Danganronpa is a video game series that turned into a franchise with multiple spin-offs and adaptations. Kazutaka Kodaka created the series, with the central plot revolving around high school students murdering each other. While the concept may be bizarre to some, it’s a commercial success with a dedicated fan base. So, today, we will be breaking down each game in the series, seeing what they are about, and how the titles have evolved over time.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (2010)
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a visual novel game developed by Spike. It is the first game in the series and the source material for the animes, mangas, novels, and more. Players follow the main protagonist, Makoto Naegi, who attends Hope’s Peak Academy high school. Soon after arriving, he and his classmates discover they are part of a battle royal game involving murdering each other. The Academy is run by a robotic bear named Monokuma. Monokuma informs the students that they can escape if they kill another student and are found not to be the killer in a trial.
The game was created by Kazutaka Kodaka, who wanted a darker story that would cause controversy. The game combines a variety of genres, including dating simulators, third-person shooters, and mysteries. Upon release, it was a critical and commercial success, winning multiple industry awards. While some players criticized the difficulty, as they found it too easy to solve court cases, the story and character more than made up for it. The game sold over 1 million copies in its lifetime and spawned an entire series across multiple mediums.
Alter Ego (2012)
The Alter Ego app is based on the Danganronpa character Alter Ego, an artificial intelligence system. The app is a free-to-play system app that is very limited in its nature. Alter Ego will tell you the time, set your calendar, tell you about characters from the original game, or tell you fun facts about Japan. One more fun action it can do is answer questions or impersonate other students. Unfortunately for players, it has been removed from the App Store and Google Play Store.
Danganronpa: Monokuma Strikes Back (2012)
Monokuma Strikes Back is a mobile-only arcade game developed by Spike Chunsoft. Players can play a variety of mini-games created by Monokuma and compete for high scores. The game is no longer on the App Store or Google Play Store but might be available in Japan. Past reviews for the game indicate that it was a less-than-optimal game. With over 800 reviews, it averaged a 1.9-star rating.
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (2012)
As a highly anticipated sequel, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair had much to live up to. As the first game revolves around murdering other students, the cast for the second game had to be entirely different. Players now follow Hajime Hinata as he and his classmates are trapped on a tropical island. The robotic bear Monokuma returns, coordinating the twisted game, along with a stuffed rabbit, Monomi. The plot is identical to its predecessor, with students having to kill one another while not getting caught by the other students in a trial.
The sequel was inspired by the television show Lost and had a light novel prequel written by series creator Kazutaka Kodaka. The game was well received at release but had issues with its class trials once again. Players noted that parts could be boring or too easy, ruining the story’s pacing. The game has sold over 1 million copies on PC alone and had a manga publication created based on its plotline.
Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls (2014)
Ultra Despair Girls is the first spin-off title in the series, set before Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. The game abandons the visual novel element of the original game, instead being a third-person adventure. Players control Komaru Naegi as she battles Monokuma robots. The game also blends horror elements in its gameplay as well.
Toko Fukawa will also assist Komaru as they battle waves of robots. They are armed with a Hacking Gun and stun gun, used in various ways to defeat enemies. The game received mixed reviews at launch and sold moderately well. It has also received multiple manga adaptations and a mobile app.
Danganronpa: Unlimited Battle (2015)
Unlimited Battle is a co-op spin-off title developed by Spike Chunsoft. Players will select their characters and complete a variety of missions and levels. You will launch your characters into enemies, killing them to complete levels. The enemies will also launch toward the players as well, dealing damage in the process. Critics thought it was a fun game but strayed away from the series’ original formula. While it did have its own unique charm, fans have noted how odd of a game it is.
Cyber Danganronpa VR: The Class Trial (2016)
Cyber Danganronpa VR is a tech demo that places players inside a class trial from the first game. In VR, players will enter the fourth class trial of Happy Havoc and figure out who the murderer is. The demo received positive reviews, with critics hoping a full VR game would come to the franchise. Some players also noted how terrifying the game was in VR, given the immersion and subject matter.
Kirigiri Sou (2016)
The second spin-off title, Kirigiri Sou, retains the visual novel style while adding interesting elements. The game uses 2D cutouts for the main characters, Kouhei and Kyoko, investigating an abandoned mansion. Although the game is short, about 3 hours long, there are multiple endings players can achieve by making different decisions. It was well-received and ranked as one of the best visual novels and horror games at release.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (2017)
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony attempts to fix players’ issues with the class trials while remaining consistent with its formula. The game is set in a new school, as Hope’s Peak Academy was shut down in a canon anime adaptation. It features a new cast of characters and acts more as a standalone game rather than a sequel to the original games. As the students begin to kill each other and class trials start, V3 offers more mechanics and features than past entries.
For starters, the game introduces the Mass Panic Debate system. This system involves multiple characters talking over one another, making it challenging to follow and remember who said exactly what. Another feature, Debate Scrums, has groups arguing against each other, with the player having to use statements to argue their point. Various minigames are added, including Hangman Gambit 3.0, Mind Mine, and Psyche Taxi.
Its release generated critical and commercial success, with fans praising its new trial system, adding more difficulty and playable minigames. While the game offered a lot to players, no sequel has been announced. While we may never get a Danganronpa 4, it hasn’t been entirely ruled out by the developers.
Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp (2021)
As the final spin-off in the series, Ultimate Summer Camp is a role-playing board game released in celebration of the franchise’s 10th anniversary. The game is set on Jabberwock Island and features a cast of 62 students. Players will level up characters throughout the game as they traverse the island in 50 moves. There are different outcomes and rewards for tiles landed on that can change the course of the game. It was met with mixed reviews, with players complaining about its microtransactions and gameplay loop.