Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity Review

I’ll admit – I came into Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity completely blind. I had heard the name tossed around for years, often in the same breath as some of the greatest visual novels ever made, but I had never actually played it. What really piqued my interest this time around was the fact that it was written by Kotaro Uchikoshi, the mastermind behind 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors and the AI: The Somnium Files series. Having absolutely loved 999 and its intricate, mind-bending storytelling, I knew I had to finally dive into Ever 17, especially now that it had been given a fresh remaster for modern platforms.

While Ever 17 has been re-released before, notably on Xbox 360 in 2011 and in Japan only, this is the first time it’s been available in some time to such a wide audience, making it more accessible than ever. This new version uses the script from the 360 release as its foundation but ditches the 3D character models in favor of beautifully drawn 2D sprites. Honestly, I much prefer this approach—iretains the charm of classic visual novels while still feeling like a polished, modern packag

For those unfamiliar, Ever 17 is a route-based visual novel with a gripping premise. The game is set in LeMU, an underwater theme park that, due to an accident, becomes cut off from the surface. A small group of people—both staff and visitors—find themselves trapped inside, with a rapidly decreasing oxygen supply and seemingly no way out. As tensions rise and secrets begin to unravel, the group must work together to escape before it’s too late.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Ever 17 is its dual protagonist system. You primarily see the story unfold through the eyes of either Takeshi, a seemingly normal college student, or a mysterious amnesiac boy known only as the Kid. The shift in perspective plays a key role in how the story unfolds, and the more I progressed through the game, the more I realized just how clever and deliberate this structure really was.

One of the biggest strengths of Ever 17 is its memorable cast of characters, each of whom adds a unique element to the overall narrative. There’s Tsugumi, the aloof and mysterious girl who clearly knows more than she lets on. Sora, the kind and intelligent one with a surprising depth to her character. You, the energetic and playful LeMU employee who helps keep spirits up, even in dire situations. Sara, a character with her own hidden agenda. And Coco, the endlessly cheerful girl who, at first glance, seems like comic relief but later proves to be much more.

What I appreciated the most was how these characters developed over the course of the game. Initially, some of them seemed to fit into familiar anime archetypes, but as I spent more time with them, I realized how much depth and complexity they actually had. Their relationships, interactions, and personal struggles made the experience feel all the more immersive.

Being a visual novel, Ever 17 is heavily driven by choices. Your decisions influence not just character interactions but also the ultimate outcome of the story. This isn’t just about choosing the “right” or “wrong” option—certain paths reveal crucial pieces of information, and it’s only by experiencing all of the different routes that you can piece together the full picture.

Admittedly, the game takes a little while to really get going. The early hours are heavy on setup, and it wasn’t until I started engaging with different routes and seeing how my choices shaped the story that I became truly hooked. The game’s structure requires multiple playthroughs, and while this does lead to some repeated scenes, seeing events unfold from different angles or uncovering new bits of dialogue kept it feeling fresh. Every time I thought I had a grasp on what was going on, the game threw in a new revelation that made me question everything I thought I knew.

The true ending, in particular, is where Ever 17 truly shines. Without giving anything away, it’s one of those moments where everything clicks, and you realize just how intricately crafted the entire narrative was from the very beginning. It’s the kind of payoff that makes the journey completely worth it.

One of the standout elements of Ever 17 is its moody and atmospheric soundtrack. The music perfectly complements the game’s shifting tone—sometimes melancholic and reflective, other times tense and eerie. It really helped sell the drama and made the mystery elements hit even harder. There were moments where I found myself completely immersed, the haunting melodies adding to the sense of isolation and urgency that permeates the story.

Visually, the updated character sprites are a huge improvement over the 3D models from the Xbox 360 version. They feel expressive and well-detailed, and the game’s backgrounds, while relatively simple, effectively capture the underwater setting’s mix of wonder and claustrophobia. While Ever 17 doesn’t have elaborate animations or flashy visuals, its storytelling and atmosphere more than make up for it.

I played Ever 17 on the Nintendo Switch, both docked and in handheld mode, and I found it to be a great fit for the system. Visual novels naturally lend themselves well to the portable format, and being able to pick it up and play a little bit at a time felt perfect for the game’s route-based structure.

That said, I did encounter some minor issues. There were occasional grammatical errors in the text, and at times, character sprites didn’t load in properly when they were supposed to. None of these issues were game-breaking, but they were noticeable. However, since I had access to the game before launch, I’m hopeful that these small bugs will be patched out in time for release.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity is a must-play for fans of visual novels, especially those who love intricate, thought-provoking narratives. While it starts off slow and requires patience, the payoff is more than worth it. The remaster does a great job of bringing this classic to a modern audience while preserving what made it special in the first place.

For me, finally experiencing Ever 17 after years of hearing about it was an absolute treat. It’s a game that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it, and one that I can now confidently say deserves its reputation as one of Uchikoshi’s best works. If you’re a fan of games like 999 or AI: The Somnium Files, do yourself a favor and dive into Ever 17. It’s a story well worth experiencing.

A Nintendo Switch review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.

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