Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a visual novel, puzzle and detective game with anime style, where a class of students gets trapped in a school and has to take part in a life and death game or live rest of their life in the school, but the story has mysteries about the game and the place and the player has to investigate murders and uncover the truth to the situation. I think this game is really one of a kind and unique experience, I enjoyed most of the story and the gameplay, not even mentioning the soundtrack and the visuals which are just iconic. Paying attention to the story and figuring out what is going on in the game is more fun than I thought and in certain murder cases the player could figure out who is the culprit way ahead then when the game reveals it, which I didn't mind. There is a wide cast of characters and even though I'm not that into anime at all, I was alright with the presentation. The story also brings up some hard subjects and motives, not even mentioning the character development and their back stories for each character in the game. The story is also long, one playthrough can take 30 - 35 hours if you play it for the first time. However, in the story there will be moments where the game basically over presents certain moments which might seem annoying for some, and in the investigations there were times when I knew what is the inconsistency I needed to notice but I didn't know what option I should use, because none of them seemed right to me. The investigations and the story is pretty much linear, although the player can explore them however he wants to, there won't be any occasion to change how the investigation will go and call out the culprit immediately, which personally I did not mind it too much, but at some points it could have been used. Also there were moments where the characters did weird or straight forward stupid decisions in the story and made no sense. There is an additional game mode after the story mode is completed, which is called school mode. It's basically a management gamemode to complete certain assignments with the class and it seemed interesting, but there is not enough content in it and it is not interesting to play it, even though it does have multiple endings. Personally, I really like this game and it's one of my favourite for sure, even though I'm not into anime or I had any idea what I'm going to play when I first started it, but I think this game can only be enjoyable if you are fine playing visual novels and you can accept that this game makes certain moments drawn out and puts too much attention on them sometimes, you will need some patience to it, but after that point I'm sure you are going to enjoy this one and the atmosphere this brings in. With this in mind, I can definitely recommend getting this game, even for the full price.

Intense Storytelling, I often had session where it was difficult to stop playing, because you just want to continue

Simply put, amazing game. Runs well on M1 chip Mac despite warnings from steam saying the game is possibly incompatible. I have no issues understanding the controls of the game and what's going on in the story as someone who is new to detective games and the act of playing games on computer. Do take care not to spoil yourself too much, as it is more fun to figure out the murderer yourself. Talk to your favourite characters asap during free time, as you never know when they might die.

THIS GAME IS ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE AND MIND-BLOWING GAMES I'VE EVER PLAYED!!! The game concept was very good this is one of the reason I buyed this game. As someone who likes murder,mystery or psychological thrillers this game has all of that. This game will let you find evidence for the murder then you will end up in class trial which will let you find the real killer,you will show the evidence that you gather and sometimes you will argue with other characters within the game.I really like the idea that once you find out the real killer they will have a execution or get killed in short,the punishment idea was cool and very creative even though it's kind of brutal.I was surprised that you can spend time with the characters then once you fulled your relationship within the character you get a power or abilities that you can use in class trial.The characters are really well-made,they're all so different in personality and each has their own backstory and reason for how they act.Some characters you'll really grow attached to and it actually hurts when they die huhu.The game story was very good and the plot twist with it are very mind-blowing,overall this game definitely left a mark on me,and I'll probably thinking about it for a long time.

First impression was the anime when it came out many-many years ago, but I completely forgot the entire plot, aside from the first two episodes, but it still made the game an incredible experience after all those years. My playthrough was on the Nintendo Switch, after that, I immediately went ahead, and played it on PC, because I was so mesmerized by its characters and setting. The gameplay itself is actually really quite unique and interesting. I played it on the hardest difficulty, it actually made me think a lot of the time, the game’s not for those who skip dialogue or get lost easily while reading. Also, the twists in the story are really great. Only the beginning is a little dull, but after the end of the first chapter the story quickly escalates and becomes really good. Every aspect of it’s gameplay is really well thought out, the evidence gathering, getting to know your classmates, the trials, the free roaming, it’s incredible. The art style is really close to my heart, the only game that I could compare it to is like Don’t Starve, where the environment changes like it’s stage play, and the props are made from cardboard boxes, and how they come up, it’s just so unique. Makoto was a great main character, didn’t have any issues with him at all, he’s kind of dumb sometimes so the story can advance the way it is intended. I heavily recommend this game.

for if you have time to kill and you like story games time flies when you play this (personally) Fun mechanics, great characters, great plot. Funny sometimes Loved the game almost instantly, and bought the other games to play after this one The visuals are great, with the 2d art being awesome and the 3d looking like cardboard (in a good way). Love the comic parts Play with logic and action difficulty on mean 8.6/10

very fun vibe game i like mystery games and classic games and this is both

This game is too much for my weak ass heart. After chapter 1, I had to take a day to recover from all that happened, and the same for chapter 2. I ended up tanking through chapters 3-6. I have two options: A. Recover from this game to ease the inevitable blow to my sanity from Danganronpa 2. B. Traumatize myself further on Danganronpa 2 without delay. I think I'm gonna go with option B.

The gameplay and logic is very shaky sometimes but the story is great and the next games fix the issues of the first.

This game is really good. If you're into series like ace attorney or zero escape, this is a must play.

Have every game (Besides ultra despair girls.) on my nintendo switch, but the controls on there can be quite confusing so decided to get it on my laptop and replaying the game just reminds me how none of the other games can top the first. The horror, the thrill, the bonds between each classmates.. I can never get over the story. Playing this and then playing Ultra despair girls makes you realize how much Toko changes and it's honestly amazing. (Yes, I love Toko with my entire heart.) Even to this day, chapter 2 remains my favorite chapter of the ENTIRE game.

Its the type of games you play it for the story, It is one if not best Mystery, Visual novel games out there, If you never tried these type of games, trust me, just try it, you may like it and make you want more, Danganronpa was the reason to make me love the Mystery genre

The fandom is fuckass, but aside from that, the game is great and I love the story

one of the most peak games ive played as a kebab shop owner, recommended this to my harvard janitor eijazul islam, after he cleans up and picks up poo he comes back and plays this peak game.

Awesome game. So creepy, so brutal and mysterious. it requires you to think, both normally but also quickly puttiing the pieces together. It's so good!

genuinely a very good and interesting game to play, kept me entertained. the executions were great and the characters were quite dynamic in style as well if that makes sense. i just get bored during free time waiting around for people to die but i mean at least you get skills out of it. you also get a boaner from byakuya

Not having anything else to really do, I decided to try out this series. What I did not expect is to love it a lot. This game was one of those games where I knew about it for many years, but never got around to trying it out. When first playing it, I didn't know how much I loved this story until I noticed how I'm spending most of my day on this game. I almost immediately grown close towards the characters, to the point where I get upset whenever someone gets killed, especially one of my favorite characters [spoiler]Chihiro Fujisaki[/spoiler] It has many twists, especially in the end. After completing the game, I kept thinking of almost everything about it, mainly the students. I also decided to watch the anime adaptation shortly after, which I loved a lot as well. It was towards the point where I didn't want to start danganronpa 2 because of how much I wanted to stay with these characters (Soon enough I'd realize why so many people love that game a lot). There were also questionable dialogues and events at times, but I tried my best to not let that bother me all that much. Still trying to 100% all achievements as of making this review. School Mode is fine, but kinda gets repetitive imo, but I really like learning more about the characters so I'm fine with it.

The pacing in this game is perfect — it kept me on edge from start to finish. 10/10. Can’t wait to play the next game.

The trials are what makes this game so fun. I just really enjoy shooting truth bullets at those contradictions. The free time segments dragged at times so guess I'll be skipping School Mode. After all, I'm here for the trials and deductions. This game is yet another example of how cringe some fan bases can be. I'll stick to playing games without googling them from now on.

I would one million percent recommend not only this game but the whole series. Ever since i got this game i have felt like each of the characters have made a huge good impact on me.

It was a really fun experience. This game made me focus on every conversation and search for clues in everything I see and hear. Can't wait to play the other games in the sequel too!

Dangronpa is one of those games that you either love or hate. It had its fandom...struggles back in 2020, but most fandoms did. I love this game, me and my friends will hang out and play the game together. All of us really enjoyed the anime, so it was so surreal getting to play the game!! I highly recommend this game!

Fantastic writing, genuinely interesting characters and plot twists that make the whole game a blast to play. Great characters and dialogue.

The story is intriguing and very addicting to the point where I found myself spending days playing nonstop, although I found some of the character' motives to be weak and a little absurd, and the final punishment ended up being an underwhelming rehash given how it was hyped up. Either way Kyoko is best girl 11/10

My review might be a bit contradictory but just hear me out: Though I love Danganronpa and cherish the entire series, this game just isn't my cup of tea. It is important to note that I was young when I got into this series and looked at spoilers for this game, which is definitely part of why I felt like the game was too easy--I already knew everything. To anybody that wants to play the Danganronpa series, this one is worth finishing. It is heart wrenching at times, funny at others, and just overall well written. I personally just couldn't finish it and that makes me very sad.

Great game, but it requires a good bit of smarts or time. A classic game from 2010. A murder mystery with each murder having a meaning. I would almost consider this psychological horror. A must try video game. Yes. Definitely.

This was a fun game to play and the characters are likable enough to have you care throughout the story. The main part of the game is the mystery solving, which has two sections of before-trial investigation and the class trials themselves which involve the Ace Attorney mechanics of pointing out contradictions with evidence as well a few minigames. The contradiction mechanic is vibrant as you have to pay attention to multiple people speaking after another in "Non-stop Debates" where the evidence that contradicts is a bullet that you shoot at differently colored statements that get replaced when a person stops speaking, so you can't simply press against every statement like you can do in Ace Attorney. The other minigames in the trials are Hangman's Gambit in which you have to shoot certain letters to fill out a partially filled in word, Bullet Time Battle which is a rhythm game segment where you break down a person's desperate defense by locking onto the statements in time to the hits and fire onto them the same way. The other two are not real minigames, but I'll say them for completeness sake, which is recounting how the murder happen through a manga format in which you take preselected images and slot them into the missing panels, and the others are answering questions by either selecting one of three multiple choice answers or selecting the student you are referring to by moving through the selection of students in the circular court. I don't like rhythm games, but you do have concentration which makes it briefly easier but also Nega time in which it becomes harder due to not showing where you are supposed to press. There are two separate difficulty settings so you can make Bullet Time Battle easier while other parts are challenging. Rereading the instructions at the top left corner of Bullet Time Battle much earlier on would have made things easier for me. But you are able to unlock skills that can make various things easier, such as being able to lock on more than one statement at once or refueling the Influence gauge. If you run out of health, you can choose to not give up and get refilled, though you will not get as many Monocoins for a poorer performance, but it's manageable. Regarding characters, getting to know them through free time events is endearing but also helpful with game mechanics considering the previously mentioned skills that can be unlocked, where endearing them more to you by spending time with them, giving them gifts of varied (personal) desirability to them in particular, as well as sometimes answering a multiple choice question with one of three answers available. You will be surprised as to how the other students get more fleshed out and defined beyond certain basic impressions that came from their Ultimate Ability. After completing the story route by going through all 6 chapters, you unlock School Mode in which you can simply get to spend all your time getting to know the characters and pursuing them. Also, the mysteries are fun to unwrap and they are complex enough to be entertaining but they are still within the realm of reason and solvability.

Great game! sadly had to watch my friend beat it instead because i hate those weird boss fight things in trials and he's really good at them. overall great game love my girl Sakura <333 taka too ig... (jk love him to)

Woah, just whoah. it is just an incredible game... frankly it is one of the best games i tried even if there is a LOT of non playable moments and REALLY bad executions... this game is incredible... And i mean it, this game IS incredible... well for me it is at least >w<. Sorry for bad english im french >w<

PEAK writing, once u start playing it's easy to get invested into the story. There are a few times where the "evidence" during arguments doesn't really make sense, guessing because it was falsely translated, but everything besides that is very good.

childhood game still the freaking best they don't call it hope's PEAK for nothing

I liked the story line of the game. I did watch the anime 5 years ago and watched the other games too, but I never fully understood what happened. Playing it through myself and taking the time to understand the story was super helpful but also fun. I'm excited to play the next game and see how they correlate. I would recommend this to anyone interested in getting into a series, especially because there is more to unpack. I also liked it for the achievements. I like unlocking things and finding out more

While Admittedly this game is out of the main 3 games and UDG, my least favorite of the 4. I had a really good experience with this game and would recommend this to anyone who likes Murder Mystery games and or VN's in general. The characters are for the most part likable, however the weakest of the main 3 in my opinion. The soundtrack and pacing are both really good, and for a first set of cases, I only really didn't have fun in chapter 3. Overall, while I like all of the other ones more, and while it does have it's flaws in my opinion. It's a really good game and I'd recommend it to pretty much anyone who things it looks cool.

I've since outgrown it, but if you're looking for a fun, over-the-top, edgy teen game, this is a good choice. This'll be RIGHT up your alley if you're in high school, you like Ace Attorney, and the concept of a death game sounds even a little interesting to you.

A great beginning to the series with really deep characters. Probably the most hand-holdy of the games with flashbacks of scenes that literally just ended and repetition of another character's input in the trials, although it doesn't take away from the game and this gets better as the series progresses. The ending is satisfying and would've felt perfect is the series had never continued (although I'm glad it did). The only flaw in this game is not expanding on the characters that go early (specifically the one that gets skewered) with you needing to either play the (in my opinion) incredibly boring school mode or replay the game multiple times to see all of the cast's free time events, which, even then are shallow insights on how that person is holding up with the current scenario and a little snippet of their home life if you're lucky. Overall, its a beautiful setting and lovely story.

The first game in the Danganronpa series is, in my opinion, the best in the Novel series. I think that because it is the first in the series it gets used VERY WELL to the atmosphere of the universe, the ways in which the mysteries are shown and the progress of the story is very satisfying from beginning to end.

การละเล่นเน้นเนื้อเรื่องน่าสนใจ ฟีลเล่นชิลๆเพลินๆ จนกระทั้งต้องเข้าโหมดสืบสวนนั้นแหละ...... ดีเบทตึงๆ #มาโคโตะกูรับจบ ( #กูว่าแล้วว่าแม่งไม่มีอนิเมะเกมส์ภาค2 ภาคแรกนี้มีอนิเมะนะ แต่............ เล่นเวอร์ชั่นเกมส์เถอะครับ ยังไงองค์รวมทุกประการไม่ละเอียดหรือตื่นเต้นเท่าเกมส์หรอก อินเนอร์ตัวละครของอนิเมะนี่เทียบไม่ติด )

Even though the fandom can be cringe the story was fun, and I enjoyed the franchise quite alot.

wow. what a game. loved the characters and story, though there is a lot of dialogue but i pushed through by voicing it all with friends. the most fun i had playing this game was figuring out the mysteries in the trials. this is THE danganronpa game, and i cant wait to play the rest of the series

It is absolutely peak. It is one of the best story driven games I have ever played. It is the single best visual novel I have ever played. Play it. It is that good. Also, CELESTE IS BEST GIRL!!!!!!!!! I LOVE MY GODDESS!!!!!!

Honestly I loved this game! The story was uber good and the deaths and trials were my favorite part, I love being able to deduce and solve mystery, and mystery is my favorite genre when it comes to any kind of media! This game was a treat to play, and even though I sucked in gaining any achievements, I played simply for enjoyment. To me it was enough, the soundtrack isn't boring, the voice acting in the trials is wonderful and the mechanics of the game aren't hard. Anyone can pick this game up and play through the other ones, I am currently on the second game and I can not be more excited. Have fun playing everyone!! I promise it's worth it!!

I loathe this game, it is the epitome of babies first mystery genre. All the characters are one dimensional until its time for them to die, clunky game play that I would have said could be improved by its removal, but the story is mediocre at best. All the mysteries are trivial to the point that I called each of them from the initial presentation, and the process of 'solving' them has a habit of being condescending at best.

such a classic with unique art and cutscenes, made me cry a lot

i played for a little bit then went to bed left my computer open now i have 17 hours. ok anyways the musics really tuff BUY NAOWWWW!!!

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 62: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (9/10 stars) [i] Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc [/i] is a chaotic, stylish, and deeply memorable visual novel where truth is a weapon and hope is constantly fighting off despair. It kicks off with a classic premise—students trapped in a death game—but quickly veers into wild, genre-bending territory. You play as Makoto Naegi, the so-called “Ultimate Lucky Student,” as he’s thrust into a high-stakes murder mystery within the walls of Hope’s Peak Academy, a prestigious school turned psychological battleground. With every murder, the tension ratchets higher. And with every class trial, the truth—and its consequences—cut deeper. [i] Trigger Happy Havoc [/i] is flawed, loud, and ridiculous—but it’s also brilliant in how it builds tension, plays with genre conventions, and develops character dynamics. It introduced a new generation to the visual novel format with its striking visuals, unpredictable plot, and signature mix of tragedy and absurd humor. While the minigames sometimes drag down the momentum and the final act may alienate some players, it’s still a game that demands to be experienced. If you can vibe with its unique tone, you'll come away with a new favorite cast and a lot of loud opinions. Despair has never been this stylish. 🧍‍♂️ [b] Pros: [/b] [list] [*] A bold and unforgettable cast. The characters are dramatic, eccentric, and fully committed to the bit. From stoic detectives to muscle-bound warriors to degenerate aristocrats, the game is filled with archetypes that evolve—or unravel—beautifully. [*] Mysteries that matter. Each case gives you a proper whodunit to sink your teeth into. While some are more straightforward than others, they all involve combing crime scenes, spotting contradictions, and challenging testimonies during intense courtroom showdowns. [*] Aesthetic overload—in a good way. The pink blood, the “cut-in” dialogue animations, the comic book UI, and the surreal music all give this game a unique flavor that sticks with you. It’s visually and sonically distinct. [*] Monokuma is a very good villain. He’s deranged, funny, theatrical, annoying, and surprisingly frightening. He embodies the game’s theme of “twisted despair” to a tee. [*] A strong emotional core. The Free Time sequences let you build real relationships with the cast, and those quiet moments make the inevitable betrayals and deaths genuinely hurt. [*] Excellent pacing early on. The tension builds case-by-case as paranoia, grief, and trauma spread. Every chapter ends with a satisfying (and often devastating) resolution. [*] Wild plot turns that mostly sticks the landing. The late-game sci-fi twist is absurd, but that’s part of Danganronpa’s charm. It’s a game that swings big—and often hits. [*] Thematically rich. While not original, the constant tension between hope and despair, truth and deception, unity and isolation, gives the game a surprising amount of emotional weight under all the flair. [*] Little fan service or, well, weirdness. I mean, Hifumi is there (sadly), but unlike the second game, there are no panty shots, less unrealistic physics or close-ups, and fewer sexual comments. [/list] 🧬 [b] Cons: [/b] [list] [*] Trial minigames are a mixed bag. The Nonstop Debate, where you shoot “Truth Bullets” at contradictions, is the main attraction—but it can get frustrating due to the limited time, imprecise aiming, and weird movement of the words. The Hangman’s Gambit is just a glorified word puzzle, but it's fine enough. The Bullet Time Battle (rhythm showdown) is especially jarring. It’s rhythm-based, but not rhythmically satisfying. It also doesn’t fit the tone or mechanics of the rest of the trial. [*] Most importantly, the Closing Argument, a comic strip mini-game, is meant to recap the crime step-by-step—but it’s often unclear what image goes where. The panel sequencing can feel vague or inconsistent, especially for more complex cases, and it can sometimes be difficult to figure out what is the focus point of an image. [*] Repetitive dialogue and animations. The game reuses trial animations and common phrases to the point of fatigue. You’ll hear “you’ve got that wrong!” and see the same reaction faces constantly. In monologues, the characters also repeat important story beats, which can get boring. [*] Makoto can feel a little flat. He’s meant to be an audience stand-in, and while he gets a decent arc, he doesn’t have the presence or charisma of the other characters. He's a good foil, but he's not going to be on any "Top 10 Anime Protagonists" lists. [*] The final twist is deeply divisive. Some people will love how absurd and meta it gets; others may find it alienating and too far removed from the grounded mysteries of earlier chapters. [*] Lack of intuitive logic at times. While the game avoids full-on “moon logic,” it still has a few leaps in reasoning or obscure evidence chains that can feel unfair, especially during later trials. [*] Pain in the ass to 100%. Multiple replays and a guide is needed. [/list]

I heard a lot about this game and I wanted to play it really bad, but I only have PC. When it came to steam I bought it and I just got around to playing it. I had so much fun talking to people and investigating and I knew who the killer was quickly. I was so excited to present my evidence in an open and shut case and log off for the day. Boy was my excitement quickly turned into frustration. I wasn't aware that the trial would not just be me talking and presenting evidence, it would be me playing the most infuriating mini-games I have ever had the dissatisfaction of playing in my whole life. This game was clearly NOT meant to be played on a mouse and keyboard at all, and it is not optimized for it. The instructions are vague, so I said no problem and looked up a spoiler free explanation of what exactly I'm supposed to do. This did not help at all. The game is also not forgiving and if you mess up trying to understand what you're supposed to do oh well this is where the fun begins. You will be forced to sit through an entire unskippable dialogue and cut scene over and over and if you get it wrong too many times it starts the trial all the way over. I spent an hour and a half persisting because I loved the story only to get to the end of the trial and have to start the whole thing over. I'm really disappointed that I couldn't just play a cool murder mystery game with an awesome story and likable characters, they had to add in goofy mechanics and mini games and then proceed to do nothing to make it understandable or enjoyable for anyone on PC. Sorry but you should buy this for it's intended platform or just watch someone else play it, which is what I will do.

story is crazy good and well writen ngl if someone told me its horribly written i would probably never talk to them again

Amazing music and designs, once you start playing you can't stop

genuinely has a very interesting concept and art but. the game play was fine. but this game is very dated. like this game released in 2010 and it shows. I legit just quit half way threw trial 2. and if this game had just 2 queer people working on it the game would have been so much better.

Just... meh? Too many deus ex machina presented as plots twists and flashbacks from events witnessed 1 scene ago.