deeply layered and vulnerable. His banter with Ulrik is top-tier comedy, and even his “Normal Ending” somehow felt like a Happy End. He might not be the best match for Cyrus in my eyes, but damn, he’s irresistible. One minute you’re rolling your eyes, the next… you’re down bad. 💀
Eltcreed is portrayed by Shirai Yusuke (Ars in Period: Cube Shackles of Amadeus, Scarecrow in Bustafellows, Gurin Gurin in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth).
Ulrik Ferrie
Eltcreed’s sarcastic right-hand man, cookie goblin, and my personal favourite from first glance (okay, okay… also my bestie’s top pick, so I might’ve been biased 💖). At 18, Ulrik is Cyrus’s age and arguably the most emotionally complex character in the game. He’s antisocial, suspicious, and downright prickly—but there’s a good reason for that.
He’s the last of the Ferries, burdened by a family legacy and secrets that shaped his identity and worldview. Watching him slowly open up and fall for Cyrus was the emotional equivalent of watching a baby deer learn to walk: wobbly, precious, and painfully vulnerable. 🥺
I genuinely think he’s one of the best matches for her—both are emotionally awkward and hopeless at romance, which makes their growth together so wholesome. But buckle up: his bad endings are soul-crushing, and his story hits hard if you’ve ever felt alone or unwanted. 10/10 would suffer again.
Ulrik is portrayed by Tomohito Takatsuka (Tyler/Akira Taira in Loopers, Hirayama in Kageki Shojo!!, Renji Kamiya in Xicatrice).
Adage (Yes, that’s all you get 😉)
Blunt, sarcastic, emotionally constipated? Oh yes, this man had me at hello 😍 (which he never actually said, by the way 😂). A mysterious doctor with a hidden past and a biting sense of humour, 26-year-old Adage doesn’t even show up during the Common Route… but once his time comes, he absolutely dominates.
He’s my favourite, no contest. The witty back-and-forths with Cyrus had me cackling — especially when Ulrik gets thrown into the mix! But don’t let the laughs fool you: this route gets dark. Like, “why am I crying at 2am over pixels?” dark. His story is also crucial for understanding Cyrus’s situation, so I definitely recommend playing it after Eltcreed and Ulrik’s.
He’s a love-him-or-hate-him kind of guy, but personally? I fell, tripped, and slammed face-first into adoration. 🫠
Adage is portrayed by Makoto Furukawa (Shaw in Mr Love: Queen’s Choice, Hatsuharu Soma in Fruits Basket, Allan Melville in Cupid Parasite, Kazuma Kamikubo in Lover Pretend, Gepard in Honkai: Star Rail, Lugus in Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk) — and yes, his voice is so deep and sexy it should come with a warning label. 😍
Ines Heinrich Heine
29-year-old Second Commander of the HOUNDS, Ines is calm, composed, and actually kind, which makes him stand out among the squad of violent psychos he works with. His route balances plot and romance really well, tying into the game’s overarching mysteries and even giving us a surprisingly emotional backstory for the infamous Sachsen. (I know. I was shocked too.)
Romantically, this route is chef’s kiss. Cyrus actually catches feelings first (finally!), and their bond feels so natural and well-paced. They share the same unshakable sense of justice, which makes them click on a deeper level. And yes, the “fated lovers” vibes and forgotten first meeting tropes are cheesy… but I devoured every second of it. 🥰
Ines is portrayed by Tetsu Kimishima (Tomoki Fukushi in Dynamic Chord, Hyuga Shouta in SA-7, Yamazaki in Mob Psycho 100) — yes, that last one caught me off guard too, and now I can’t un-hear it. 😆
Yune Sekiei
Over 400 years old and still somehow looking 16, Yune is the immortal Saint worshipped by the Heights — a mysterious, odd little enigma who acts like a child one moment and a divine being the next. His sweet tooth is legendary, his laugh is precious, and he has no business being this emotionally devastating.
His route becomes accessible after completing at least one of the others, and for good reason: it’s the most lore-heavy, fantasy-leaning, and emotionally brutal of the bunch. It recontextualises the entire world — especially the Great Flood and Ulrik’s lineage — and gives us a heartbreaking peek behind Yune’s smile. And while I wasn’t sure what to think of him at first, by the end… I was fully in my feelings. 💔
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll probably end up clutching your Switch like a tissue box. Protect him. At. All. Costs. 💖
Yune is portrayed by Yasuyuki Takase (Yoshida in Re-Kan!, Cody in It Takes Two)
Fin Euclase
Ah yes, Fin. The DLC husbando. His route wasn’t even in the original game and had to be added after fans collectively screamed, “LET ME LOVE HIM.” Honestly, bless HuneX for listening.
22-year-old Fin is Cyrus’s timid but devoted partner from the police force — a kind soul with a soft voice and eyes full of unspoken feelings. But don’t let that sweetness fool you… depending on the route, his transformation into a tortured, broken shell of himself is genuinely chilling. Like, “are we sure this is the same guy?” levels of shocking. 🤯
His route is unlocked after completing the others, and trust me, it’s 100% worth the wait. Sweet, angsty, and surprisingly intense, his love for Cyrus is deep enough to break him—and you—more than once. I totally fell for him. Hard. 😍
Fin is portrayed by Tarusuke Shingaki (Rido Kuran in Vampire Knight Guilty, Caramia in OZMAFIA!!, Kennyo in Ikemen Sengoku, Edeni in Metaphor: ReFantazio) — and listen… I may hate Rido with my entire soul, but the second I knew he’s voiced by Fin’s same VA, I started fangirling like he never traumatised me. 😆💖
Cyrus Tistella
Our brave, justice-obsessed heroine, Cyrus is a noble-born girl with a sword and a dream: to serve the people and uphold justice. She’s smart, strong, and loyal. She also knows nothing about love. Like… nothing.
Her robotic responses to affection are sometimes hilarious, sometimes infuriating, and occasionally so unrealistic that I wanted to shout, “Girl, seriously?!” But despite her awkwardness, she’s a badass in battle and a moral compass that never wavers.
Sure, she’s not the most relatable otome protagonist out there, but she grew on me. Especially when she’s putting arrogant men in their place. 🔥
🎨 Visuals & Art Style
If you’re the kind of otome player who stops mid-scene just to admire the art… welcome home. Steam Prison is a visual feast. The character design, courtesy of Ichiiro Hako (Fire Emblem Heroes, Bride of the Death God, Brother for Rent), hits that sweet spot between elegant and expressive — and yes, the men are all dangerously beautiful in the best way possible. Those sprites? Fully animated, lip-synced, and dripping with emotion. Trust me, you’ll feel that pixelated eye contact in your soul. 🫠
CGs are breathtaking, with each scene crafted like a cinematic love letter. From tender kisses to dramatic showdowns, every image screams screenshot-worthy. Even the adorable SD (super deformed/chibi) artwork by Akirai deserves its own fan club — too cute for words! 💖
And let’s not forget the backgrounds! Whether you’re gazing out at the radiant skylines of the Heights or trudging through the gritty corners of the Depths, the world is beautifully immersive. Every nook and cranny is dripping with atmosphere, detail, and a touch of steampunk flair. ✨
Rather than spoil any of these jaw-dropping moments (because CG spoilers are sacred 😤), I’ll just drop the trailer here so you can see it in motion. Prepare your eyeballs — they’re about to be spoiled.😍
🎵 Sound & Music
If there’s one element that truly captivated me in Steam Prison, it’s the music. The soundtrack is a collaborative masterpiece, featuring compositions by Kimiyoshi Maruyama, Project Lights, Tomoyuki Okuda, and Ryu Towochi. Each track is meticulously crafted to evoke emotion and atmosphere, blending steampunk flair with sweeping melodies that elevate every scene.
What sets the Nintendo Switch version apart is its rich musical content. It includes all the original opening and ending themes from earlier releases, along with new additions where each love interest’s voice actor performs their own unique ending theme. This thoughtful touch adds a layer of emotional connection to each route, making the endings even more memorable.
Even the Normal and Bad endings have their own dedicated tracks, each beautifully composed to match the scene’s tone. It’s rare to find a game where music is this integral to the narrative experience.
For fans who want to dive deeper, the Steam Prison Sound Memory 2021 album is a fantastic way to revisit the game’s haunting and heartfelt themes.
🎮 Gameplay & Mechanics
Steam Prison is a story-rich visual novel where your choices truly matter — they shape the direction of the plot, influence your relationships, and determine which ending you’ll unlock. And with plenty of bad endings waiting to break your heart, you’ll want to keep a tissue box nearby. 😭
There’s no stat-raising, minigames, or puzzles — this is a pure narrative experience. You do have the option to enable choice indicators, which help you track whether a response is positive, negative, or neutral (which honestly saved me from going down the wrong route more than once!).
As for the UI: it’s slick and intuitive on the Nintendo Switch. Finding menus, saving, loading, and navigating the backlog is all straightforward and smooth. The Steam version, though? A different story. It took me ages — and a bit of Googling — to figure out how to even bring up the menu. Turns out, you have to hover your mouse around the edges of the screen to reveal various options, which felt a bit clunky and unintuitive. So yeah, another win for the Switch version from me!
The game explores heavy themes like justice, betrayal, and forbidden love, so be prepared to get emotionally wrecked. It’s not about managing stats — it’s about managing your feelings. 💔
🌍 Localization & Translation
The localisation and translation of Steam Prison are… fine. Not perfect, not a disaster — just solidly okay. I’d say it gets the job done, but it occasionally stumbles over nuance. That said, the Nintendo Switch version does have some improved text compared to the original PC release, which is definitely a bonus.
As someone studying Japanese (JLPT N4 here!) and with a background in cultural communication, I noticed a few moments that could’ve been handled better — especially when it comes to how the characters, and Cyrus in particular, express themselves. Some reactions and thought processes don’t come across as naturally in English as they probably did in the original, and that weakens the emotional impact in certain scenes.
There were also a few… eyebrow-raising word choices. Like the scene where Cyrus gives a “surreptitious look up and down” to her archenemy — which sounds more flirty than tactical. 😅 Let’s just say “assessed her opponent” would’ve hit the tone a lot better. I also spotted a few lines that felt a bit chopped in the choices — to the point where I sometimes checked the original Japanese just to make sure I wasn’t misreading the intention. (Yes, I’m that player. 😆)
But to be fair, most players won’t even notice these hiccups — I’ve read plenty of impressions from people who didn’t have any issues with the translation at all. So if you’re not as picky as a linguist otome reviewer who reads dialogue with a side of cultural analysis… you’ll probably be fine. 😂
🌟 Highlights & Favorite Moments (Spoiler-Free)
There were moments in Steam Prison that absolutely wrecked me. And I mean that in the best possible way. Whether it was a line of dialogue, a perfectly timed CG, or a quiet emotional shift between characters, the game knows exactly when to twist the knife — and when to offer a soft little balm after.
For me, some of the most powerful scenes came from the bad endings. That’s right — the “bad” ones. Especially in a certain saintly route (you know who you are, cinnamon roll). Let’s just say I thought I’d cried all I could during earlier routes, but then… this game looked at me and said, “You haven’t suffered enough.” 😭 Two particular endings completely broke me in the gentlest, most devastating way possible. If you’ve ever ugly-cried into your blanket at 1AM, welcome — you’re among friends.
Another standout was a scene that took the concept of “dark” and said, “Hold my scalpel.” Without spoiling anything, there’s a moment where the game veers into full-on horror territory — and I did not see it coming. What started as typical otome drama quickly turned into something far more disturbing, and I had to put my Switch down for a second to stare blankly into the void. And I loved it. 😂
And of course… the kiss CG. Oh, that kiss. Not the one drenched in roses and moonlight — no. The one heavy with desperation, where affection becomes survival and the lines between love and anguish blur into something heartbreakingly beautiful. It was raw, intense, and unforgettable. The kind of scene that makes you clutch your chest and whisper “this is art” as your tears blur the screen.
These moments are why I play otome games. Not just for the romance, but for the rush of feeling — the joy, the sorrow, the catharsis. Steam Prison delivered all of that, and then some. And if nothing else… it gave us the eternal wisdom that “pasta is a deeply sexual dish.” 🍝🔥 Grazie, Eltcreed. Never change. 😂💖
🎀 Final Thoughts
Would I recommend Steam Prison to a newcomer to otome games? Absolutely — as long as they’re prepared for mature themes and a few scenes that will punch them square in the feelings 😆. This isn’t your fluffy romance VN. The story leans heavy, the world is bleak, and the heroine is… well, a bit emotionally stunted (thanks, Temple laws 😅). But if you go in without expecting sweeping declarations of love and steamy CGs around every corner, you’re in for a deeply emotional ride that still knows how to tease (especially you, Eltcreed — you flirty menace 😍).
Did it emotionally damage me in the best possible way?
Oh, absolutely. 😭 Between the wholesome moments, the beautifully tragic endings, and the heartbreak that slowly turns into healing, I had to replenish my tissue stock more than once. But the pay-off? Chef’s kiss. 💖
As for the price tag:
🎮 Switch Version? Totally worth full price, especially if you’re a slow reader like me — the main routes alone took me over 60 hours, and the extra stories easily added another 30 on top! That’s a whole season of crying and swooning sorted. Still, if you spot it during a big sale (like I did during the Spring Sale for 40% off!), even better.
💻 Steam Version? Wishlist it unless you’re desperate — and keep in mind Fin’s route is sold separately as DLC. Definitely wait for a good sale if you’re planning to grab it there.
⭐ Rating Summary
💌 My Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5
A beautifully crafted and emotionally charged otome that hits hard in both the heart and the gut — with only a few missed beats along the way. Would recommend with tissues and a support plushie. 💕
🎖️ My Route Enjoyment Ranking
(aka I don’t like to cry… too much, apparently 😂):
- 🥇 Ines — Because we love a noble man with omelette skills and emotional depth.
- 🥈 Adage — The sass, the smarts, the sexy voice. Yes please. 😍
- 🥉 Fin — The twisty angst train I couldn’t hop off (nor wanted to).
- Eltcreed — Teasing, charismatic chaos incarnate. Bless his flirty soul.
- Ulrik — My tsundere cookie boy. I love you, even when you yell.
- Yune — My cinnamon roll Saint. But also: please stop hurting me. 💔
🌹 Best Boi:
Adage. Full stop. His wit, blunt charm, emotional baggage, and that deep, velvety voice that could make bedtime stories illegal? Done. Signed. Devoted. 😍
🌸 Personal Awards:
🏅 Most Dramatic Route: Yune — My hydration levels were never safe.
💗 Cutest Confession: Ulrik — You grumpy little sugar cube, you.
🔥 Sexiest LI & Mad Pasta-Man Award: Eltcreed — Flirty, chaotic, and somehow made pasta sound indecent. I approve.
👑 Prince-Charming Award: Ines — Noble, brave, emotionally competent… a rare gem indeed.
