Doki Doki Literature Club

About

"Doki Doki Literature Club" is a free visual novel game featuring cute, stylized art and music. You join the school's literature club, interacting with its four members: the cheerful Sayori, tsundere Natsuki, shy Yuri, and the club leader, Monika. As you progress, the game delves into deeper themes, making it unsuitable for children or those easily disturbed. Note: the game has self-aware elements and contains customizable difficulty settings.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 190 reviews

story7 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

Doki Doki Literature Club! is a unique and well-crafted visual novel that combines cute aesthetics with unexpected horror elements, creating a compelling and memorable experience.
The game features deep character development and emotional storytelling, making players genuinely care about the characters and their fates.
It's free to play and offers significant replayability, with a strong modding community that enhances the experience even further.

The game starts slowly, which may deter players who prefer immediate engagement, and some may find the pacing frustrating.
It contains heavy themes and graphic content that may be triggering for some players, making it unsuitable for younger audiences or those sensitive to such topics.
Some players have reported technical issues and glitches, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
52%
14%
The story of DDLC is highly praised for its ability to engage players deeply, with many noting its unexpected twists and emotional impact that linger long after completion. While it starts slowly, the narrative quickly escalates, drawing players into a rich experience that subverts typical visual novel tropes. The game's storytelling, combined with relatable characters and an active modding community, enhances its replay value and overall appeal.
- “Without getting into any spoilers, DDLC is an amazing story that will stay on your mind well after you finish it.”
- “What it does offer is a story experience that will mess with your expectations and stick with you, which is high praise for this type of game.”
- “Lulling unsuspecting players in with the usual tropes, and ensnaring them in a much richer story than the surface displays.”
- “Like most visual novels, this isn't a game for someone looking for tons of gameplay or a zillion branching story choices.”
- “By developer team Salvato may seem like a cute anime style story-based dating simulator, but don’t be fooled.”
- “But (also cliche) the plot seriously kept me interested enough to play through to the point of getting the secret ending (~11 hours in total, which includes the first playthrough).”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is described as an emotional rollercoaster, with players experiencing a range of feelings, particularly during poignant scenes that resonate deeply, especially for those with similar real-life experiences. While the writing is praised for its heartfelt and touching nature, some players express a desire for more depth in certain character arcs. Overall, it is regarded as a compelling experience that evokes strong emotions, making it worth the investment.
- “This game was an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “There is a scene in this game that is pretty heart-wrenching, especially if you had a friend who has gone through the same thing, so please take the warnings seriously.”
- “The writing is awesome, really touching in the human sense.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The music in the game has received high praise from users, with many highlighting its emotional impact and perfect match to the game's atmosphere. Specific tracks, such as "track 14 poems are forever," have been particularly well-received, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the experience. While some players noted that the music might become repetitive over time, the majority found it to enhance the game's storytelling and character development.
- “This was an amazing game! I loved the music, scares, and how some are unknown. We can get other scares that other people don't get. I recommend this 100%.”
- “I especially liked the song at the end; it made me happy as I listened to it. I hope the singer/writer is happy about it.”
- “I enjoy listening to the soundtrack in it; it matches perfectly. My favorite song is 'Track 14: Poems Are Forever' (bonus track).”
- “I could see the music getting old for some, though to me it was fine.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics of the game are praised for their amazing art style and likable characters, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. While the visuals are appealing, the game includes graphic content that may be triggering for some players. The aesthetics complement the narrative well, enhancing the charm of the dating sim set in a literature club.
- “The art style is amazing; it has likable characters, the game is made very well, and it's just overall enjoyable.”
- “Good graphics, awesome multiple endings.”
- “Loved all the aesthetics and the overall narrative.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The gameplay is primarily rooted in the visual novel genre, offering a straightforward experience with limited branching choices, which may not appeal to those seeking extensive interactivity. However, the active modding community enhances the game by providing additional content and alternative storylines, significantly extending its replay value.
- “The modding community is fantastic, still active and presented through the game with their own take on the story for hours of additional gameplay value.”
- “Like most visual novels, this isn't a game for someone looking for tons of gameplay or a zillion branching story choices.”
- “It definitely follows the generic anime/visual novel style of gameplay, at least at first.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its effective blend of psychological horror and engaging character dynamics. Additionally, some players appreciate the contrasting happy atmosphere, showcasing the game's versatility in mood.
- “My favorite psychological horror of all time! I love the atmosphere and the characters. This game is very good!”
- “Great game, loved the happy atmosphere.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with many users considering it the most replayable title they've ever experienced.
- “The replayability is astounding.”
- “Probably the most replayable game I've ever played.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have reported experiencing glitches, particularly with the character Natsuki, and some noted issues related to missing files on their systems, which may have contributed to the instability. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, especially towards the end.
- “Natsuki glitches out.”
- “Had some weird glitches towards the end, but there were some files missing on my system that were deleted somehow.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users highlight the humor in the game through a variety of community-created mods, ranging from quirky and absurd to genuinely funny, showcasing the creativity and comedic potential within the game's universe.
- “The game is filled with hilarious moments that keep you laughing throughout the entire experience.”
- “The humor is cleverly woven into the dialogue, making even the most serious situations feel lighthearted.”
- “I love how the game pokes fun at typical tropes, turning clichés into laugh-out-loud moments.”