When I think back on Danganronpa, I feel its enduring popularity and fanbase was achieved by the perfect storm. It was an edgy Japanese high school murder mystery in the early to mid 2010s. Emo culture was still fresh in our memories, anime was becoming well and truly mainstream with zoomers, and it left enough questions unanswered for fans to come together in online communities to discuss the game, concoct their own theories, and give it word-of-mouth.

The game's visuals also ensured that it would be a hit. Whether it was for the pink blood, the cardboard cutout characters, or the ingeniously designed mascot Monokuma, Danganronpa made a lasting impression on our eyes and minds. As the celebrated cartoonist Zachary Hadel, of Smiling Friends fame, would say, Danganronpa looks 'iconic.'

I say all this because, hell, I was one of those edgy zoomers - one of the first, in fact. I played this game when it was still a PSP exclusive, using the fan translation that I still feel is superior to its official counterpart.

Rarely has a game been so perfect for a certain demographic, but that's not to say that Danganronpa's appeal has faded for newcomers. Its dark humour, memorable cast, striking visual style and absorbing plot handily secure its place in the pantheon of visual novels. If you haven't played Danganronpa before, the best time to play it is now. NOW. Before Alzheimer's disease sets in. Upupupupu!