The problem with a franchise that has multiple different entries under its belt is simply where to even start viewing said series. Things like the Fate/ Series or Danganronpa have complicated watch orders for the exact same reason. Though, it isn’t like people don’t try getting into them. I mean, they are so easy to binge. But between the mainline series, future spinoffs, OVAs (Original Video Animation), movies and what not, it can be hard to stay consistent. 

So, what is the official Danganronpa watch order? Well, it starts off pretty generically, with the original Danganronpa series that came out in 2013. However, then we skip to 2016 with both Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Future Arc and Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Despair Arc. Hop on over to 2017 with Super Danganronpa 2.5: Kimaeda Nagito to Sekai no Hakaimono and then you go back to 2016 for Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Hope Arc. Pretty simple, right?

Except you forget that Danganronpa is originally a video game series that came out in 2010, and the media accompanying it isn’t the meat of the story. To fully enjoy the franchise, experiencing the games is a must. However, adding them to the rotation of the anime can prove to be a slightly more tedious job, considering how much it increases the list by. Plus, there’s the added confusion of what goes where and whether it follows the correct timeline. 

Hey, if you’re in it strictly for the anime and aren’t interested in the games, that makes sense. But because of how Danganronpa has the games and anime in addition to OVAs and even a special, getting the chronological order correct is definitely a confusing time. But that’s where we come in. Here is the correct Danganronpa watch order, and why we think each entry works where it does. Let’s get right into it!

1. Danganronpa (2013)

This is where all the magic starts. The story of Daganronpa begins in this anime series that was released in 2013. 

The story was set in Hope’s Peak Academy, where we find 16 students trapped within it’s hallways, and no way out in sight. To make matters worse, they have to evade this giant animatronic bear known as Monokuma, who is on a mission to brainwash them into turning on each other in order to survive. It feels ridiculously grim, for what it is. Like, in order to graduate, you have to kill your classmates? 

But that’s also what the story of the first game, Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, was. The anime basically just condenses the plot. But because of that, it loses some of the more elaborate details. But if you’re in it for just the basic plot, the Daganronpa covers it nicely enough.

2. Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Future Arc

Because the story ends up extending outside of the Hope’s Peak High School arc, we get this three-part series that directly tackles the events after. 

Starting with Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Future Arc, we meet the characters that made it through Monokuma’s cruel antics, but the plot centers around Makoto Naegi, known as the ‘Ultimate Lucky Student’, and how he and others were involved with the Future Foundation Killing Game. It ultimately concludes the first arc that had been going on since the original series, and even has a special episode to tie things up.

3. Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Despair Arc

While this is technically the third entry in the series, it ends up serving more of as a prequel to the story that happens directly after.

In Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Despair Arc, the focus shifts from the original gang at Hope’s Peak Academy, and instead we focus on Hajime Hinata, a member of Class 77-B who originally didn’t remember what his talent was. Later, it was revealed that he experimented on other humans to further himself during the Killing Game. And with this entry, the anime ends with The Tragedy happening. 

4. Super Danganronpa 2.5: Kimaeda Nagito to Sekai no Hakaimono

When I say the anime ended with the last one, that is only partially correct. I meant that the arc that had been ongoing since the original series in 2013. However, within the same universe, another story was taking place.

While some might say that Super Danganronpa 2.5: Kimaeda Nagito to Sekai no Hakaimono isn’t directly related to the original plot, it is set around the same time. In this OVA, we end up chronicling the life of Nagito Komaeda, who has the exact opposite problem of the original protagonist, Makoto. Nagito has bad luck so bizarre that it ends up working in favor of those around him. So, after he dies, he just vows to live a quiet life in his own conscience. That is, until the Destroyer Of The World arrives.

5. Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Hope Arc

With the final entry, we reach the canonical end of everything Danganronpa. Yes, that includes the games as well, because this is considered the climax to the entire series. 

Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Hope Arc is the satisfying conclusion to all the frightening things that had been ongoing in the Danganronpa universe. What started as a battle royale survival in a high school while being chased by a murderous mascot, ended with a world-destroying calamity coming through. I don’t want to spoil much, so I won’t go into detail. But this is the one anime even game lovers don’t skip. 

So, if you had been looking into starting the famous Daganronpa series, here you go! This is the definitive Danganronpa watch order so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed and confused with the chaos that starts from day 1. Until next time!