2025 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for gaming, and we’re not even halfway through. There’s already a healthy spread of standout titles across genres, from AAA blockbusters like Monster Hunter Wilds, to indie gems like Blue Prince, and even surprise AA hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which moved over 1 million copies in just three days.
But one game might’ve slipped under your radar: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy.
From Danganronpa director Kazutaka Kodaka and Zero Escape & AI: The Somnium Files creator Kotaro Uchikoshi, this brand-new visual novel adventure carries the unmistakable style of their past works, yet heads in a bold new direction when it comes to gameplay.
What’s It All About?
The premise is exactly what you'd expect from the creator of Danganronpa: For 100 days, 14 high school students are suddenly tasked with saving the world from an alien invasion. Only this time, though, there aren’t any twisted game shows or psychotic talking bears.
The cast is packed with over-the-top archetypes, some intentionally exaggerated, others hilariously tropey. You’ll recognize some of their arcs a mile away. But in true Kodaka and Uchikoshi fashion, there’s real depth beneath the surface, and plenty of unexpected twists to keep things engaging. Danganronpa fans aren’t strangers to this kind of characterization.
A Visual Novel Meets Real-Time Strategy
At first, The Hundred Line might feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not already a fan of Kodaka and Uchikoshi’s previous work. It’s a hybrid experience that blends two major elements: a rich visual novel narrative and what fans affectionately call "the gimmick," the unique gameplay twist that sets each visual novel apart.
Here, that gimmick is a fusion of traditional visual novel storytelling with tactical, real-time strategy gameplay. It’s unlike Kodaka’s previous works, with endless debates and murder-mystery solving. Think 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim by Vanillaware, where half the game is a dialogue-driven story, and the other half features grid-based combat. For something more mainstream to compare it with, gameplay is reminiscent of Fire Emblem.
100 Endings. Seriously.
The Hundred Line might just be setting a new record for visual novel replayability, boasting a staggering 100 different endings. It practically begs for multiple playthroughs to uncover everything. This is where Kodaka and Uchikoshi’s creative strengths truly come together, making the game a standout in its genre.
Currently, it's sitting at an impressive 86 on OpenCritic and 85 on Metacritic. Much of the praise centers on its cast, its innovative gameplay fusion, and its massive replay value. It’s even earned a public recommendation from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s director, who Kodaka, in turn, praised right back.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is available now on PC and Nintendo Switch. There’s no word yet on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S release.
If you're a fan of titles like Ace Attorney, STEINS;GATE, or you just enjoy well-written stories with a touch of slice-of-life and strategy, this might just be your next obsession.