How to watch

Based on Spike Chunsoft's hit murder-mystery video games, Danganronpa traps a class of elite high school students inside Hope's Peak Academy, where a sadistic robotic bear named Monokuma forces them to kill each other to escape. The 2013 anime adapted the first game, and the 2016 follow-up, Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School, told an original story split into three parts.

🕐 Release Order

Here is the order in which the Danganronpa anime premiered.

1. Danganronpa: The Animation (2013)
2. Danganronpa 3 – Future Arc (2016)
3. Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc (2016)
4. Danganronpa 3 – Hope Arc (2016)

Future Arc and Despair Arc aired at the same time in 2016, with episodes alternating each week, before the single-episode Hope Arc wrapped everything up. The creators intended for both arcs to be watched side by side.

📖 Story Chronology

Strictly by story, Despair Arc is a prequel set before the first game, while Future Arc takes place after the second game. The recommended viewing order keeps the airing structure intact.

1. Danganronpa: The Animation (2013)
2. Danganronpa 3 – Future Arc episode 1, then Despair Arc episode 1 (2016)
3. Continue alternating Future Arc and Despair Arc episodes (2016)
4. Danganronpa 3 – Hope Arc (2016)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Watch Danganronpa: The Animation first, then alternate Future Arc and Despair Arc episodes one at a time, exactly as they aired, before finishing with Hope Arc. This preserves the reveals the writers carefully paired across the two arcs. Be aware that Danganronpa 3 spoils the second game, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, which never received an anime adaptation — if you plan to play it, do so before starting Danganronpa 3.

🔗 Related Guides

• Death Note Watch OrderGuide
• Steins;Gate Watch OrderGuide
• Higurashi Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!