Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 8,277 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Game Cover
Danganronpa V3: Killiing Harmony not only gives fans more of the Danganronpa they know and love, but it elevates the series to new heights and leaves old players scratching their heads and reeling in shock at the twists the story takes.
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A new chapter begins! Danganronpa V3 is coming to Nintendo Switch for the first time! Danganronpa 10th Anniversary Release: Part 3! This 10th Anniversary edition comes with a gallery feature that allows you to view event illustrations, scenes, and listen to voiced dialogue!

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,277 reviews
story702 positive mentions
grinding54 negative mentions
  • story2,106 mentions

    The story of "Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony" is a polarizing aspect among players, with many praising its engaging characters and unexpected plot twists, while others criticize the ending for undermining the narrative established in previous games. The game features a mix of gripping mysteries and emotional moments, but some players feel that the story becomes convoluted and loses focus, particularly in its final chapters. Overall, while the gameplay and character development are often highlighted as strengths, the reception of the story's direction and conclusion varies significantly within the fanbase.

    • “The story is captivating and immersive, with a cast of complex and well-written characters that you'll come to care about as you progress through the game.”
    • “Danganronpa v3 has so much enjoyable content after the story.”
    • “The story, the characters, the style, the music—everything about this game is fantastic!”
    • “There were so many better directions the story could've gone, and it just felt like my emotional and time investment never paid off.”
    • “It literally felt like the devs said, screw it, we can't think of anything better, so we're going to go with this halfway through plotting the story.”
    • “The story is a slog, the message is indirect, and it's only at the final chapter that you learn what any of this has to do with the established world.”
  • gameplay844 mentions

    The gameplay in Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is widely regarded as the best in the series, featuring significant improvements and new mechanics such as the "lie bullet" system and various engaging mini-games like debate scrums. While many players appreciate the enhanced trial mechanics and character interactions, some express frustration with control issues and the complexity of certain gameplay elements. Overall, the game successfully combines familiar gameplay with innovative twists, although opinions on the story's conclusion vary significantly.

    • “The gameplay is the most refined of the three and fixed some issues of the first two game's minigames.”
    • “Danganronpa v3: Killing Harmony is a worthy third entry to the series that improves on the previous two games in many areas, most notably sound and music, UI, new mechanics/minigames, and character design.”
    • “The gameplay feels rewarding and also adds a new level of freshness, with the addition of the mass panic debates and the options to lie during non-stop debates.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, the series returns with a stupendous amount of text containing over-explanation, cheesy content that can only be described as anime, and overreactions left and right.”
    • “You aren't playing for the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is not really what you'd expect; it has some unique twists to it.”
  • music521 mentions

    The music in "Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and diverse soundtrack, which includes both original compositions and remixes from previous games. The soundtrack is noted for enhancing the game's atmosphere, particularly during class trials, and is often described as the best in the series, featuring standout tracks that resonate emotionally with players. While some critiques mention a few weaker moments, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the gaming experience, making it a highlight of the title.

    • “The soundtrack, composed by Masafumi Takada, is a perfect blend of catchy tunes and atmospheric tracks that complement the game's narrative and overall tone.”
    • “The music is outstanding, but I'll admit that there were some 'sad' tracks that could've been done a little better.”
    • “The music is fantastic, and I love both the concepts of the lie bullet and scrum debate.”
    • “The music in this game is sadly the worst in the series.”
    • “Not only is the story worse than ever, but the music is also without question worse in quality.”
    • “Overall the cases, trial minigames, and music are a step down from Danganronpa 2.”
  • graphics337 mentions

    The graphics in "Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony" have received widespread acclaim for their significant improvements over previous titles in the series, showcasing a vibrant and stylized art style that enhances the overall experience. Players have noted the dynamic visuals during class trials and mini-games, which contribute to a more immersive and engaging gameplay experience. However, some users have reported performance issues on lower-end systems, indicating that while the graphics are impressive, they may require a capable graphics card to run smoothly.

    • “The graphics are stunning and the music is catchy, fitting the theme of the game perfectly.”
    • “The distinct art style and character designs are as striking as ever, and the game's environments are detailed and immersive.”
    • “The graphics make you feel immersed in the game, and I love that!”
    • “The graphics are heavily stylized and all the mini-games are pretty fun.”
    • “Despite being given a graphical update over the first two, it manages to make things more confusing.”
    • “The only thing that really improved was the graphics and the art, but that's about it.”
  • emotional249 mentions

    The emotional aspect of Danganronpa V3 is a significant point of discussion among players, with many expressing a deep connection to the characters and story. While some found the emotional investment rewarding, leading to moments of genuine heartbreak and tears, others felt let down by the narrative direction, suggesting that certain emotional arcs felt meaningless or poorly executed. Overall, the game is described as an emotional rollercoaster, capable of evoking a wide range of feelings from joy to despair, but opinions vary on its effectiveness compared to previous entries in the series.

    • “The emotional investment fostered throughout the narrative journey only intensifies the gut-wrenching blows as these unique personas meet their untimely ends.”
    • “The way the story weaves this idea into all the aspects of the story is nothing short of touching, making me feel engaged throughout each chapter.”
    • “You will develop feelings for these characters, as they give you hope, but they destroy it just as fast as they give it to you, making it an emotional roller coaster experience.”
  • humor188 mentions

    The humor in Danganronpa V3 is a blend of dark comedy, absurdity, and character-driven wit, often eliciting laughter even in the face of serious themes like murder and despair. Players appreciate the quirky interactions and memorable one-liners from a diverse cast, particularly enjoying the antics of characters like Kokichi and the return of the iconic Monokuma. However, some critiques point to moments of forced or juvenile humor that can detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about the game's comedic approach.

    • “The characters are easy to like, the plot's details are amazing, and the comedy is hilarious.”
    • “Danganronpa v3 is weird, fun, depressing, thought-provoking, funny, and fantastic.”
    • “The humor and overall setting are as usual, very dark and twisted humor while playing with the ideas of death, betrayal, and abuse.”
    • “One of them is selfish, manipulative, annoying, unfunny, stupid, and frustrating.”
    • “The other one is lazy, demotivated, stupid, unfunny, and pretty boring too.”
    • “It's boring, not funny, not interesting, not clever or smart, just sad.”
  • character development107 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the depth and growth of key characters like Shuichi, Maki, and Kaito, while others criticize the overall impact and execution of certain arcs, particularly regarding the treatment of female characters. The character designs are generally well-received, noted for their uniqueness and expressiveness, but some feel that the narrative choices undermine the development established throughout the game. Overall, while there are standout moments and characters, the inconsistency in character arcs and the handling of plot twists have left some players feeling dissatisfied.

    • “Overall, the character development is really good in this game, more so than the others, even if this development takes a really strange and somewhat bad turn in the end.”
    • “The story and how things unfolded was amazingly written, and the character development of multiple characters was absolutely extraordinary.”
    • “The game spends a great deal longer introducing you to the characters and building relationships between them and giving each of them fleshed out backstories, and, as the game progresses, character development.”
    • “Peak Japanese game design to create an actually compelling female protagonist and then just straight up murder her for a boy's character development.”
    • “I think it's safe to say that character development wasn't one of the first game's strong points; each character has some sort of arc, but it doesn't exactly leave much of a lasting impact on their characterization.”
    • “They hold almost no emotional weight or character development.”
  • grinding59 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing it as tedious, time-consuming, and often mindless. Many reviews highlight the extensive hours required for achievements and character development, with some players estimating that a significant portion of their playtime was spent on grinding rather than engaging gameplay. While some appreciate the variety in post-game content, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel unnecessarily drawn out and repetitive.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “If you are a 100% achievement guy or gal like me, then be ready for some grinding and suffering.”
    • “Worse, it is required to 'develop' each and every character in the high school mode, which involves ~10 hours of completely mindless grinding.”
    • “This is the most tedious of the 3 main Danganronpa games.”
  • atmosphere52 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich blend of dark, moody elements and vibrant visuals, creating a surreal and immersive experience. Many reviewers highlight the effective use of music and art style to enhance the tension and emotional depth, while some note that the atmosphere varies across installments, with the first game often regarded as the strongest. Overall, the game's atmosphere successfully combines youthful enthusiasm with mature themes, contributing to a compelling narrative and engaging gameplay.

    • “Such intricately woven dynamics thrive within the game's richly nuanced atmosphere, a concoction of youthful enthusiasm and mature themes that culminate into a paradoxical masterpiece.”
    • “The game's visuals are also top-notch, featuring a stylish and vibrant art style that perfectly captures the game's surreal atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is eerie, and some sprites and story developments will creep you out.”
    • “However, I don’t really see that in this installment; being able to go outside, see the sky, look at greenery, and see through windows in the main building doesn’t make the atmosphere feel oppressive to the point where a character would feel like they have no options left.”
    • “The atmosphere of the setting is thick and (appropriately) depressive, much more so than Hope's Peak Academy or Jabberwock Island.”
    • “Story, characters, and atmosphere really suck compared to the first two.”
  • stability37 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its stability issues, particularly on PC, where players report numerous bugs, unresponsive controls, and glitches that hinder gameplay. Many users describe it as a poorly optimized port that is especially problematic for keyboard and mouse users, leading to frustration despite the game's strong storyline. Overall, while the game has potential, its current state is marred by significant technical issues that detract from the experience.

    • “The game runs great overall, with only minor issues related to keyboard and mouse input lag.”
    • “Despite some input lag with the controls, the overall stability of the game is impressive.”
    • “The game maintains a solid performance, with only a few hiccups in control responsiveness.”
    • “This game (at least on PC) is a buggy and unpolished mess.”
    • “However, the controls are so buggy that the game itself becomes almost unplayable.”
    • “I'm not sure if the bugginess was intentional, but it's annoying.”
  • optimization35 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and unresponsive controls, particularly during critical gameplay moments like class trials. While some users noted that these issues improved later in the game or could be mitigated by using a controller, others found the overall performance to be subpar compared to previous titles in the series. Despite these optimization challenges, many players still enjoyed the game for its storytelling and mechanics.

    • “The optimization of this title worked well for me, but it is questionable, so try to do a bit of research to see if others with your specs ran it well.”
    • “Small optimization issues on PC but that doesn't detract from how brilliant of a game it actually is.”
    • “Though this ambition has come with its fair share of bugs, quirks, and performance issues (though not enough to significantly affect the average playthrough).”
    • “The issue with this game is the optimization issue, that is the unresponsive button that's going to be annoying, especially at the class trial.”
    • “This game is horribly optimized for PC.”
    • “I'm having a hard time recommending it because the class trial control scheme is swapped from 1 and 2, by default shows you non-PC inputs, is horribly optimized causing it to lag and be unresponsive during the most trivial of dialogue, and the 'shooter' vs 'Danganronpa' control option is broken and doesn't change anything.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a mixed level of replayability. While many players appreciate the alternate paths, bonus modes, and post-game content that enhance replay value, some express frustration with certain aspects of the gameplay that diminish their desire to replay. The addition of secret events and new game modes contributes positively to replayability, but opinions vary significantly on whether the experience justifies multiple playthroughs.

    • “Even if you have beaten the main story, it has a lot of replayability thanks to alternate paths and tons of bonus modes.”
    • “Returning from 2 are secret events that add variety and replay value to the main story, along with more free time events than previous games.”
    • “Despite the game being a hybrid visual novel, it has a lot of post-game content and replay value such as the backdoor feature and the talent development plan.”
    • “The class trials don't have much replayability with me mostly doing them again for achievements.”
    • “I know this sounds all super negative coming from me, but despite that, this game is actually very good, it's just that the good plot twists are way too slow to act as payoffs for playing so long and the replayability value is very low but the overall game was still fun to experience to a certain extent.”
    • “I'm a working man so for me it didn't matter much but for a visual novel which doesn't have much replayability, the 60€/$ price is too much.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized for its intrusive microtransactions, which many players view as a cash grab, particularly in a poorly optimized PC port. Additionally, there are complaints about misleading advertising and a lack of proper controls for mouse and keyboard users.

    • “Horrible microtransactions to play!”
    • “0/10, awful PC port and cash grab; game cannot be full-screened, and gameplay controls are meant for a controller with no way to properly toggle keybinds for mouse and keyboard players.”
    • “- A slight lie in advertising.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

50hMedian play time
47hAverage play time
39hMain story
95hCompletionist
34-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 34 analyzed playthroughs

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