I've been meaning to do this for a while, but I haven't gotten around to it lol

I'm aware that not everyone reading this book is familiar with what Danganronpa actually is, or what all the random game-like features in this book are. So, here's the explanation for everyone.

Danganronpa is a series visual novel video games in which you play as a protagonist stuck in a Mutual Killing Game where every time a murder is committed, you must figure out who the killer is and save both yourself and the rest of your remaining friends by correctly picking the right person.

Not only is it only that concept, but it is also simply just the concept of being a main protagonist who is put in a situation they can't escape, so you must find a way out of it.

(Ultra Despair Girls is NOT a killing game, but it does revolve around a protag trapped in a place she cannot escape and must stop the situation completely)

Danganronpa has numerous games in its series, and in order of release they are:

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

Super Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

Danganronpa v3: Killing Harmony

The first game (Trigger Happy Havoc) was developed into a short anime titled, "Danganronpa: The Animation" and is the only Mutual Killing Game that was originally a game of the Danganronpa franchise to be fully animated.

In order to understand the timeline and plot line of the series, you must either play or watch gameplay of the video games on YouTube. There is no animation for Super Danganronpa 2, which is HEAVILY important to the plot, nor is there an animation for v3, which is entirely irrelevant to the main plot of the series.

As for Ultra Despair Girls, you must also watch the gameplay of it. However, in the game, there are scenes that are fully animated as if in a show.

After playing or watching gameplay of all those games (v3 excluded since it does not add to the main plot), the plot is ONLY continued in an animated season titled, "Danganronpa 3: The End Of Hope's Peak Academy".

In "Danganronpa 3: The End Of Hope's Peak Academy", it is split into three arcs— the Future Arc, the Despair Arc, and the Hope Arc.

Furthermore, there is a short one episode that is only available as an animation to explain the aftermath of Super Danganronpa 2. It's simply referred to as "2.5" in the fandom.

(Confusing? Yeah, I know)

To sum it up, here is the watch order if anyone is interested in the series and wants to know the plot line:

Can be viewed through the animated version, "Danganronpa: The Animation" or can be viewed through gameplay on YouTube (anime can be found on show broadcasting platforms like Hulu or CrunchyRoll)

There is NO animation for this season, however, it is very important to the plot. You must either play the game or watch gameplay of it on YouTube.

This is ONLY animated. It can be found on YouTube or streaming platforms.

This is both a game AND animated. They are combined. You MUST watch the gameplay on YouTube. Its animated scenes are included in the video game itself.

This is ONLY animated. All three arcs are only animated and can be found on streaming platforms like CrunchyRoll. It is advised to watch them in alternating order (ex. future arc ep1, despair arc ep1, future arc ep2, despair arc ep2, etc) with Hope Arc after you finish the two main arcs.

"Danganronpa v3: Killing Harmony" DOES NOT affect the plot line of Danganronpa despite it existing with the same concept. It is technically not part of the main plot line, for reasons I can't say due to spoilers. V3 can only be viewed through playing the game or watching gameplay of it on YouTube, although v3 does not have any direct addition to the main plot line above.

Don't question why I have all these gifs, i just do.

There, I got the confusing af watch order of Danganronpa out of the way for those of you who were curious (trust me, i was confused when i first joined the fandom)

If you have any questions about the watch order, either ask me in the comments or privately message me! I don't mind being asked or contacted. Or, if you want the links to the playlists of gameplays I watched (no commentary and yes, the games have voice actors), ask me for those as well.

And as for the game-like features in this book:

As I explained, Danganronpa is a series of visual novel video games. In those games, you are given usually the same minigames to play and beat in order to further the game. These games ONLY appear during class trials.

The reason I include these mechanics is because that's what makes Danganronpa up. These games are in the class trial so that you can beat them and therefore advance in the game after proving you have what it takes. (This is actually why I don't like the anime of Trigger Happy Havoc, because it was made under the assumption that whoever watched it knew the mechanics of the GAME).

There are other things such as Free Time Events. In Danganronpa, whenever there is not a murder, you are given two chances per day to spend time with characters in the game of your choice. Using those Free Time Events, you can grow closer with characters you choose and learn more about them. If you spend enough time with them, you will receive "Hope Fragments" which represent how close you are with them. If you complete a full Hope Fragment with a character, you will be given an ability to aid you in class trials.

You wouldn't believe how many times I've had to explain this because it sounds confusing to new people—

OKAY ONE MORE TIME—

WATCH ORDER:

THERE.

jesus i give myself a headache explaining it. if you have any questions on it, just ask me in the comments or privately message me.

that was the unnecessarily long explanation of the watch order of the complete series of Danganronpa.

haha, i need to sleep it's been like 32 hours since i last slept—

And to make sure you watch in the right order, in my random book, i'll post a chapter showing the protagonists of each season in that watch order. you can read it if you want (it's mostly just for me though solely so i can put the gifs there to save storage lmfao)