Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Game
Game2016
Malus Code
Developer M2 Co.,LTD
Malus Code is the story of a graduate student studying abroad at a Japanese university, and the three people he meets in the laboratory there. In this unfamiliar environment, can you earn their friendship? For those who don't want a lonely, sad life. From the Steam store page
66 reactions from 1 source (Steam reviews) · newest Nov 17, 2025 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
68
Fresh
45 positive · 21 negative
95% range 56–78%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 45 | 21 | 0 |
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
74 of 104 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
Reactions
60 of 66 · most liked firstThis is another time that I wished that Steam had a neutral option. I myself kinda liked the game, but I honestly don’t see many other people enjoying it. I might be wrong, tho. But well, let me talk about my experience with this visual novel. It’s a kinetic novel, you don’t make any choices and you only read about the MCs fate, Will. He goes to Japan to work as a researcher at a Japanese university, and there he meets his three coworkers: Yuri, a girl that loves water bears with a burning…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I just finished this game and I feel... a lot of mixed feelings right now honestly. First off the pros, it has beautiful art, engaging characters even if theirs only three I still enjoyed my time with all of them. It's also a decent sized visual novel in my opinion and left a impression on me. THE CONS HOWEVER, the story has so many unexplained holes, each heroine gets their own episode and they all end up with you wanting answers and left with even more questions. I'm severely sad right now…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This visual novel covers all it's bases. It has a Yuri route, a yaoi route, and a vanilla route.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Be warned... This game contains a trap bigger than the Battle of Endor.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A VN with nice artwork and the animation is made using the Emote engine (which was also used in the Nekopara series). The characters are cute and have some decent development, although I thought the story was rather convoluted at times. In some ways, its very similar to Tokyo School Life, in terms of plot (a foreigner coming to Japan, etc). Too bad it is rather short (about 5-10 hours or so), but I guess I'm just saying that because I am used to long VN's. :-) Anyway, if you liked TSL or…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Okay. I finished it. I think, anyways. This damn thing was confusing as all Hell. Overall, I'm on the fence about this little VN. Unfortunately, I feel that the negatives outweigh the positives, so I'm saying "steer clear"; unless you get it in some form of a bundle or *HEAVY* discount. First, on the plus side, the graphics are top notch. Yuri is cute, Suzukake is naughty-librarian hot, and Yae makes me feel funny and then I feel funny for feeling funny. (Because she's actually a he). The…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wow, this game is awesome at so many levels: it's animated, fully voiced, beautifully drawn light-hearted VN with great OST. Even more, it could be educative, because you can have TWO languages on the screen at the same time - English + Japanese or simplified Japanese or romaji. That's amazing. +Pretty nice story that starts slow, but rolls faster after some plot twists. But the whole novel is pretty linear, you have no choices to decide (Kinetic VN you don't say :) ). +Beatiful girls is a big…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you like looking at cute girls, yeah go for it buy the game. If you are interested in a story of some sort, be it romance or mystery, not worth the time wasted. After the first episode/code, the story just becomes extremely disjointed, with so much happening and nothing explained. You finish the first episode wondering what's the deal with Yuri, why Will is dead, and why does Yae seem to have almost expected this, and mentions wanting to "start again"? I went into episode 2 expecting some…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have no idea what the **** I just played
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have only played the very first chapter of the story and i can tell it is well structured, it begins with a mysterious backstory that slowly becomes closer to the spotlight. Three characters each with their own personality and various quirks. Most visual novels I own aren't the best on the store, but this definitely is worth the money and I will definitely strive to finish it when I get the oppurtunity.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →1 kawaii waifu with silver hair... 1 drunker with a big tits.. and the last 1 creature just like Hideyoshi kinoshita
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →: There be minor spoilers ahead! : Malus Code is a heavily flawed horror visual novel about a poorly described viral infection. The characters are all good, yet incredibly stupid, twisting themselves around the labrynthian plot. You won't find an easy to consume or understand story in Malus Code. It seems to take twists randomly, which are great for humorous effect but don't make the game very compelling . There are multiple times in the story where the plot sets itself up to study petri…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →.. I just finished this game and I feel... a lot of mixed feelings right now honestly. First off the pros, it has beautiful art, engaging characters even if theirs only three I still enjoyed my time with all of them. It's also a decent sized visual novel in my opinion and left a impression on me. THE CONS HOWEVER, the story has so many unexplained holes, each heroine gets their own episode and they all end up with you wanting answers and left with even more questions. I'm severely sad right…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →✓ Played on Steam Deck, it works fine (10/12/2022) It has great graphics and presentation but the story is all over the place: nothing makes sense, lots of plot holes and abrupt endings that leave you with even more questions than at the beginning. No clear direction in any of the routes.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I went into this visual not expecting much, but it well surpassed my expectations. You can see how much work the developers put into this : Characters - 8/10 Animation - 9/10 Storyline - 6/10 Soundtrack - 5/10 Overall very good especially the steam profile background artwork. Rare!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This has to be a disgrace! I thought thew studio knows what they are doing since their previous project "Tokyo School Life" is much better. I might as well pick up a book and read it. All VN have choices, branch path, selection. This one has none. You might as well put it on auto and just read the text. This is one big scam! This is just basically a read out book with different character. It is horrible storyline.. Overall I do not enjoy it at all. Refunding it after I post this
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a visual novel in the purest sense of just being text with character's shown on screen. There are no choices or routes, you read what happens in the story and that's it. Their are a total of 3 chapters and by the end there will still be many questions left un answered, so don't expect to leave feeling 'complete'. The story takes a lot of basic slice of life elements and mixes them with very brief mystery and horror sub plots. The mysteries never get fully resolved and the horror ends…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Tokyo School Life convinced me an FPS gamer to play VNs. Malus Code might make me change my mind. I have to say it was not bad but It was just meh. Story was just confusing and short. It leaves too many questions unanswered. This is the very first time i will leave a No to a game. Im a Fan, I wanted to like it but taking away choice and putting the 3 chapter thing was disappointing. Sorry. I am looking forward to your next game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You know, 'subtle games' does not mean 'unfinished games'. I really liked sudden atomosphere changes or creepy elements and stuffs like that, but broken plots and hurried endings are not some things I can easily forgive. And there is no real romance with Yae senpai, so ♥♥♥♥ you
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Came to romance a trap, stayed for the horror mystery. As a little warning, though, I felt like some things were left a bit too open by not mentioning them in later episodes, along with the overall confusing continuity between the episodes. All of this left me to walk away with questions unanswered. It could be just me being too dumb to understand things like the continuity, but I do believe some parts should have been returned to, like a certain flashback and its significance. However, I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Malus Code had potential, but it just kinda falls to pieces under the weight of the complex plot it tries to setup. Pros: - Nice artwork and animations - Nice voice acting - Music is nice - There are some funny parts - The characters were interesting Cons: - There are too many plot holes and things that make no sense. - The "routes" feel disjointed and pointless because there are no choices to be made; in other words, somehow there are alternate endings even though all of the choices…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Foreword: Ignore my play time, it really only took me 3~ hours to beat straight through, the other 2.7 come from the first time I played through the first route several months ago but gave up as well as just idling in menus. Where to begin, where to begin... I was really ready to give this game a "mixed" score after I completed the second route, but after completing the whole story I seriously cannot recommend this game whatsoever. The story is split into 3 routes which each focus on a single…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Oh where do I begin? If you are familiar with the anime/manga "Higurashi no Naku Koro ni", you have seen where various scenarios play out with the characters, usually resulting in a different ending, usually bad. Underneath it all is a overriding story that explains a little better what is happening and then it all makes sense. After playing this game, I got the scenarios, but with nothing of substance to tie it all together. That was a little disappointing. The story premise was pretty cool…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →While watching my girlfriend play this game, I was constantly in one of a few states of mind. 1. *Snore* 2. The ♥♥♥♥ is going on!? 3. Yae plz ♥♥♥ There were a few entertaining bits... but no, this game's ♥♥♥♥. Wouldn't recommend. Not unless you want to get constantly sexually harassed by a creepy shota.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A relatively short VN (3 - 4 hours) that introduces a lot of interesting plot twists and hooks.. but unfortunately most of them are never explained. The overall experience was satisfying. I just wish there was another chapter that actually wrapped everything up. (An "answer arc" so to speak.)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Too many loose ends in the story and the ending isn't even worth your time. 2/10 Wouldn't play again
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →There's nothing wrong. The horror elements are just perfect.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Truly awful! Post graduate studies, you surely jest, this lot should never have left kindergarten. Dire dialoge coupled with unbeleivable caricatures, destroy any hope of immersion. Suggestion: Place the game in automatic, make yorself a nice cup of tea and come back when you have to make a decision. Oh wait; there are no decisions. Avoid!!!
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i dont even know where to begin with this it just left me saying what the hell happened here tokyo school life was good but i have no clue where the direction of this was going and at the end i was so confused and like what happened not recommended
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Episode 1 has a lot of feels and the only reason I recomend the game Episode 2-3 there is a lack consistency in between episodes There seems to be a time loop of sorts... like higurashi. Great mystery
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Malus Code is a short but atmospheric visual novel that blends scientific curiosity, interpersonal tension, and creeping psychological unease into a compact experience. Developed by M2 Co., LTD and published by Dogenzaka Lab, the game initially disguises itself as a grounded slice-of-life story about a foreign exchange student conducting research at a Japanese university. However, as the hours progress, the narrative slowly peels back layers of strangeness until what begins as an academic…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →7.5 out of 10 Water-bears Another good visual novel from M2 combining a bit of slice-of-life humor, cuteness, and a big dose of mystery. The story is kinetic, but interesting, and told in 3 acts. The only negative is that Malus Code could have been so much more--and in fact it seems like it was supposed to have been so. Because there are 100 save slots (more than one would ever need for a kinetic VN); also, the UI changes, but repeat plays offer no additional story. Overall a good VN, but buy…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a nice kinetic novel. You play as a scientist who has come to Japan to study themophiles and meets three labmates... and a lot of strange adventures. Would suggest getting it in the VN bundle and/or on discount.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I do not know if it was the intent of the creators but everything in the story felt too vague or not explained well enough. It's especially evident with the MC, or Will, in the third episode. In the ending he gets...taken over...I guess? The game sort of ends normally, with no clear sense of danger or anything. The MC apparently works for some organization but that's never really touched upon either. Perhaps I'm missing something and this game is far more clever than I give it credit for but I…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Too short for my taste, the story doesn't flow to well and it feels like at least one scene is missing. There's also stuff that just isn't explained, if you really want to try it wait for a sale. I'd say at least 50% for it to be worth it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It had a interesting story but even after finishing it, i still dont know what it was really about.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →While I'm left pondering many things afterwards I will say Malus Code was a nice experience. The slice of life parts are enjoyable and the small doses of horror definetly make you tense, in a good way. As far as romance, while there is some, it's best to not get too invested in it as it isn't really the main point. Lastly just wanna say that I'd be really interested if a part two or alternate story was released.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →WANT TRAP. GOT TRAP. JUST GREAT! *vomit*
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →First, if you're not used to a visual novel style game, this will be a new experience for you. You basically just keep clicking "next" for four hours while the story unfolds. I like new experiences, so I was OK with that. What I was NOT ok with is that fact that I played about two hours, "saved" my game only to have the save file disappear. In my opinion, this game should NOT be on Steam until they can fix all the save file issues.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is a bit short, the story is full of twists and turns that will make your hear go "whaa...?" If you are looking for romance there is not much in this visual novel, there some nice horror and humor In my opinion the game is good but not THAT good Game: 7/10 Story: 8/10 Characters: 8/10 Should you buy this? I recomend looking up info on the game and if it's up your alley then knok yourself out, if not, don't buy it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A teacher A student And a TRAP
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →best VN i've ever read. quite surreal, it's like the Fellini's Satyricon of weeby waifu VNs. a groundbreaking masterpiece.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Other reviews intrigued me about this game, and I'm glad that I listened to them and got it. At first I was off-put because the character sprites in the screenshots looked very generic, but in-game they are animated and work really well. While the gameplay is entirely kinetic visual novel (no choices), there is a lot more to the game than what you see at first glance, with multiple routes and endings. While each route is fairly brief, finishing them all is very rewarding. The game also has…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unrewarding story. Not worth the time.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game was a trap from the start "til the end". Not bad tho. Aint gonna spoil anything.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →feelings through this game: Oh hey look, they're all cute! HOLD THE ♥♥♥♥ ON, THATS A TRAP?! Yuri is literally the cutest thing ever. cows? what? o_O how is this a horror story?! hey look! Destiny land! ITS THE BUNNY FROM TOKYO SCHOOL LIFE! What happened to Yuri? ohhh, we about to get laid! ...WHAT THE ♥♥♥♥?! ?!?!?!?! This game is literally so ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up, and i love it. Sure, some questions are left unanswered, but thats the fun part about decoding this game. We can literally think anything…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Trap.Was expecting to be cute but have doubts from the pv. But still a trap. Because of that unexpected trap, dropping 10/10 to 7/10 but still recommended
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you watched Lost Pause, then you know what your in for.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →pros: great art work and dialog cons: i couldn't really follow the story as it didn't add up AT ALL the lack of choice was ever so present the game mind ♥♥♥♥♥♥ and messed me up emotionally Also good ending is for ghey people
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This... I uh... Yea I thought it was worth.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well this certainly was a big leap from Tokyo School life, necro-viruses, genetic mutation and strange pharmaceutical science, what more can you ask for? (Loved the creepy CG)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I thought it was about romancing a trap, but not quite that.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An interesting and unusual Visual novel to watch and read and is developed by the same people who made Tokyo School life.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →From a Normal VN, to a Thriller, to Suddenly everything got Fixed? Never expected something similar to DDLC when I started, but once I was done, it felt like that exactly. One thing, Don't but it at full price, as it is very short.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Malus Code has a complicated storyline. There are three parts to the game and you need to read one to unlock the rest. They're all pretty short. It took me less than two hours to complete the whole game. The story itself is somewhat unclear. Despite drawing me in with the interesting sections actually related to the Malus Code, the game never actually explains what the Malus Code is. There are multiple references to things that are either unexplained or simply left unresolved. The characters…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →There's the issue with the audio. It's got that horrible screeching static noise. Is there a way for this to be rectified? 😒
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you are looking for a VN that gives you more question than answers in the gameplay go for thi. But if that not what you are looking for well find something else
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →its similar to Doki2 but shorter.Its better if have achievement for these kind of games.So worthy for readers to get after done reading.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very pretty visuals. NOT a traditional dating sim if you're expecting that. Obviously influenced by Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni, which is a good thing. The mystery of the plot is not handed to you so be prepared to play the game twice if you want to fully understand it. The "random" actions and dialogue of the characters are more than they appear, which I realized after the first playthrough. Definitely worth it on sale. Fun game if you like to solve mysteries and enjoy piecing together the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Starts out strong...but unfortunately doesn't keep it up. I really enjoyed the first chapter, it reminded me a lot of Higurashi - sweet and lovely, until it's not. I thought the relationship between the protagonist and Yuri felt the most natural, and I really liked the characters. There's a nice sense of unease built at certain points, although I don't know if this was intentional based on the sub-par quality of the later chapters. In any case, I'm a sucker for stories where the girl turns…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
Posts are quoted from public profiles with links to the original. Want yours removed? Contact us.