A two-colored robotic bear named Monokuma supervises the events in Danganronpa. Its responsibility also includes executing the students. Monokuma is known for being cruel as it enjoys seeing the despair in people's eyes.
Every Danganronpa series introduces a set of characters that are forced to participate in a Killing Game. The students must commit a murder without getting caught. If they succeed, the others die and they survive. If not, well, they have to face punishments. Some of these characters' deaths are well deserved, but the others are simply unfair. Here are some characters that deserve a second chance.
Updated on April 13, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Danganronpa is one of the greatest murder-mystery franchises in gaming history. Players are looped into some of the most twisted games around, forced into pointing their fingers at the people they've been steadfast friends with during their imprisonment. As a result, some of the deaths in Danganronpa games can be pretty hard-hitting, with the ones mentioned below being really tough to watch.
15 Kyoko Kirigiri
Kyoko stays alive throughout the games if players follow the canon storyline. However, in the first Danganronpa title, players can actually go for the bad ending, where they end up framing Kirigiri for the crime and are forever imprisoned in Hope's Peak Academy.
It's a rather eerie ending, with the students setting into an odd life within the confines of this academy for the rest of their lives. There's also another death scene where Kyoko is poisoned during the Danganronpa anime, but this scene was a fake-out with Kyoko returning by the end.
14 Alter Ego
Alter Ego is a friendly artificial intelligence that supports the students trapped on the murder island in Danganronpa 2. However, as is the case with anything in the games that might bring some hope, this AI companion is also dealt with in a rather cruel manner.
After solving a crime that had no culprit, Monokuma laments the idea of a trial ending without a glamorous execution. However, in a turn of events, he decides to bring out Alter Ego, who becomes the target of Monokuma's twisted punishments.
13 Korekiyo Shinguji
At a glance, Korekiyo seems like nothing more than a freak... until his backstory is revealed. The fact that he was forced into an abusive relationship where he developed an attachment with his sister, who took advantage of him, is deeply saddening.
Unfortunately, before Korekiyo could work on these issues, he decided to commit a murder that would seal his fate in stone. His death might've been an over-the-top spectacle, but fans who really resonated with this story saw it more as a tearful farewell for a misunderstood character.
12 Sayaka Maizono
The first Danganronpa game was a complete surprise, with most people wondering whether any deaths would even happen over the course of this experience. However, it turned out that the title was just hiding behind a rather cutesy exterior, with the first death being quite impactful indeed.
Sayaka Maizono was a pretty engaging character... right up until her unfortunate demise. Watching the group struggle to cope with this loss — especially Makoto himself — set the tone for the rest of this game and the entire series.
11 Kaito Momota
Kaito is a character whom players befriend in the third game over time. Throughout the game, he shows signs of an illness that only get worse over time.
After a string of events lead to his name being picked out as the correct wrongdoer, Monokuma sets up an elaborate punishment where this character would die after being attached to a rocket and sent to space. However, Kaito's illness got the better of him just before the execution was carried out, which meant that he died of his own accord and Monokuma's plans were thwarted at the last second.
10 Sonosuke Izayoi
Sonosuke Izayoi was first introduced in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School. It was revealed that he was the Branch Office 9 Director in the Future Foundation. Izayoi was responsible for managing and preparing weapons. Considering his title was Ultimate Blacksmith in Hope's Peak Academy, it’s not a surprise that he was given this role.
Sonosuke's death was unexpected as he was betrayed by none other than Ruruka Ando, his girlfriend. At the start of the Final Killing Game, he promised not to betray her. However, when Sonosuke discovered a secret exit, Ruruka feared that he might break his promise. As a result, she put food in his mouth while kissing him, breaking his NG code. He forgave her and told her that he loved her before passing away.
9 Seiko Kimura
Kimura was a shy girl and tried to help as much as possible. She managed to befriend Sonosuke Izayoi and Ruruka Ando at a very young age. However, during their Practical Exam in their second year, an unfortunate event resulted in the expulsion of the three of them. Both girls blamed each other, which caused their friendship to end.
In the Final Killing Game, the Ultimate Pharmacist encountered the couple, and they got into a heated argument. She then started attacking them while Izayoi and Ruruka tried to run away. While pursuing them, Kimura ended up being hit by Miaya Gekkogahara’s missiles that were meant for Juzo Sakakura. After fleeing the scene, the Pharmacist slept while contemplating how she's alone and a failure. In this moment of despair, she got brainwashed into committing suicide while she was asleep.
8 Gundham Tanaka
A student in Class 77-B and the Ultimate Breeder in Hope's Peak Academy, Gundham Tanaka is very protective of animals, especially his pet hamsters, the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. Gundham Tanaka participated in the Killing School Trip featured in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair.
After arriving at the Fun House, Monokuma announced that all of them will starve unless a murder takes place. As Gundham cared a lot for everyone and couldn't stand to watch them give up, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Obviously, he didn’t succeed and the truth was revealed in the Class Trial.
At the beach, a stampede of animals led by Monokuma charges toward Gundham. He drew a spell in the sand to protect his hamsters while he got trampled over by the herd. With his last breath, he smiled at them before animal angels took his body to heaven.
7 Gonta Gokuhara
Gonta Gokuhara was a student in the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles and participated in the Killing School Semester. Gonta was a gentleman that hated violence and risked his life to save others. Additionally, he wanted nothing to do with the Killing Game. He was nicknamed the Ultimate Entomologist because he could communicate with animals and had a passion for insects. This talent was obtained while he was raised by wolves in the forest.
The sad truth about Gonta's death is that he didn’t even know he committed a murder. Gonta had suffered from an avatar error caused by him mixing up the cords, causing him to forget that he killed Miu Iruma. Thus, he kept denying that he was the culprit until Monokuma revealed this truth to him. Unfortunately, the Robot Bear decided to kill the Entomologist anyway with the things he loves the most.
Gonta was seen tied to a post in a “Wild West Town” while Monokuma unleashed a herd of Mechanical Wasps. They stung him to the point where his face was swollen and unrecognizable. Suddenly, a Giant Mechanical Wasp came out of Monophanie (who was seen struggling on the ground) and pierced Gonta in his torso, killing him. And if that wasn’t enough, the White and Black Bear set the post on fire and walked away, giggling.
6 Peko Pekoyama
Like Gundham Tanaka, Peko Pekoyama was a participant in the Killing School Trip. In Hope’s Peak Academy, Peko was known as the Ultimate Swordswoman. She was a Servant of the Kuzuryu family and a childhood friend of Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu. Peko cared deeply about her Master and considered herself a tool to him. So, when Fuyuhiko was furious with Mahiru Koizumi and was close to killing him, the Servant beat Mahiru herself with a baseball bat. A gesture to protect the Master.
When everyone found out the truth, the Swordswoman was deemed guilty and was dragged to her punishment. At first, she was seen standing on a seamount and holding a sword while a group of wooden samurais surrounded her. All of the sudden, Monokuma appeared with a straw marionette that resembled her and forced Peko to fight the wooden warriors. While killing them, she accidentally slashed Fuyuhiko, injuring him. Peko then hugged her Master and shielded his body while the samurais started stabbing her.
It’s a sorrowful death as Peko died with the idea that she killed her Master, and most importantly, her friend.
5 Chihiro Fujisaki
The Ultimate Programmer was a very shy person and got bullied a lot for being “very weak” for a boy. As a result, Chihiro Fujisaki developed a “weakness complex” and resorted to crossdressing. He later added his modification to a retrieval system that utilized voice input which was created by his father, a software engineer.
When everyone in Class 78 refused to participate in the Killing School Life, Monokuma threatened to reveal everyone’s secrets if no one committed a crime. In fear of being discovered, Chihiro shared his secret with Mondo Owada and asked for help to overcome his weakness. In a jealousy fit, Mondo smashed the Programmer's head with a dumbbell, ending his life. It’s very unfortunate that he died while trying to get help.
4 Sakura Ogami
Sakura Ogami was kind-hearted and a gentle person in Hope’s Peak Academy. She was often mistaken as a man because of her deep voice and muscular build. Despite her gentle nature, Sakura has trouble making friends due to her intimidating appearance and aloof personality. Spending most of her time training, she didn't have any real friends until she met Asahina Aoi.
Later on, Monokuma blackmailed Sakura into being its spy by threatening her family. Sakura hated this role as she felt like she betraying her friends. So, when she decided to tell everyone the truth, Monokuma was one step ahead and told everyone before her. This resulted in a lot of Sakura's classmates losing their trust in her. This gentle soul decided to give the Evil Bear what it wanted and help her friends win the Killing Game.
In the Rec. Room, after getting injured by Toko Fukuwa/Genocide Jack, Sakura sent Aoi away and locked the room. After that, she drank from a bottle of poison that she got from the chemistry lab, committing suicide. Sakura died with a smile on her face, knowing that she left a message for her friends explaining her motives. Unfortunately, Monokuma replaced it with a fake letter to create chaos, which made her death pointless.
3 Kirumi Tojo
The Ultimate Maid's job was to take care of everyone's needs in the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles in Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. Kirumi Tojo worked as the shadow of the Prime Minister of Japan to help him accomplish the government’s request. Until she became the Prime Minister herself and no one was aware of that fact.
When Monokuma showed everyone a video of Kirumi's motives, all of them were shocked as it was revealed that the Prime Minister told her to take care of the country and its people. So, when Ryoma Hoshi gave up his life for her, Kirumi saw it as an opportunity to escape. Alas, she was found as the murderer by her classmates and was sent to execution.
Honestly, Kirumi's death was brutal and there’s no other way to put it nicely. After she escaped from the Trial Class, Kirumi was immediately surrounded by a group of protesters and the only way out was a vine of thorns leading up. She started climbing and the thorns kept piercing her hands. Suddenly, the Maid encountered buzzsaws and they started shredding her skin and clothes. When she finally reached the top, Kirumi saw a light, just to discover that it was a fake drawing. Then, the rope was cut off and she fell to the ground, dead.
2 Kaede Akamatsu
Kaede Akamatsu was praised for having an unmatched talent in piano. Thus, she was given the title of the Ultimate Pianist. Kaede Akamatsu was a sweet girl and always encouraged her classmates to work together and trust each other. Regrettably, her plan to expose the Mastermind and save everyone backfired and led to her execution.
Monokuma ruthlessly killed her with the instrument she loved the most. It tied her up with a rope around her neck and then dropped her over a giant piano. Then, the Monokuma Kubs pulled the rope up and down, moving her body over the piano keys to play the tune 'Der Flohwalzer' which lasted for over eight hours. When the piece was finally done, the spiked piano lid came down and crushed her body, splattering blood everywhere.
1 Chiaki Nanami
The protagonist of the second game, Chiaki Nanami was a sleepy, laid-back student who had no experience in the real world. On the other hand, she had an exceptional talent in gaming, which earned her the title of the Ultimate Gamer. Although she had an aloof personality, Chiaki cared deeply about her comrades and wished to save them.
Chiaki's death has got to be the most vicious out of all of them because she didn’t die once, she died twice. Her first death was in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. Monokuma kept trying to kill her with an array of game mechanics including Space Invaders and Pac-Man. Finally, several Tetris blocks started to fall in a certain order until her body was crushed completely.
Chiaki's second demise was in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School. Chiaki was seen running around a maze and trying to find her friends while avoiding traps. Unfortunately, some of them injured her to the point where she was limping. When she finally reached a door labeled “GOAL” and opened it, she saw her classmates waiting for her, only for it to be an illusion to hide the spear that pierced her body. As she was falling, a bed of spikes caught Chiaki, shredding her body.
Danganronpa Decadence, a compilation consisting of Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, and Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp, is currently available on the Nintendo Switch.