[4] The game takes place in a deserted, futuristic Tokyo, in which the city has transformed into a vicious wildlife wasteland.

[1] There are 50 breeds and 80 types of animals in the game,[1] including Pomeranians, lions, crocodiles, tigers, giraffes, hippos, cheetahs, chimpanzees, gazelles, chickens, beagles, Dilophosaurus, hyenas, Deinonychus, and Sika deer.

[2] Director Yohei Kataoka wanted to make a game that felt original, noting that animals and a world without humans were both individually "universal" concepts that could be combined to create something "very catchy, very new and very exciting.

Electrical issues forced the studio to upgrade the residence, ultimately costing them roughly the same as if they had moved into an office in the first place.

[11] Sony noted on their own Playstation Blog that most of the early coverage focused on the eccentric concept as opposed to the gameplay.

[15] The Digital Fix said that "The mechanics are simple, graphics average, plotting ludicrous but it is never dull and if you don't have a story to tell your gamer friends after every time you play it then you are doing it wrong.

"[30] The Escapist similarly said it was "utterly ridiculous but wholly unique, blending challenging gameplay with goofy trappings.

"[32] However, Digital Spy gave it three stars out of five and called it "a unique title which, while not without its flaws, is wildly entertaining..."[25] The same website also gave the Vita version four stars out of five, saying, "Fans of the original will still probably be willing to look past Tokyo Jungle Mobile's awkward controls and less involved combat, and if they do they will find much of the same addicting survival gameplay intact hiding underneath.

"[26] In an interview with Siliconera, director Yohei Kataoka was asked about Tokyo Jungle's reception outside Japan: "Europe loved it, and we got a lot of great feedback from that audience, but [in] America... that simply wasn't the case.