NEO: The World Ends with You

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 499 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
NEO: The World Ends with You Game Cover
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NEO: The World Ends with You is a follow-up action RPG to the popular The World Ends with You game. Set in a vibrant, modern-day Shibuya, players control a new group of characters fighting for their survival in the Reaper's Game. Using flashy psychic abilities called "Neku's Notes," defeat enemies, explore the city, and uncover the mystery behind the sinister forces threatening to end the world.

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Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 499 reviews
story78 positive mentions
grinding23 negative mentions
  • The game features a vibrant art style and an incredible soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Combat is fast-paced and engaging, allowing for a variety of strategies with the pin system and character abilities.
  • The story is captivating, with well-developed characters and emotional moments that resonate with players.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, especially with the need to level up pins and characters.
  • Some players found the pacing slow, particularly in the early chapters, which may deter engagement.
  • The game was poorly marketed by Square Enix, leading to a lack of visibility and sales despite its quality.
  • story232 mentions

    The story of "Neo: The World Ends with You" is generally engaging and features well-written characters, though it is often criticized for its slow pacing, particularly in the early stages. While the narrative connects to the original game, it can be enjoyed independently, though familiarity with the first installment enhances the experience. Many players appreciate the plot twists and emotional depth, but some feel that the character development and stakes do not reach the heights of its predecessor.

    • “The story has a couple of quirks I could poke and complain about, but overall its heart shines through to me.”
    • “The characters are all amazingly memorable and charming, the world is a joy to explore, the soundtrack is still stuck in my head like a year after finishing it, the combat is a load of fun, the art style is super stylized and still blows my mind, and the story is an awesome experience from beginning to end.”
    • “The story is fun, the cast is lovable, and the interaction is fun to watch.”
    • “If you want to spend 85% of the game doing the same thing just to get different dialogue to move the story, then go right ahead.”
    • “The story is overall just boring as well; most of the cool stuff doesn't happen until the very last week or so, and even worse, there's like no stakes at all until the last week.”
    • “You’ll quickly grow tired of the return to Shibuya, as the glacial pacing of the story means you’ll be revisiting the same streets over and over again, punctuated by the stupid inclusion of a bare-bones time travel mechanic, making you replay parts of the mission again and again.”
  • music192 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, while others feel that some remixed tracks do not live up to the originals. Several players highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as "banger after banger" and a key element that captures the game's unique vibe. However, some critiques mention repetitiveness and a few questionable music choices during story moments, indicating that while the music is generally well-received, it may not resonate with everyone.

    • “The soundtrack is as good as the original, and I would recommend this to anyone that finds joy in JRPGs.”
    • “The music is top-notch just like the first game; the devs really did a fantastic job on making the sequel.”
    • “The characters are all amazingly memorable and charming, the world is a joy to explore, and the soundtrack is still stuck in my head like a year after finishing it.”
    • “I put up with the experimental music but it got repetitive and sick for me after a while that I tried my best and just put on Spotify and put the normal music on mute.”
    • “Music is horrible 90% of the time.”
    • “I ended up turning off the in-game music and listening to my iTunes as it just didn't resonate for me after about 15 hours of hearing the same tracks over and over.”
  • gameplay147 mentions

    The gameplay in "Neo: The World Ends With You" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its unique mechanics, engaging combat, and the ability to experiment with various abilities through the pin system. However, some find it frustrating and repetitive, particularly due to pacing issues and the need for grinding, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a fun and stylish action RPG experience, it struggles with balance and can feel overwhelming or simplistic at times, depending on player preferences.

    • “Each type of ability has different mechanical characteristics and there are many variants of each with different stats that further change how they feel to use, so there's lots of room to experiment.”
    • “The combat is certainly quite button-mashy, but it's designed in such a way that each of your 6 attack buttons must be mashed/held/charged in a different way, so there is a kind of mechanical rhythm to fall into that's pretty unique to this game.”
    • “The gameplay experience you get at the very start of the game is like giving a new hire at a coal mine a toothpick to work with after forcing him to watch two weeks of home security footage in a pleasant neighborhood.”
    • “The gameplay, on the other hand, often got frustrating and confusing.”
    • “You’ll quickly grow tired of the return of Shibuya, as the glacial pacing of the story means you’ll be revisiting the same streets over and over again, punctuated by the stupid inclusion of a bare-bones time travel mechanic, making you replay parts of the mission again and again.”
    • “Gameplay is just mash all the buttons on your controller if you make a proper pin deck.”
  • graphics61 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and stylish art direction, effectively translating the original's aesthetic into a vibrant 3D experience. Players appreciate the colorful, cel-shaded visuals that complement the engaging soundtrack and character designs, creating an immersive atmosphere. While some critiques mention limited graphical settings and occasional inconsistencies, the overall presentation is considered a highlight, enhancing the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The visuals and music are as top-notch as ever, much as might be expected from the series.”
    • “The art style is so unique and beautifully drawn, all of the characters are so charming and fleshed out.”
    • “The cell-shaded graphics really complement the art style of the game.”
    • “The 3D graphics sometimes look kind of weird and don't give the enemies that old sharp feel where you could see the clean lines and patterns of their graffiti bodies.”
    • “The graphics are shite.”
    • “Graphics options are pretty limited, as they only allow you to change resolution, vsync, and anti-aliasing; however, the game doesn't seem to be demanding at all, having it run at a stable 60fps for several hours straight on my PC.”
  • grinding23 mentions

    Grinding in the game is a mixed experience, with some players finding it tedious and necessary for completion, especially in the endgame where farming for resources becomes essential. While many agree that grinding can be avoided by focusing on the main story or adjusting difficulty settings, others note that the repetitive nature of battles and the lack of engaging plot elements can make the grind feel more burdensome. Overall, the game offers a balance between grinding and progression, allowing players to choose their approach, but the enjoyment of grinding heavily depends on personal preferences regarding gameplay and story engagement.

    • “To finish the game and its story it will take a rough 20-30 hours with minimal actual grinding, much longer if you plan on doing a full 100% run for achievements, and then it will for sure turn into non-stop grinding. However, I did find myself farming money at times, so it's something to note you may not be able to play through the story start to finish without doing anything else, and honestly, I wouldn't recommend doing that anyways.”
    • “When combined with Neo TWEWY’s obnoxiously grindy gameplay, the extremely late story pay-off makes Neo TWEWY very difficult to recommend.”
    • “Grinding in this game is slow and tedious, but it's not something that's necessary to complete the game due to the fact you can switch your game difficulty at any time, so you can make it easier on yourself if you just want to rush through the story.”
  • character development17 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the returning cast from the original game showcases strong growth and memorable designs, the new characters feel underdeveloped and lack depth. The dialogue quality remains consistent with the first game, but the pacing issues and limited time for character exploration in the later acts hinder overall development. Visually, character designs are praised for their creativity and modern appeal, but some players find the execution of character arcs lacking.

    • “The character designs/outfits are top-notch; literally every character is drippier than a monsoon.”
    • “Nomura did a great job of elevating the original's street fashion looks - the new character designs feel modern while still maintaining the first game's charm.”
    • “The art direction is outstanding, the music is fantastic, the dialogue is flawlessly modern and realistic, the character design is great, and the appearances of the original TWEWY cast are done very well and tastefully while giving the new cast some room to shine.”
    • “Aside from how cool it is to see the TWEWY cast all grown up and carrying over their character development from the original game, the new game's cast are sorely lacking overall and pale in comparison to the returning cast.”
    • “The quality in the writing of the dialogue and character development is the same as the first game, I'd say.”
    • “The frustrating thing here is that in Act 3, the game feels like it never had enough time to develop these characters, and gives each of them basically one day each of really intense character development.”
  • optimization13 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with the PC version offering the best performance and smooth gameplay, while the Switch version experiences minor performance dips that may affect completionists. Users report minimal load times and no significant freezes or stutters, although some stuttering has been noted on the Steam Deck, which resolves quickly and does not significantly hinder gameplay.

    • “The PC version, of course, can have the best performance, with the added bonus of supporting your controller of choice.”
    • “As for performance, the game is installed on my SSD and I have not had long load times or start-ups, and there have been no freezes or stutters from my experience.”
    • “Pretty well optimized.”
    • “There is some stuttering that happens during the game, which seems to be from running around or getting into combat, but this alleviates itself pretty quickly so it doesn’t impact the gameplay that matters.”
    • “Played a ton on the Switch and decided to double dip here on Steam for the improved performance.”
    • “This review is based only on the performance of the game on the Steam Deck.”
  • monetization9 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized due to a significant lack of advertising from Square Enix, which many believe has contributed to its poor visibility and sales performance. Despite being a well-received title, the absence of marketing efforts has left it struggling to gain traction, leading fans to urge others to support the game to ensure the franchise's future. Overall, the game's potential is overshadowed by its inadequate promotional strategy.

    • “Overall, this game is a masterpiece and I will never forgive Square for dropping it with no advertising and letting it flop. You should buy the game so they do more with this franchise.”
    • “Show Square Enix that they miscalculated by not advertising this game more and be a part of the remainder by getting this game.”
    • “This game fucking sucks, that's why Square Enix isn't advertising it.”
    • “It's a passion project that has been treated poorly by a complete lack of marketing, and it's too good to let the franchise die due to the lack of advertisement.”
    • “Overall, this game is a masterpiece and I will never forgive Square for dropping it with no advertising and letting it flop.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke feelings of loss and heartwarming moments, particularly in the relationship between characters Rindo and Shoka. Despite a slow start, the game ultimately delivers a heartfelt narrative about humanity and empathy, resonating deeply with players. While it has its flaws, the overall experience is described as charming and heart-wrenching, leaving a lasting impact on those who engage with it.

    • “The scene between Rindo and Shoka at the end is so wholesome.”
    • “It's a very anime-y story and the characters are purposely over-the-top, but like the original, it has a heartfelt message to convey about humanity and empathy.”
    • “This game isn't perfect and it has flaws just like anything else but even with those flaws it's entertaining, charming, and incredibly heart-wrenching at times.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players found the character antics and dialogues genuinely funny and enjoyable, others felt that the humor fell flat compared to previous titles. Overall, the game features a blend of comedic moments and heartfelt storytelling, contributing to a unique and engaging experience.

    • “And the localization is funny.”
    • “I was laughing about the characters' antics, and while at first I felt they were one-trope cutouts, they did soon show to have heart and problems and depth, that I really enjoyed.”
    • “A really fun ARPG with a great soundtrack, funny dialogues, really interesting puzzles, and a very pretty aesthetic and presentation.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Neo: The World Ends with You" is characterized by a unique blend of ambition and idiosyncrasy, creating a distinct and timeless experience. While some players desire more grounded characters to balance the eccentricities, the game maintains a consistent and engaging atmosphere complemented by a strong story and soundtrack.

    • “In this atmosphere, Neo: The World Ends With You tries to go big while also staying true to its own idiosyncrasies, and the result is a game out of time.”
    • “I respect that the game is consistent in its general atmosphere.”
    • “Great story, atmosphere, and soundtrack.”
    • “In this atmosphere, Neo: The World Ends With You tries to go big while also trying to stay true to its own idiosyncrasies, and the result is a game out of time.”
    • “Although I would have liked at least one grounded character to absorb the barrage of cringey comments and behaviors, I do respect that the game is consistent in its general atmosphere.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting quick load times and no instances of freezing or stuttering. It also performs well on the Steam Deck, although some players noted a learning curve with the default controls.

    • “As for performance, the game is installed on my SSD and I have not had long load times or startups, and there have been no freezes or stutters from my experience.”
    • “It also runs great on Steam Deck so far; the default controls were kind of weird to get used to (I fought with the main menu longer than I care to admit).”
    • “Game runs great on Deck.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, featuring customizable difficulty settings that allow players to adjust their experience for greater rewards. This flexibility encourages multiple playthroughs and enhances overall enjoyment.

    • “The replay value is through the roof, with custom difficulty settings that allow you to adjust your own level for higher rewards.”
    • “Every playthrough feels unique thanks to the diverse choices and outcomes available, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
    • “The game offers multiple paths and endings, ensuring that each replay reveals something new and exciting.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

35hMedian play time
59hAverage play time
10-80hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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