Created by Square Enix, The World Ends with You is a series of action RPGs set in the stylish, urban streets of Shibuya, Tokyo. The series includes the 2007 original DS game of the same name, the 2021 sequel NEO: The World Ends with You , and various spin-offs.
The story revolves around characters trapped in a mysterious “Reapers’ Game,” where they must battle other players and face psychological and existential challenges to survive. The series is often known for its unique combat mechanics, distinctive art style and deep character development. Exploring nuanced ideas of self-identity, friendship, life and death, the series has earned itself a dedicated fanbase for its emotional storytelling.
01— The World Ends with You
Complete the mission…or face erasure. That’s all Neku knows after regaining consciousness in the middle of a busy intersection without his memories. Now he and his partner must fight to survive a life-or-death game in this twisted tale with more turns than the urban labyrinth of Tokyo they’re trapped in. In the crowded chaos of Tokyo, players of the Reapers’ Game must complete daily missions or face total erasure. Neku might not be enthusiastic about forging relationships, but with his very life on the line, he’ll need to learn how to
The World Ends with You is an action role-playing game arranged into three chapters based on the three weeks that Neku is involved in the Reapers’ Game, with each chapter further divided by each day of the week. The player controls Neku and his partner as they explore Shibuya to complete each day’s mission. Although most missions require completion within a certain time for Neku and his partner, this timer is not correlated to the passage of time for the player.
The World Ends with You received critical acclaim upon release, with critics praising the graphics, soundtrack, and integration of gameplay into the Shibuya setting. The few common complaints were related to the steep learning curve of the battle system as well as the sometimes imprecise touch-screen controls. In the first week of its release, the game was the second best-selling DS title in Japan, and the top-selling DS title in North America.
(Original)
(Solo Remix)
(Final Remix)
02— NEO: The World Ends with You
“Only the possibility of you can change our fate” A long-awaited new story in The World Ends with You series has finally arrived!
It was just an ordinary day in Shibuya—or so Rindo thought,
until he comes into possession of a mysterious pin
and is forced to compete in the so-called “Reapers’ Game”. Rindo comes to the grim realization that his life may be on the line here. Put your psychic prowess to the test as you duke it out on the stylishly animated streets of Shibuya. There’s no telling how this tale will unfold—but it’s up to you to find out!
NEO: The World Ends with You is an action role-playing game co-developed by Square Enix and h.a.n.d. and published by Square Enix. It was released for the Nintendo Switch and Playstation 4 in July 2021 and for Windows in September. The story features a new cast of characters playing the Reapers’ Game in Shibuya and, unlike the original game, features three-dimensional graphics.
NEO: The World Ends with You received positive reviews from critics, but failed to meet sales expectations of the publisher.
