Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

Game review by Mark Raby, Common Sense Media
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 18+

Violent adventure has great story, brain-bending puzzles.

PlayStation Vita 2014
Rate game

Parents say

age 13+

Based on 16 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 98 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate game
  • Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Game: Screenshot #1
  • Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Game: Screenshot #2
  • Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Game: Screenshot #3

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is a stylized, "visual novel game," where the goal is to solve a series of puzzles to advance the complex and disturbing story. The plot revolves around what appears to be a school-sanctioned game of kill-or-be-killed among a group of young, intelligent students. As their fellow students are taken out one by one, players view depictions of hangings, shootings, and stabbings, with occasional images of blood, although the violence is presented in a very stylized format (as in a digital comic book). There's implied sexual activity, suggestive dialogue, and female characters in provocative attire throughout the game. Characters also frequently utter swear words, including "f--k" and "s--t." This isn't an action-packed game; it requires logic, memory, and puzzle-solving skills to successfully complete the title.

Community Reviews

Daniel S.
Daniel S. Adult
February 8, 2021
age 12+

Great game

I think that this all depends on how mature your kids is, if your kid has already seen the anime or played the first game then this would be nothing for them. But if they haven't played any game or feel uncomfortable with death this is not for them.

This title has:

Easy to play/use
4 people found this helpful.
hiyokooo
hiyokooo Adult
May 12, 2022
age 10+

10+ at most

Nothing that a 10 year old cant handle. Guide over-exaggerates a lot. For example, the girl that is hung in the game has no blood on her and her face is censored by a bag. There are no visible bruises or wounds either. The blood is bright, neon purple, and deaths are cartoony. For the sex portion, nothing really stads out. Your kid has probably seen a lot worse. And for the swears used, If you sometimes cuss around your children this is nothing different. There is one girl who calls another girl skank and slut, but this is used very minimal times and the girl dies early on in the game. There is also 1 weird perverted boy, which is where the sex rating comes from. But he dies VERY early on in the game (only alive for about 20 minutes) and you can skip the voice lines. Also, it says 2 girls took a shower, but this was only because 1 girl needed help getting ready for bed so the other girl was simply helping her in the shower and tieing her kimono. Nothing sexual was said or done in this game. So, overall, nothing a 10 year old hasnt seen.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
3 people found this helpful.
See all 16 parent reviews

What’s It About?

DANGANRONPA 2: GOODBYE DESPAIR starts with players taking the role of a bright and promising young student sent to a special program for other gifted teens. As part of this program, characters are sent to a deserted island with a handful of fellow classmates. It's only after players arrive that they're given the fine print: The only way to escape is to murder another student without being caught. To explain more would give away some of the twists and turns of the story, but these are introduced in very creative ways.

Is It Any Good?

It's easy to go into Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair with preconceived notions about what to expect from the story or what the various puzzles and mini-games will entail. But playing through this game is so unique, and the story so artfully crafted, that it's difficult to walk away without genuinely becoming enraptured. The story unfolds as sort of a mix between a digital comic book and a traditional animated movie. Along the way, players will become a central part of the story and must complete various tasks to continue unfolding the plot. That usually involves some kind of logic puzzle, such as questioning fellow classmates and determining which one is lying.

The puzzle sections can be frustrating for some players, because you need to pay attention to what's been said by students, along with accurately completing the mini-games, to successfully determine the truth behind the story. If you can look past that, Danganronpa 2 is uniquely and ultimately satisfying, and anyone looking for a very interesting story should give it a try.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the strong language in this game. Is there ever justification for using swear words?

  • Although the depictions of violence in this game are detached from reality, did you find it had an impact on you? Why, or why not?

Game Details

Our Editors Recommend

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

  • Cartoon picture of luggage and a map
    Adventures
    See all
  • Cartoon picture of a ghost and vampire
    Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
    See all

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate