Bully is a single-player open-world action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. It debuted for the PlayStation 2 on 17 October 2006 and is commonly set inside and around a fictional boarding school. In some territories the original release carried the alternative title Canis Canem Edit. The game blends mission-based storytelling with free-roam exploration and school-themed activities.

The player controls a teenage protagonist navigating social groups, attending classes, completing tasks and confronting bullies. Gameplay combines third-person action with light role-playing elements: the character can gain reputation with different cliques, earn or lose standing by actions, and unlock new areas or equipment as the story progresses. Classes and mini-activities are woven into the structure, serving both as diversion and as a way to advance through the game.

Editions and platforms

Because of the game's popularity, Rockstar issued an expanded release titled Bully: Scholarship Edition. This remake was released on additional platforms including the Xbox 360, the Wii, and Microsoft Windows. Scholarship Edition preserved the original story and open-world design while adding content and minor gameplay adjustments to take advantage of the newer hardware.

Notable additions in the Scholarship Edition include several new classroom subjects that function as interactive missions and mini-games. These new classes included Biology, Music, Math and Geography, each presenting distinct challenges and rewards that expand the ways players can progress.

Gameplay features

  • Sandbox world centered on a school and its surrounding town, with many navigable interiors and outdoor spaces.
  • Faction system: different student groups and adults react differently to the player based on reputation and story choices.
  • Class lessons and mini-games that influence character abilities and access to items or areas.
  • Varied missions combining stealth, combat, racing and social objectives rather than a single linear gameplay loop.

Upon release the game received attention for its tone and subject matter, which mixes comic exaggeration with themes of school conflict and adolescent life. Critics and players praised its characterful setting, voice work and the freedom afforded by the open world, while some commentators debated the game's depiction of bullying and misbehavior. Over time Bully has maintained a presence in discussions about narrative variety in action-adventure titles and about how games portray social systems.

In retrospectives the title is often noted for taking a familiar sandbox formula and applying it to a school environment, creating novel mission ideas and memorable eccentric characters. The Scholarship Edition stands as the most widely available version of the game due to its presence on multiple platforms and its modest additions that broaden the original experience.