FACTSHEET
Developer:
Rose City Games
Based in Portland, OR USA
Publisher:
VIZ Media
Based in San Francisco, CA USA
Release date:
March 28, 2019
Platforms:
Nintendo Switch, Steam
Website:
theworldnextdoor.com
Regular Price:
$14.99 USD
AWARDS
DESCRIPTION
The World Next Door fuses real-time puzzle battles and striking visuals to deliver a supernatural story about Jun, a teen trapped in the mysterious world of Emrys. Team up with Liza, Horace, and an ensemble of otherworldly friends to investigate the secrets of the Emryn shrines, and use Jun’s newfound powers to battle the formidable enemies hidden in their depths. Get Jun back home before time runs out, and challenge your friends in the lightning-fast Versus Mode!
FEATURES
Journey into Emrys, a magical world brought to life with anime-inspired characters designed by Lord Gris
Play as Jun, an adventurous teenager, who must use magical runes and the help of her friends to defeat opponents and find a way home
Cast spells by activating magical runes in fast-paced, real-time combat that mixes the fun of puzzle-combos with action gameplay
Immerse yourself in supernatural story with branching dialogue and reputation systems that affect your relationships with characters in the game
Focus on the story while still enjoying the gameplay using Assist Mode
Hone your skills against other players in the VS Mode through 2-player local puzzle battles
HISTORY
The original concept for The World Next Door was created by Lord Gris at a game design jam in collaboration with Corey Warning and Will Lewis in the summer of 2017. Rose City Games pitched the concept to VIZ Media shortly after, and began creating a playable prototype to flesh out the gameplay.
On February 6, 2018, Rose City Games and VIZ Media announced a partnership to debut original, narrative-driven games, and that The World Next Door would be the first title to be published.
An early demo was available to play during the 2018 Game Developers Conference at The Anime Party, and for a single day on the expo floor at the Intel Innovators booth. The goal was to gain as much early feedback on the game as possible during the "pre-alpha" stages of development.
The official trailer premiered during VIZ's panel at Anime Expo 2018 on July 5th along with a comic book prelude to the events of the game.
On August 28th, 2018 The World Next Door was announced as a Nintendo Switch Title as part of Nintendo's Nindies Showcase.
The World Next Door released on March 28th, 2019 for PC and Nintendo Switch. The soundtrack is available on Bandcamp and Spotify.
TRAILER & SCREENSHOTS
KEY ART
LOGOS
SELECTED ARTICLES
“...an exciting romp through a fantastical yet familiar-feeling world with endearing characters and a fun story.” — Geek & Sundry
“More like this, please.” — Kotaku
"...it’s not quite like anything I’ve played on Switch and that in itself is an accomplishment. 8.5/10" — Nindie Spotlight
"...each encounter offers the perfect amount of cheeky dialogue and puzzling challenges to make it enjoyable right up to the end." — Newsweek
“...The World Next Door doesn’t need to be as cool as it is, with it’s impossibly hip Monster Prom meets Hotline Miami character designs and evil-cute aesthetic. And yet, here we are.” — Paste Magazine
ABOUT US
Rose City Games is an indie studio based in Portland, Oregon, born from the love of games and community. Inspired by the games we grew up playing. we’re dedicated to telling fantastical stories that immerse players through striking artwork and unforgettable soundtracks.
Contact
Inquiries
hello@rosecitygames.com
CREDITS
Corey Warning
Director
Sandra Lanz
Will Lewis
Co-Producers
Michael Hill
Lead Programmer
Justin Baldwin
Art & Animation
Lord Gris
Original Concept & Character Design
S.A. Farnham
Story & Narrative Design
Christian Scandariato
Game Design
Andrew Matteson
Music
Nicholas Kallman
Sound Design
Jenny Windom
Content & Community Management