Compare to Steins;Gate

[Mr. Manual]

Steins Gate is the only pure VN I've played (not counting other, more gameplay-focused VNs). I'd like some comparisons between the games to determine if this game is something I'd like. Such as, is it as emotionally captive?

[JY]

Emotions and tears are Key's speciality. They defined the genre in Visual Novel

[nacho_chicken]

As far as "emotionally captivating," if Steins;Gate made you cry...
Prepare yourself.

I'd say the formula is a bit similar where the early portion of the game is set up to giving the characters a lot of depth and making you care about them, while the individual routes are focused on that specific character's problems.

The biggest difference would be whereas Steins;Gate gives all the characters plenty of screentime in the common route, Clannad diverges early. There's some characters you won't even know exist until you play the game multiple times.

Also, whereas Steins;Gate has a lot of sci-fi elements, Clannad has a few fantasy elements.

[CnEY?!]

"Emotionally captivating" is practically Key's middle name. Some of their VNs have a tendency to disarm you early on, just to hit you square in the feels later to the point where you wonder if you're still playing the same VN. (And I mean that as a good thing - it's just amazing what they accomplish within each of their titles.)

[messem10]

Like the others said, this game will take your emotions and wrench them out of your heart no mater how stone hearted you think you are. While I've only seen the anime for Clannad and After Story, one of the scenes was enough to be the tipping point to a bout of depression. It has also wanted to make me into a much better father when/if I ever get married.

[Redsoul]

If you watched the anime, nearly all character routes are nearly the same as the anime but more detailed. I think the one that is quite different is the Ryou/Kyou route and some extra side characters.

If you enjoyed the anime, you'll enjoy this one a whole lot more because the anime skipped quite a bunch of scenes and changed quite a lot of settings. The another world episodes of the anime will be put all into shame as the VN's version is a lot better and not rushed at all.

This visual novel is very rich in comedy and drama. Nearly all routes are very emotional. It is also very strict when it comes to decision choices because there are certain conditions like you need to meet these certain characters and see these certain events in order to be able to enter her route. This visual novel has a lot and I mean a lot of decision choices.

Clannad's difference with The Fruit of Grisaia is that Grisaia has a lot of content per heroine as there are only 5 routes and has a long stretch of common routes before you actually enter a heroine's route. Clannad has a lot of routes and those routes aren't restricted to just the heroines. Supporting/Side characters like Mei and Misae also have their own routes. Another difference also is that after finishing the main heroine's route, you get to unlock the After Story which is a continuation of the main heroine's route.