Once in a while, I get the urge to look up out-of-nowhere earworms that have persisted for one or two decades and just kind of luxuriate in them for a little bit. One such track I’ve replayed several times because of its peak combination of audio and visual excitement is the original opening title theme for Ever17:

LeMU ~Harukanaru Lemuria Tairiku~ by KAORI

What is Ever17?

Developed by (the now defunct) KID in 2002, Ever17 tells the story of seven people trapped inside LeMU: an underwater amusement park and probable reference to the lost land of Lemuria. Incorporating a beautiful soundtrack, nostalgic art, 3D mapping and effects, philosophical theories on existentialism, looming horror (claustrophobia, panic, illness, and the park’s impending threat of flooding and implosion), and supernatural elements, Ever17 weaves a story that is bittersweet, unique, educational, and unforgettable.

In order to get the full story (and the true ending, which is a masterclass in twists and turns), the player should experience the stories of both main characters, Takeshi and the Kid. Ever17 boasts a total of 11 possible endings shared between the two guys, so it’ll definitely keep you playing for a while, and it’s absolutely worth its price for the hours you’ll get out of playing it. In true visual novel fashion, each of these endings can be achieved by getting to know each of the ladies you’re trapped in the park with. Without getting into spoiler territory, the recommended order is Tsugumi, Sora, You, and Sara. Whichever order you choose though, Coco’s is the “true” ending and cannot be unlocked without first completing all of the other ladies’ routes.

As you might imagine, Ever17 isn’t a game for the faint of heart or people who prefer a fast-paced story. However, if you love a slow-burn mystery that’s a bit of a time investment and makes you think, I can’t recommend it enough; especially if you enjoy theoretically interesting games like the 999 series which delves into morality, principles, studies, and all kinds of cool trivia and academia to make your brain itch. As it happens, Ever17 shares a writer with the 999 series (Kotaro Uchikoshi), so if you’ve played and enjoyed those, you kind of know what sort of story you’re getting into.

Spoiler: Hamster Warning

As with any story, game, or show I review on here, I will throw a trigger warning in for anyone (like me) who is particularly sensitive to the suffering, deaths, or endangerment of animal characters. This section does contain spoilers but I like to include it for people who want to know these things going in. If you’re unbothered, feel free to skip.

There is a scene on the carousel in Tsugumi’s route where she and Takeshi are talking about her condition. Tsugumi has a pet hamster named Chami who is also affected with the same virus as her, which essentially heals their injuries and means they can’t die. She demonstrates this to Takeshi by squeezing the hamster until it’s crushed in her palm. This is not shown onscreen, but it is described. The hamster is perfectly fine afterwards, but I found this shocking and a bit distressing on my first playthrough. Your mileage may vary.

Where can I Find Ever17?

For the longest time, my answer to this question would’ve been, “I have no idea, but probably nowhere legal.” Despite its cult popularity, and even with the much-maligned 2011 Xbox remake, availability in the west hasn’t exactly been one of Ever17’s strong suits, especially after KID closed shop and the rights were up in the air for a while.

UNTIL RECENTLY, THAT IS.

The infamous Xbox remake removed the character art and replaced it with these 3D models instead, which is a choice that’s never sat well with me. The design change was supposedly to help visual novels “catch up” with anime, which shows a distinct lack of respect for the genre. Heck, I don’t even like the dialogue box; it’s so bright and completely throws off the colour composition.

Spike Chunsoft’s 2025 Remaster

I don’t know when Spike Chunsoft acquired the rights to Ever17, or even that people were still talking about it some 20 years and change later, but I was so incredibly happy to see that they’re releasing remasters of two Infinity series games in March 2025: Ever17 and Never7. These will be available either individually or as a double pack, and present the perfect opportunity to experience these two forgotten gems.

Spike Chunsoft has stated that this remaster of Ever17 will be the “definitive” version, combining the original character art and visuals with the additional story elements added by the Xbox remake. Many have mixed feelings about this, including myself; I felt that the original story was complete and didn’t need the addition of any further scenes or endings. In fact, my biggest worry is that the remake’s additions will overegg the pudding and upset the story’s delicate balance, especially when those additions were made by someone who didn’t seem to understand or appreciate visual novels as a medium. However, I’m more than happy to be proven wrong, and in that event, it’s just more good Ever17 content to make my heart glad. We’ll see next year!

The Ever17 remaster will be available on PS4, Switch, and Steam as of March 6th 2025. I cannot express how excited I am for more people to experience this story I’ve loved for so long, and I kind of envy those who get to go through it for the very first time.

My only advice is this: take your time. Ever17 is a marathon, not a sprint, and you only get to play something for the first time once. Take it in, enjoy the mystery, and bring some tissues, because you’re going to need them.

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