At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, our team at AUTOMATON West had the chance to take part in Spike Chunsoft’s interactive showcase for Danganronpa 2×2.
Set to launch on January 14, 2027, Danganronpa 2×2 is a reimagining of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, the second entry in the Danganronpa series that first hit the PSP in 2012. This new iteration delivers a complete overhaul of the original narrative, alongside the much-anticipated Slayhem Mode, which introduces a fresh storyline featuring new culprits, victims, murder schemes, and even a new character.
During the event, I had the opportunity to test out the Danganronpa 2×2 Chapter 1 Class Trial, as well as the visual novel segment of the Slayhem Mode. In this piece, I’ll share all the insights I gathered about the game so far. Please be advised that the following contains minor spoilers for Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (and consequently, other Danganronpa titles), so if you’re aiming to experience the game unspoiled, I’d recommend playing the original first or waiting until January for the refreshed version. That said, in my view, completing Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a prerequisite before tackling anything in the Danganronpa 2 series.
Let’s begin by discussing the Original Mode. Based on my playthrough of the Chapter 1 Class Trial, the script, narrative progression, and even the placement of minigames remain largely identical to the 2012 version. The most significant change in the 2027 iteration, after 15 years, is the visual presentation. While the 2012 PSP version naturally has a denser visual style, the 2027 edition feels considerably “cleaner” by comparison. This isn’t to declare one version superior to the other, but I do believe the updated visuals help the new version achieve its intended atmosphere.
Specifically, the developers have placed a strong emphasis on fluid motion and sharper effects, with everything else designed around this focus. The UI is notably “simpler,” and actions like firing Truth Bullets or slicing through opponents’ arguments in the Rebuttal Showdown feel highly satisfying due to the smooth animations and striking visual effects. Character sprites have also been redone, featuring visibly finer line art and subtle gradient rendering that adds a sense of three-dimensionality while retaining the charm of Rui Komatsuzaki’s original designs. Because the designs are “cleaner” and more refined, they’re capable of actual animations—a new addition in Danganronpa 2×2. Throughout the story, and often unexpectedly, character sprites will “burst” into full animated expressions. Initially jarring, I found these animations impactful and enhance the “bizarre” essence that defines Danganronpa.
From what I’ve played so far, the Original Mode of Danganronpa 2×2 is a faithful remake that preserves the original game’s charm while adding sharp visual enhancements to make the experience more enjoyable on modern platforms. Conversely, since both the story and gameplay remain identical (based on the Chapter 1 Class Trial), players who recently finished Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair and don’t feel the need to revisit the plot can dive straight into the Slayhem Mode.
The segment of the Slayhem Mode I experienced marked the moment when the story “takes a turn.” Gathering all the students, Monokuma presents the first murder motive—retrieving their erased memories of their time at Hope’s Peak Academy—which mirrors the original game’s first chapter. However, the twist here is that at the game’s outset, Monokuma distributes mysterious boxes to each student, revealed to contain the so-called “Slayhem Items.”
While most Slayhem Items are weapons meant to incite immediate violence among the island’s inhabitants, some serve survival purposes, while others are entirely useless. It appears the students are unaware of each other’s Slayhem Items, making a significant part of the mystery (and likely the murder schemes) deciphering the owners of these items—and their true nature. With the first chapter starting on higher stakes, it will be intriguing to see how this alters the game’s outcome and where Danganronpa 2×2 fits within the broader Danganronpa narrative (How will it align with V3’s conclusion?).
Unfortunately, I didn’t encounter Sakutaro Higashi, the “infamous” new character rumored to participate in Monokuma’s Class Trials. The recent trailer during the Nintendo Direct also hinted at new Class Trial mechanics for the Slayhem Mode, which I’m eager to explore once the full game releases.
Danganronpa 2×2 is slated for release on January 14, 2027, across Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam/Epic Games Store).