Play World Ends With You, The (e) Online

I first played The World Ends With You on the Nintendo DS back in 2007, a time when developers were really experimenting with the dual screens and touch controls. It was developed and published by Square Enix, but it felt completely different from their usual fantasy epics. Instead of a sprawling world, you're dropped into a compressed version of modern-day Shibuya, Tokyo, and the game uses that specific location as its entire stage.

You control Neku, a reluctant teenager forced to compete in a deadly game for a chance at a second life. The main objective is to survive a seven-day Reaper's Game by completing daily missions, which often involve defeating monsters called Noise. The combat is the most distinctive part; you fight on both screens simultaneously, using the stylus for Neku's attacks on the bottom screen while inputting commands for your partner on the top with the D-pad. You explore the city district by district, scanning the minds of pedestrians to uncover clues and unlock new areas. The game moves at a brisk pace, and the learning curve for managing two characters at once is steep, but once it clicks, the flow is incredibly satisfying. It feels like your brain is fully engaged, constantly multitasking between the two screens and the bustling city life.