Doki Doki Literature Club!
Doki Doki Literature Club is a free visual novel game developed by Team Salvato. It presents itself as a typical anime dating simulator but takes a dark and tragic turn into psychological horror and metafiction.
psychological-horror
anime
dating-simulator
metafiction
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Free visual novel game developed by Team Salvato, presenting itself as an anime dating simulator with a dark and tragic turn into psychological horror and metafiction.
What is Doki Doki Literature Club!?
Doki Doki Literature Club is an influential visual novel and psychological horror game developed by indie studio Team Salvato. Released in 2017, the game is presented as an anime-inspired dating simulator where the player joins a high school literature club and romances one of four cute girl characters.
However, halfway through the game takes a dark, tragic turn as the fourth wall is broken and the in-game characters become aware they are part of a simulation. Disturbing scenes and psychological horror elements arise, exploring complex themes of metafiction, sentience, suicide, depression, and social manipulation. The game provides content warnings before new acts due to some graphic scenes involving self-harm.
Despite its short length of around 5 hours, Doki Doki Literature Club received massive popularity and acclaim for its clever subversion of dating sim tropes, powerful use of horror centered around characters you grow to care for, and compelling philosophical questions about free will and the nature of reality in a simulated world.
Doki Doki Literature Club! Features
Features
- Visual novel style gameplay
- Anime art style
- Poem writing mechanic
- Multiple story routes
- Psychological horror elements
- Metafictional plot twists
Pricing
- Free
Pros
Free to play
Engaging story and characters
Unexpected genre shifts
Clever subversion of tropes
Impactful emotional moments
Cons
Disturbing content
Slow start
Metafictional elements may confuse some players
Limited gameplay
Official Links
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