The gameplay of Danganronpa V3 is once again split between the visual novel segments of Daily and Deadly Life, and the Class Trials where the true culprits of the inevitable murders are unveiled. During the Daily Life sections, it is possible to interact with the various Ultimate Students using Free Time, in which you can earn Friendship Segments which can be used to purchase new skills for the Class Trials. While some of them cause minor visual tweaks, many of the more useful skills give you more time when in a particularly intense Non-Stop Debate. Once a murder has taken place, the Deadly Life section requires you to investigate their demise and find clues for the upcoming court proceedings. These sections of the gameplay feel almost identical to older entries, although the addition of a text based indication of locations available as warp points is definitely a welcome addition.
The final section of each chapter focuses on the Class Trial, where the true murderer must be uncovered to prevent the entire class except the culprit from being executed. The fan favourite sections such as the Non-Stop Debate, Rebuttal Showdown and Closing Argument return, each with new enhancements such as the V Counter mechanic, which can be used to earn a higher score, and more Monocoins to spend on presents to give away during Free Time. There are several new mini games such as the Psyche Taxi and Mind Mine, alongside enhanced versions of older games such as Hangman’s Gambit and Panic Talk Action. All of the Class Trial sections in the game retain the same tense atmosphere as older entries, and the added ability to lie to skip various sections of the class trial adds the incentive to replay the game when it has been completed.
Each of the Ultimate students has their own specific talents, from being the Ultimate Child Care Giver to the Ultimate Astronaut. Like the previous entries, some of the characters feel a little underdeveloped because of their obscure talents like the consistently bored Ultimate Magician Himiko Yumeno, whereas characters like the emotionally unstable Ultimate Inventor Miu Iruma make you feel sympathy for her plights, while at the same time feeling offended by her explicit dialogue. One of the strongest characters is the Ultimate Detective Shuichi Saihara, who evolves from being a shy introverted individual, to a character who inspires the group to never stop believing in the hope that Monokuma and his Monocubs are trying to extinguish. Although their presence is slightly confusing at first, the five Monocubs are both entertaining and frustrating like their father, and their actions keep things from getting stale by appearing with their stock catchphrases upon their arrival and departure.
