Ars technica writes: "The World Ends With You comes From Square-Enix, a developer infamous for rarely venturing outside of the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises in recent years. The title is a refreshing role-playing game that combines many new ideas with a number of old ones; it's a unique twist on the genre.
While most RPGs take place in a world of fantasy or science-fiction, TWEWY brings players into the Shibuya region of modern-day Tokyo. Because of this setting-Shibuya is know as one of the centers of fashion and youth culture in Japan-there is a strong emphasis on style. Instead of armor or weapons, characters equip themselves with the latest fashions, which give stat boosts and special effects, just as equipment does in a traditional RPG. Different areas of Shibuya each have their own trends, and wearing the right brand in the right area will give special bonuses. The soundtrack keeps with the overall tone of the game, complete with a number of upbeat, j-pop tracks that fit the world."