Buzz
While school-themed games are quite uncommon these days, these exceptional titles are definitely worth giving a try.
1. Bully
Alongside renowned open-world masterpieces like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar Games presents an intriguing and somewhat daring school-themed game called Bully. In this game, you'll step into the shoes of James 'Jimmy' Hopkins, a rebellious and distinctive student recently transferred to Bullworth Academy. Here, you'll encounter various cliques: bullies, troublemakers, and even bookworms. Guided by Gary, Jimmy endeavors to take control of all the cliques in school to transform Bullworth into a more friendly environment for students.
The majority of the game is set at Bullworth Academy, leading players through various missions to help Jimmy gain more reputation at school. The game allows players to freely control Jimmy as he explores the school grounds and nearby town, causing all sorts of mischievous pranks and bullying friends. Since its release, Bully has sparked significant controversy, being one of the most debated games developed by Rockstar due to its school setting, allowing players to guide the character.
2. Persona 5
Persona series stands as another veteran name in today's list. Persona 5, an immersive JRPG from Atlus, exclusive to PS3 and PS4, takes players on the mysterious adventures of high school students from Shujin Academy. Throughout the school year, the main characters awaken their Persona powers and form a covert group of heroes known as the 'Phantom Thieves of Hearts'.
Players embody a third-year high school student battling demonic forces in an alternate dimension. The game not only features action but also incorporates romance and dating. Player relationships with others are crucial as they are the only way to upgrade the character's skills. Persona 5 has received acclaim from the global gaming community and is one of the highest-rated games of the year, even making it to the list of the top 100 games of all time.
3. Danganronpa
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a visual novel game, a popular genre in the Japanese gaming scene. Although it's the third installment in the Danganronpa series, the storyline is entirely unrelated to previous games' characters. Players will encounter new characters, a new plot, and a new setting. The only returning character for this game is the bear Monokuma, the series' mascot.
Despite featuring an entirely new cast, the main gameplay remains similar to previous installments, including searching for evidence, talking to other characters, and Class Trials. Additionally, the game introduces some new features, such as the ability to lie to defeat opponents in trials and a new killing game system called New Killing School Life.
