Danganronpa is one of the most unique and engaging murder-mystery titles around. The sheer drama and tension that is present throughout this twisted title make for one of the most high-octane games that players can try out... without engaging in the slightest bit of combat. The war of words is what Danganronpa focuses on, and its minigames definitely hammer this point in spectacular fashion.
The game is so marvelous that players who power through this title will inevitably find themselves aching to try out other games in the same vein. While most people might assume that Danganronpa is a one-of-a-kind series, there are actually quite a few games that can make players feel just as smart as Danganronpa makes them feel. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the best games that fans of Danganronpa can try out.
Updated December 26, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Danganronpa is a series that fans of mystery titles should definitely check out. The memorable characters and engaging murder plots make each and every chapter of the games a blast to explore, with the twisted killing game being present across all the titles. Each title's story is absolutely bonkers in the best way possible, and players who want to check out more games in the same vein should definitely check the following titles to scratch the itch left behind by Danganronpa.
15 Corpse Party
A horrifying puzzle-adventure series that is filled to the brim with graphic imagery, Corpse Party is not a title for the faint of heart. The games feature gory scenes that can be quite stomach-turning, especially since these games describe these gruesome scenes in immense detail.
Fans of Danganronpa's darker moments will have a great time playing through Corpse Party. Some of the titles are pretty lean from a gameplay standpoint, but the stories are compelling enough to turn this into a non-issue.
14 Persona
The release of Persona 5 has turned this title into one of the most popular series of all time. Players love the amazing stories present in the Persona games and how mind-boggling they can really get at times.
Danganronpa fans who love turn-based combat will feel right at home with the Persona games. While the life sim elements were introduced from the third game onwards, there's a strong case to be made for the first two games too!
13 The World Ends With You
The World Ends with You is one of the most unique JRPGs that anyone can check out. The modern setting of Tokyo coupled with the use of elements like fashion and trends to decide gameplay mechanics made for a great time indeed.
NEO: The World Ends with You is also a decent sequel, but the first game is spellbinding in a way that will entice most players to get through the end of this amazing story. The Nintendo Switch features an updated release with more content, making it the best platform to experience this masterpiece.
12 Twelve Minutes
Twelve Minutes has a gameplay loop where players need to break through a time loop and figure out exactly what is going on. The enduring mystery of the game is pretty riveting, even if the reveal at the very end might not be the greatest for many fans.
It helps that the voice performances in Twelve Minutes are pretty great, even if the sequencing of said dialogues may be slightly jarring at times. Fans of Dangaronpa who want to check out another thrilling mystery should definitely give Twelve Minutes a shot.
11 Telling Lies
Sam Barlow has revolutionized FMV games in the best way possible, with his latest game Immortality being an absolute joy to play through. While most people know him for the success of Her Story, there's another game developed by this video game designer that has been largely underappreciated.
Telling Lies is a great game that is pretty similar to Her Story in many ways, with players having to search a database featuring the four main characters and the various conversations that take place. Piecing together this narrative can be quite a challenge, but players who don't mind filling in the cracks will have a great time with Telling Lies.
10 Ace Attorney
Ace Attorney is one of the most popular and enjoyable detective visual novels around. Most people consider this series to be the best thing to try out for fans who got into Danganronpa.
The games are full to the brim with enjoyable cases and entertaining breakdowns, allowing players to figure out the details of the mysteries present in these games. It's one of the best franchises that lets players feel incredibly smart as they uncover the details of the cases they have to deal with.
9 Aviary Attorney
Fans of Ace Attorney have heard a lot about a game that sounds like a parody of this title in every way. However, players who manage to look past the bird-inspired aesthetics of Aviary Attorney will find themselves enjoying a genuinely great game.
The mysteries in this game, coupled with its unique setting, make for a highly engaging title. While the game wears its inspiration on its sleeve, it has a few different facets to its gameplay that make it unique in its own right.
8 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Ghost Trick is one of the most underrated murder-mystery titles of all time. The innovative gameplay mechanics of this title alone make it well worth the price of admission.
However, it's the stellar writing and characters that turn Ghost Trick into an absolute masterpiece. Fans of Danganronpa should definitely try out Ghost Trick to understand why so many people consider it to be one of the greatest video games ever made.
7 Zero Escape
The Zero Escape series features one of the most convoluted narratives ever seen in a video game. The idea of parallel universes and narratives that compel players to travel through time and explore different avenues sounds complicated but actually makes for one of the best parts of the game.
With three long and satisfying games in this series, Zero Escape will prove to be one of the more engaging titles on this list. The first game can take a while to get into due to the dated nature of its puzzles, but the other two titles feature enough improvements to the overall game design to make the experience worth it.
6 AI: The Somnium Files
Another underrated title on this list that deserves due credit is AI: The Somnium Files. This murder-mystery title features an engaging gameplay loop and a riveting story that fans of Danganronpa will feel right at home with.
It's a shame that more people don't talk about this brilliant game, which has flown under most people's radar. Everything from the art to the narrative of this game is simply superb, and it's a shame that more people don't talk about this brilliant game.
5 Professor Layton
The Professor Layton series is another franchise that can be right up the alley of most Danganronpa fans. There are several games present in this series, meaning that gamers will find themselves swamped after getting into this great series.
It helps that every game in the Professor Layton series features some creative puzzles and engaging narratives that are a blast to play through. It might take a while to get into, but fans of puzzle titles will find a ton of things to enjoy in the Layton series.
4 Return Of The Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn is easily one of the most unique indie titles to have come out in a long while. The idea of simply filling out a list of crew casualties and the manner of their deaths can seem rather trite, but it's the manner in which Return of the Obra Dinn rolls with this gameplay loop that makes it such a great title.
The Lovecraftian roots of this title are shown from the get-go, making for an excellent time as players uncover the mysteries that happened aboard the Obra Dinn. It's a brilliant game that any fan of mystery titles owes it to themselves to check out.
3 Her Story
Another game that prioritizes player discovery above everything else is Her Story. This simple game involves players searching for videos that detail the story of a mysterious woman and the murder of her husband.
However, the story runs way deeper than what appears at first glance. The mystery of Her Story is engrossing and will keep fans reeling until they get to the very bottom of this amazing story.
2 Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is another unique indie title that has blown up due to its engrossing story and unique gameplay. The idea of a CRPG featuring no combat whatsoever makes for a novel concept indeed.
The world-building, story, and characters of Disco Elysium are undoubtedly its strongest traits. With the release of The Final Cut, players can now enjoy the definitive version of this title, full to the brim with excellent voice acting and extended questlines.
1 L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is easily the most mainstream title on this list. Given Rockstar's association with this title, it's easy to see why this is the case.
The game might not have the most engaging open world, but its story and characters more than make up for it. Its facial expressions might not have aged well, but L.A. Noire is still a brilliant detective game that prioritizes its investigation mechanics over everything else.