The story focuses on Spero, a young man who is caught in the middle of a growing conflict between various religious factions, which in turn are being spurred by the advance of the Miasma, a force that will destroy all life.

The character designs and art direction were handled by Shigenori Soejima, who came onto the game after previously doing supporting work on the Persona series.

The game's music was written by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata, and its theme songs and vocals were performed by Japanese singer Reiko Ariga.

Stella Deus is a story-driven tactical role-playing game in which the player controls a group of characters both picked up during the course of the story and in side events.

Alongside the story missions, Towns can be visited, in which characters can customize and create new weapons and armor, sell existing equipment in exchange for money, and shop for items such as healing potions.

In camps set up on a journey, characters can swap out weapons and armor, equip items such as healing potions and beneficial charms for future battles.

Alongside story-based missions, there is a special dungeon called the Catacomb of Trials, where characters can battle and gain experience levels, raising their general statistics.

[4][5] Stella Deus takes place in a world called Solum, which is slowly being swallowed by "Miasma", a mist-like substance that destroys all life it touches.

The Aeque Church, led by High Priestess Lumena, believes that the Miasma is God's will, sent to bring the world to an end, not with a bang, but a whimper.

A warlord, Dignus, has taken to ravaging the countryside with his armies, imposing the law of the jungle: he who will not fight for his life does not to deserve to live.

Spero agrees to help her with her quest, which involves securing the aid of four elemental Summon Spirits before opening the actual Gate.

[6] The development was handled by Atlus and external studio Pinegrow, which included staff from earlier Japanese tactical RPG Hoshigami.

Among the staff were Atlus director Akiyasu Yamamoto, and scenario supervisor Ryo Mizuno, author of the Record of Lodoss War fantasy novel series.

The game's story revolved around religions conflict, focusing on the Aeque faith, Dignus' attempts to undermine it, and the main cast's position between the two factions.

Describing himself as initially "at a loss", much of his memory of the experience is dominated by finding his chosen style rather than specific character designs.

As part of its release, it was re-dubbed Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity, and featured full English voice acting for its cast.

[12][13][14] The sound design was one of the areas where Yamamoto was initially unsatisfied, making multiple changes with his staff during the development run-up to the game's Beta version.

[15] The game's vocals and its ending theme "Holy Spirit" were performed by Reiko Ariga, credited under her stage name "Arigarei".