The End Grows

The End Grows is a 2D side-view open-world game about a world that ends every five minutes. Alone in a ruin, you encounter a strange yellow entity that lets you relive those final minutes and investigate a programmed apocalypse. You explore, fight, complete objectives and grow stronger across repeated runs, while the story unfolds through the world and its characters.

A world in five minutes

Robots recycle debris around the ruins, and their aggression makes survival difficult. Two factions, H and V, are at war over resources. You can accept their quests or fight their NPCs to earn credits, XP and items, choosing to help H defeat V or the other way around. Whatever you do, the world resets after five minutes.

The 2D open world includes ruins, cities, forests, deserts, a war fleet and an airship, among other environments. Each zone offers details that help explain the world's mechanics and lore. Real-time events appear on the minimap, which also serves as a countdown and reacts to your actions; with mobility upgrades, you can travel around the entire world within five minutes.

Progress through each run

Defeating enemies gives you large amounts of XP, and a single monster can earn you over 100 levels. During combat, you assign stat points in real time using the directional pad, adapting your build as the fight unfolds. You keep abilities and items between runs, and items often provide percentage-based stat bonuses that can make your power grow exponentially. Some also increase XP gains, although every run starts again at level 1.

You optimize each run to become strong enough to complete an objective within the five-minute limit. Progress continues both during runs and between them, as carried-over items shape your next attempt. Mobility skills and the power you gain also open up more of the world.

Story and setting

The game explores the end of the world, infinity and absurdity through its NPCs, environments and interconnected lore. For example, the robots near the beginning forge ingots by recycling debris from the ruins. Environmental details and dialogue help reveal what is happening, with a cryptic story that still provides connected clues.

The game uses a minimalist grayscale art style with vibrant yellow highlights. Its story spans eight chapters and around twenty hours of gameplay, culminating in a finale.