A town where it never stops snowing, and a boy who can't remember the promise he made seven winters ago.
Key's debut, written by Naoki Hisaya and Jun Maeda, sends a high-schooler back to a snow-buried city he last saw seven years ago — and to the holes in his own memory. Released on PC in 1999, it arrived on Dreamcast in September 2000 in an all-ages edition, the explicit scenes cut and full voice acting added, so the story itself could finally carry the weight. People started calling games like this 'nakige' — games made to be cried over — and for a while afterward, story stopped being the thing you tolerated between the prettier parts. It became the reason you stayed.
About this game
KANON is a software for the dreamcast.
Gallery
Tricks & Tales
The two scenario writers split the cast: Naoki Hisaya wrote the Ayu, Nayuki and Shiori routes, while Jun Maeda — later the heart of Air and Clannad — wrote Makoto and Mai. The PC original had no voices at all; the Dreamcast port was the first version to add full voice acting, alongside new graphics and the all-ages content. The Dreamcast edition reportedly sold around 42,000 copies in its first week — among the best-selling console games in Japan that week, proving a 'reading' game could move hardware.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The Dreamcast enforces a regional lockout by software, with discs manufactured for Japan (NTSC-J), North America (NTSC-U), and Europe (PAL) each restricted to their respective consoles. Most Japanese Dreamcast games output at 60 Hz over composite or S-Video, which works on NTSC televisions worldwide; VGA output bypasses the TV standard entirely and is supported by the majority of titles, making a VGA box or HDMI adapter a practical solution for overseas buyers. PAL-specific titles are the exception: a minority of PAL games do not support VGA or force 50 Hz, so checking compatibility lists before purchasing PAL software for use on a Japanese console is advisable.
Maintenance Tips
The GD-ROM drive is the Dreamcast's most common point of failure — the laser lens wears out faster than those in most contemporaneous CD players. If games freeze, fail to load, or the drive makes repeated seeking sounds, the lens is the first thing to check. Clean it gently with a cotton swab lightly dampened with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol; do not press hard or use high-speed cleaning discs, which can scratch the lens. Compressed air is useful for blowing dust out of the drive bay and the fan area. The console's internal clock is maintained by a rechargeable ML2032 coin cell — the correct replacement type is ML2032 (not CR2032, which is non-rechargeable and can be damaged by the console's charging circuit).
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese KANON copies regularly.
Is this Dreamcast version the adult game?
No. The Dreamcast port is the all-ages edition: the explicit content was removed and full voice acting added. It's the story-focused version, safe to display.
Is the Dreamcast release in English?
No. The console ports are Japanese-only. English-speaking fans generally know Kanon through the PC original (later translations) and the anime, not this Dreamcast disc.
Which came first, the PC game or the Dreamcast version?
The PC original shipped in June 1999; the Dreamcast was the first console port, arriving September 14, 2000, so a Dreamcast copy is a later, console-specific edition rather than the debut release.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy KANON
A short checklist for buying a used Dreamcast disc wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Check the disc for scratches
Deep scratches on the playing surface cause freezes and read errors. Light surface marks are usually fine.
Ask for a clear photo of the disc's underside. A seller who tested it will confirm it loads and plays through.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese Dreamcast GD-ROM. The Dreamcast is region-locked, so a Japanese disc generally needs a Japanese console.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Saves use a VMU — no disc battery
Dreamcast games save to a VMU memory card; the disc itself has no battery.
Make sure you have a VMU with a working battery and free blocks.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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