Fate/stay night

Fate/stay night
Title	Fate/stay night
Developer	Type-Moon
Publisher	Type-Moon (PC), Kadokawa Shoten (PS2/Vita), Nintendo (Switch/PS4)
Director	Kinoko Nasu
Writer	Kinoko Nasu
Artist	Takashi Takeuchi
Released	January 30, 2004 (PC)
Genre	Visual novel, Eroge
Modes	Single-player

Fate/stay night. It is a Japanese visual novel developed by Type-Moon, originally released for Windows on January 30, 2004 as an eroge. The story centers on Shirou Emiya, a young mage who becomes embroiled in the Holy Grail War, a secret, lethal conflict between seven mages and their summoned heroic spirits, known as Servants, for the wish-granting Holy Grail. The narrative unfolds across three primary story routes—"Fate," "Unlimited Blade Works," and "Heaven's Feel"—each exploring different thematic cores and character developments, fundamentally shaping the expansive Fate franchise.

Plot

The story is set in the fictional Japanese city of Fuyuki City, where the Fifth Holy Grail War commences. Protagonist Shirou Emiya, an amateur magus and survivor of a past city-wide fire, accidentally summons a Saber-class Servant and is forced to participate as a Master. The plot follows his alliances and conflicts with other participants, including the enigmatic mage Rin Tohsaka and her Servant Archer, the priest Kirei Kotomine, and the sinister Matou Sakura. Each route diverges based on player choices, revealing deeper mysteries about the Grail's corrupt nature, Shirou's idealistic pursuit of becoming a "hero of justice" inherited from his guardian Kiritsugu Emiya, and the tragic pasts of key characters, culminating in vastly different conclusions regarding the war's outcome and the characters' fates.

Characters

The central character is Shirou Emiya, a determined but flawed mage raised by Kiritsugu Emiya. His primary Servant is the legendary King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon, who manifests in the Saber class. Key allies include the talented magus Rin Tohsaka and her cynical Servant Archer, whose true identity is a major plot point. Antagonists and pivotal figures encompass the overseer of the war, Kirei Kotomine; the disturbed mage Shinji Matou; his tormented sister Sakura Matou; and the powerful Servant Gilgamesh. Other Masters and Servants, such as Illyasviel von Einzbern with Berserker, Lancer under Bazett Fraga McRemitz, and Caster under Souichirou Kuzuki, play crucial roles across the different narrative paths.

Development and release

The game was developed by Type-Moon, following their debut success with Tsukihime. The scenario was written by company co-founder Kinoko Nasu, with character designs by Takashi Takeuchi. The original Windows release featured adult content. It was later ported to the PlayStation 2 as *Fate/stay night [Réalta Nua]*, which removed erotic scenes and added full voice acting and new scenarios. This version was subsequently released on the PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, and later on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. The game's success established Type-Moon as a major force in the dōjin soft and commercial visual novel industry.

Gameplay

As a visual novel, the primary gameplay involves reading narrative text and making key choices at decision points, which determine the story's progression and which of the three main routes—"Fate," "Unlimited Blade Works," or "Heaven's Feel"—the player enters. Each route must be completed in a specific order to unlock the next. The game features a complex system of "bad ends" and "Tiger Dojos," humorous vignettes that play upon receiving a game over, often providing hints. The original PC version included optional erotic scenes, while the *[Réalta Nua]* ports replaced these with alternative story content and added voice acting for all major characters.

Reception

Upon release, *Fate/stay night* was a major commercial success, selling out its initial print run rapidly and becoming one of the best-selling visual novels of its time. It received critical acclaim for its intricate plot, deep world-building rooted in Nasuverse lore, and complex character development. The game won awards at the 2004 Nikkan Sports Game Grand Prix and is frequently cited in polls by publications like Famitsu as one of the greatest games of all time. Its success directly funded Type-Moon's growth and transition into a larger media company.

Legacy

The franchise launched by *Fate/stay night* has become a global multimedia phenomenon. It spawned numerous direct adaptations, including a 2006 anime series by Studio Deen, the highly acclaimed *Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works* series and *Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel* film trilogy by ufotable, and multiple manga series. Its universe expanded dramatically with prequels like *Fate/Zero* (novel and anime), sequels, and countless spin-offs including the massively popular mobile game *Fate/Grand Order*. The work established foundational concepts like Servants, the Holy Grail War, and the Throne of Heroes, which became core to the entire Fate franchise and influenced a wide range of subsequent media.

Category:Visual novels Category:Fate (franchise)