Our World is Ended

The game plays as a traditional visual novel, largely entailing reading with limited player interaction.[1] Player choice primarily comes in the form of the game's SOS (Selection of Soul) system; when at a branching point, the game flow will pause, and a number of dialogue choices will quickly scroll across the screen.[2] The player must quickly choose an option, which will change the course of the conversation.[3] Not answering is an option as well, though it generally incurs a negative outcome from associated characters.[1]

The game was first announced in May 2017, exclusively for the PlayStation Vita platform.[5] The game was developed by Red Entertainment, and was directed by Naoki Morita, who was previously responsible for the story planning for the entries of the Sakura Wars series developed by Red Entertainment.[5]

The games initial release in Japan was only on the Vita in late 2017.[6] The game's publisher, 5pb., noted that the release was well-received, and was motivating them release version for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows.[6] In October 2018, versions for the Switch, PS4, and Windows were all announced for a 2019 release in the West.[3]

The game generally received mixed reception from critics, though critics generally agreed on what worked and what did not. Multiple reviewers felt the game was similar, but inferior, to the Japanese visual novel Steins;Gate.[7][8][1] The game's graphics and art style were generally praised.[7][8][1][9] Many reviewers complained about sophomoric and crass jokes, and characters generally acting like perverts, stating that it marred the overall narrative.[7][8][1][9] PlayStation Lifestyle compared it to a fusion of common anime tropes and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, arguing that players' assessments of the game would vary depending on the extent to which they found this combination of influences appealing.[8]

While Our World is Ended on the Vita was not translated into English, the version of the game that English speaking regions received on Switch, PS4, and Windows is actually a port of the Vita version, and the Switch, PS4, and Windows version in Japan featured extended content.[10] This updated version, dubbed Judgement 7 - Our World is Ended contains approximately a 30% extension of the game's story, adding another 2 million Japanese text characters to the main story.[10][6] The story also has two new characters not present in the original, intermixed into the game's story (similar to Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal character additions to their respective base games.) Jellyfish Number 3 is the little sister of Iruka Number 2, who speaks in the same confusing manner, but often gets exasperated and drops the act, and Mamori Mimori, a delusional stalker in love with Reiji. Its development timeframe conflicted with the original's work-in-progress localization, and to date, the extended version remains Japan-only.[10] This version was released by 5pb., 5pb. advertises this game as a "Masterpiece for Science Adventure fans".[11]

In June 2018, the original game's director, Naoki Morita, announced that planning on a sequel had begun, and that the full-scale work on the project was about to begin.[12] While still in early stages, he outlined a number of ideas about the title; it will be a completely new title with a new cast of characters and setting, but will generally retain the originals style of being a visual novel that follows a cast of seven youths who are experiencing issues related to their worldview.[12] The game is targeting the Switch and PS4 platforms, though no updates about the project have been given since 2018.[12]

• Our World is Ended at The Visual Novel Database