Shuffle!

Shuffle!
Shuffle! original visual novel cover
GenreDrama, fantasy, romantic comedy
Manga
Shuffle! Days in the Bloom
Written byNavel
Illustrated byShiroi Kusaka
Published byKadokawa Shoten
MagazineComptiq
DemographicSeinen
Original runDecember 2003December 2006
Volumes6
Video game
DeveloperNavel
PublisherNavel (Windows)
Kadokawa Shoten (PS2)
MangaGamer (Windows)
YumeHaven (Windows)
GenreEroge, Visual novel
PlatformWindows, PS2
Released
  • JP: January 30, 2004
  • WW: August 15, 2009
Light novel
Written bySeishi Ogata
Illustrated byShiroi Kusaka
Aoi Nishimata
Hiro Suzuhira (cover illustrations)
Published byKadokawa Shoten
DemographicMale
Original runJune 8, 2004January 10, 2006
Volumes7
Anime television series
Directed byNaoto Hosoda
Produced byTokuji Sasegawa
Tomoko Suzuki
Tsuneo Taketomo
Chiaki Terada
Written byMasashi Suzuki
Music byAcchorike (Navel)
Kazuhiko Sawaguchi
Minoru Maruo
StudioAsread
Licensed by
Original networkWowow
Original run July 7, 2005 January 5, 2006
Episodes24 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Shuffle! Memories
Directed byNaoto Hosoda
Produced byTomoko Suzuki
Tsuneo Taketomo
Chiaki Terada
Written byMasashi Suzuki
Music byAcchorike (Navel)
Kazuhiko Sawaguchi
Minoru Maruo
StudioAsread
Original networkCTC, TVS, tvk, KBS, SUN, Tokyo MX, TVA, AT-X
Original run January 7, 2007 March 25, 2007
Episodes12 (List of episodes)

Shuffle! (stylized as SHUFFLE!) is a Japanese visual novel developed by Navel. It was originally released as an adult game for Windows on January 30, 2004. It was subsequently followed by an all-ages release for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) and an expanded adult release for Windows. The Windows version was localized in English by MangaGamer in 2009, and the PS2 version was localized in English by YumeHaven in 2016 on Steam. The gameplay in Shuffle! follows a branching plot line that offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction and focuses on the appeal of the female main characters. Shuffle! has been re-made into an expanded version called Shuffle! Essence+. It has expanded routes for the original five main heroines and new routes for six other characters. Shuffle! also has three spin-off sequels: Tick! Tack!, Really? Really! and Shuffle! Love Rainbow.

Shuffle! has made several transitions to other media. There have been two manga series based on the visual novel. The first was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's magazine Comptiq between December 2003 and 2006. The second was a comic anthology published by Kadokawa Shoten between July 2004 and December 2005. Two anime adaptations were produced by the animation studio Asread. The first anime was twenty-four episodes in length and was broadcast in Japan between July 2005 and January 2006. The second series was a twelve-episode readaptation broadcast between January and March 2007. Seven light novels, two fan books, nine drama CDs, and seven radio drama CD adaptations have also been produced.

The visual novel was well received, whereas the first anime adaptation received mixed reviews. Across the national semi-monthly ranking of bishōjo games in amount sold in Japan, the limited edition of Shuffle! premiered in second place at the time of its release and remained in the top 50 for an additional three and a half months. The standard edition premiered in ninth place at the time of its release and remained in the top 50 for a further three half-months. Critics of the anime series were divided between whether or not the anime series set itself apart from other series in the harem genre and the quality of its audio and visual aspects.