Doki Doki Literature Club!

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 804 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 657 out of 804
  2. Mixed: 96 out of 804
  3. Negative: 51 out of 804

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  1. aditya1101
    Oct 31, 2017
    9
    This game is super great if you've played through other visual novels - it appears super typical at the outset, but the direction the game takes is unexpected and done super well.
  2. brandeaux7
    Oct 16, 2017
    9
    This game is the surprise game of 2017 to me. I'm a big fan of VNs, but its hard to find ones I actually like. The music, atmosphere, and characters set the scene for an unnerving and disturbing experience. You don't have to be a weeabo to play this game, trust me.
  3. ConsoleArgonaut
    Dec 16, 2017
    9
    I absolutely loved this game.
    And that's all I'm going to say because I don't want to spoil anything.
    It's free on Steam so go play it. But please don't play this game if you're suffering from depression or any mental health issues! Rating: Gameplay: 4/5 - What you would expect from a visual novel with some minor twists Background & Character Design: 3/5 - Great characters but    I absolutely loved this game.
    And that's all I'm going to say because I don't want to spoil anything.
    It's free on Steam so go play it.
    But please don't play this game if you're suffering from depression or any mental health issues!

    Rating:
    Gameplay: 4/5 - What you would expect from a visual novel with some minor twists
    Background & Character Design: 3/5 - Great characters but blend backgrounds
    Soundtrack: 4/5 - Great
    Story: 4/5 - Really entertaining
    Graphics: 4/5 - Characters sometimes look pixelated
    Length: 5/5 - Just right
    Replay Value: 5/5 - Multiple endings and secrets
    Enjoyment: 5/5 - Loved

    Overall rating: 34/40 => 8.5/10 => 9/10

    ----------------------------------------------
    SPOILERS & Minor Complaint
    ----------------------------------------------
    There was one thing I didn't like about this game though.
    And that was that you can't go after any of the girls, besides Monika, and get a happy ending.
    I really would have loved to have the possibility to finish Natsukis Route.    … Expand
  4. NintendoJapan
    Dec 28, 2017
    9
    This is one of those games you don't read anything about before playing, you just hop right in. It is beautifully crafted and is very unique in its story. I can't say much else without a spoiler tag so give it a shot!
  5. Maxi_Aver
    Apr 12, 2018
    9
    Первый акт показывает, что перед нами предстаёт: очередной симулятор свиданий, причём оный достаточно низкого качества. Но потом всё становится гораздо интереснее. Да, сюжет не голливудский, но на достаточном уровне. Приятная ламповая атмосфера (не всегда, иногда она реально напряжная), интересные герои. Моды позволяют увидеть многое, что утаили от нас разработчики в оригинале.
    Лично меня    Первый акт показывает, что перед нами предстаёт: очередной симулятор свиданий, причём оный достаточно низкого качества. Но потом всё становится гораздо интереснее. Да, сюжет не голливудский, но на достаточном уровне. Приятная ламповая атмосфера (не всегда, иногда она реально напряжная), интересные герои. Моды позволяют увидеть многое, что утаили от нас разработчики в оригинале.
    Лично меня эта визуальная новелла затронула и заставила задуматься над некоторыми вещами. В общем, советую, если любите читать, а иначе, тут попросту нечего делать.    … Expand
  6. kiank
    Mar 25, 2018
    9
    What can I say? This game is possibly the oddest game I've ever played but it so damn good. There are parts that are a bit boring but it gets really good. The plot twists regarding the different characters are amazing and the way the game interacts with your computer is so different and I've never played something like this. Overall, I'd give it a 9.0.
  7. Arthur_TSU
    Jan 10, 2018
    9
    Apesar do início maçante, o enredo se desenrola muito bem no ato 2 e se torna muito coerente e bem escrito, além de ter vários plot twists. Os personagens são bem feitos e o traço é bonito.

    Não recomendo para crianças e pessoas facilmente deturpadas, mas se você não tiver nenhum problema com isso, jogue. 9!
  8. Chrisdbhr
    Jan 9, 2018
    9
    This game is way lot better with tough decisions than Life Is Strange for example, that is another awesome game.

    I has a long time that I finished a game and keep thinking about everything that happened for days. This game really got me, like it got everyone else.

    It's incredible how a simple and free game can be awesome.
  9. Ironplate
    Feb 20, 2018
    9
    Came for curiosity, stayed for the Waifus and left completely empty.
    Recommended!
  10. mlem
    Mar 16, 2019
    9
    (Much sad, very unexpected, such story) wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow.
  11. DeathKillerNOR
    Jul 13, 2020
    9
    {Gameplay: Level Design, Combat Systems, etc}
    ☐ 10/10 - Amazing.
    ☑ 9/10 - Fantastic. ☐ 8/10 - Good ☐ 7/10 - Average. ☐ 6/10 - OK ☐ 4/10 - Bad ☐ 2/10 - Painfull {Story: Plot, Ending, etc} ☑ 10/10 - Amazing. ☐ 9/10 - Fantastic. ☐ 8/10 - Good ☐ 7/10 - Average. ☐ 6/10 - OK ☐ 4/10 - Bad ☐ 2/10 - Painfull {Narrative: Dialogue, Cutscene, etc} ☐ 10/10 - Amazing. ☑ 9/10 -    {Gameplay: Level Design, Combat Systems, etc}
    ☐ 10/10 - Amazing.
    ☑ 9/10 - Fantastic.
    ☐ 8/10 - Good
    ☐ 7/10 - Average.
    ☐ 6/10 - OK
    ☐ 4/10 - Bad
    ☐ 2/10 - Painfull

    {Story: Plot, Ending, etc}
    ☑ 10/10 - Amazing.
    ☐ 9/10 - Fantastic.
    ☐ 8/10 - Good
    ☐ 7/10 - Average.
    ☐ 6/10 - OK
    ☐ 4/10 - Bad
    ☐ 2/10 - Painfull

    {Narrative: Dialogue, Cutscene, etc}
    ☐ 10/10 - Amazing.
    ☑ 9/10 - Fantastic.
    ☐ 8/10 - Good
    ☐ 7/10 - Average.
    ☐ 6/10 - OK
    ☐ 4/10 - Bad
    ☐ 2/10 - Painfull

    {Graphics: Aesthetics, animations, etc}
    ☑ 10/10 - Amazing.
    ☐ 9/10 - Fantastic.
    ☐ 8/10 - Good
    ☐ 7/10 - Average.
    ☐ 6/10 - OK
    ☐ 4/10 - Bad
    ☐ 2/10 - Painfull

    {Technical: Performance, Bugs, etc}
    ☑ 10/10 - Amazing.
    ☐ 9/10 - Fantastic.
    ☐ 8/10 - Good
    ☐ 7/10 - Average.
    ☐ 6/10 - OK
    ☐ 4/10 - Bad
    ☐ 2/10 - Painfull

    "9/10 – Fantastic. I enthusiastically recommend that you add these games to your to-play list. As it does not hit the amazing score, It is still an extremely good game. I recommend getting this game." ~DeathKillerNOR~

    ⚠️ IN MY OPINION ⚠️
    Doki Doki Literature Club is of the type of games i usually don't play on PC, But this one was the exception. And it did not disappoint. The Graphics is on par with what this game seems to be at the surface. But just as you should not judge a book by its cover, you should not judge this game by what it seems like at first. It will take that wrong turn multiple times, and show you some of the darker aspects of human mental states.
    The narrative plays a big part in this game and it was done flawlessly.
    The plot will make you disturbed at some moments and sad at other turns, or it will simply mess with your mental state. The Technical part of the game is impressive, how the game deletes files and keeps running seemingly all bugged. Even more impressive on steam, as the script is kinda doing what malware would do. I will end this by saying this. Listen to the warning the game gives you before you start a new game, it might be beneficial to your mental health.    … Expand
  12. clem666
    Mar 15, 2021
    9
    What a destabilising game! If 'Doki Doki Literature Club' takes a lot of time to really become interesting (a bit too much I admit it) it is only to strike harder at the end. I really had a hard time to get into it at the beginning but these girls (Monika, Yuki, Satori and Natsuki) are truly endearing and lovable without being indecent nor overly sexy.

    The overall ambience of the game    What a destabilising game! If 'Doki Doki Literature Club' takes a lot of time to really become interesting (a bit too much I admit it) it is only to strike harder at the end. I really had a hard time to get into it at the beginning but these girls (Monika, Yuki, Satori and Natsuki) are truly endearing and lovable without being indecent nor overly sexy.

    The overall ambience of the game is gorgeous. Behind its childish pinky outfit it hides interesting and dark twists of fate. It is hard describing 'Doki Doki' without having to spoil the content so I'll make this review short: if you want to read a short but truly engaging visual novel this one is for you. Play it and be surprised by the unsuspected depth of the game. But watch out: there is no coming back.    … Expand
  13. ArcCoat
    Jun 11, 2019
    9
    I give this game a 9, because I like its concept, and it's surprisingly well made for such a small team of developers: the creator and two hired artists (characters and backgrounds).

    The charm of the game doesn't come directly from its genre (dating sim/visual novel) but from the overall plot, the music and the liberal (and intelligent) use of graphical and sound effects to craft and    I give this game a 9, because I like its concept, and it's surprisingly well made for such a small team of developers: the creator and two hired artists (characters and backgrounds).

    The charm of the game doesn't come directly from its genre (dating sim/visual novel) but from the overall plot, the music and the liberal (and intelligent) use of graphical and sound effects to craft and change the atmosphere on a whim. What I found genius about the game was the use of poetry to portray the feelings of the characters, which from a dating sim standpoint is a smart idea. Poetry is definitely a theme of the game, and it's a well executed one.

    There are many secrets that DDLC hides from you, like the fact that is has a hidden genre, one that's hinted at by the warning message at the start the game: "This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed", but that's all I can say without going into spoilers.

    Overall, It's a short game (5-6 hours long) and it's free, I highly recommend anyone to play this game alone, at night, in the dark...    … Expand
  14. Pedro006
    Sep 2, 2019
    9
    This is the best visual novel that i ever played! I won’t lie, the first couple hours are a bit boring but it’s still ok.. after that, the story gets really intense and frightening.DDLC is an awesome horror game that really messed with my head a little...It’s definitely worth playing.
  15. Mahmus
    Oct 26, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A subversive take on both the visula novel/dating sim and the psychological horror genres that better played blind to its disturbing twists and turns.… Expand
  16. Syhlcam
    Jul 3, 2021
    9
    Excellent, une belle narration qui va dans un sens mais qui aura son moment pour revenir retrouver la situation et l'ambiance. Au top.
  17. RougeXIII
    Dec 5, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don't think Doki Doki Literature Club is the best game that came out in 2017 but it still a great game who deserve his 9 point. i know i'm gonna spoil but anyways here I go :
    At the first sight, we have a boring visual novel with generic characters (the leader, the tsundere etc) but everything change with Sayori's death. With his suicide and the background we understand that the game is not a boring visual novel but something, something more terrible.
    In the second act, Monika start to become omnimous and the really fun start here. The game start to don't give a f*** with the fourth wall and break it reguliary. the character start to act weirdly and Monika gonna tries everything to be with you. I not gonna talk more about the story but the story is just Amazing
    I really recommend the game, play it and after that why not testing some mods ?    … Expand
  18. Tijmen
    Dec 22, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was never a huge fan of anime games but this game made me love them. I liked the Fnaf games with its way of telling the story. The characters are just awsome but the gameplay lags a bit behind. I would liked it if there was more meaning to you poems.… Expand
  19. twolife
    Mar 19, 2020
    9
    Doki Doki Literature club is infamous for the characters and story. What attracted me was the cute intro and the welcome letter on the website. This short story packs a punch and has nice elements of moe culture. I wished there was a bit more lore to the whole story, yet almost perfect for what it wanted to deliver. If you like anime, virtual novels and horror this is your call! BecauseDoki Doki Literature club is infamous for the characters and story. What attracted me was the cute intro and the welcome letter on the website. This short story packs a punch and has nice elements of moe culture. I wished there was a bit more lore to the whole story, yet almost perfect for what it wanted to deliver. If you like anime, virtual novels and horror this is your call! Because Doki Doki is entirely free to play. Not recommended for people with a weak stomach.… Expand
  20. KevAvi18
    Jun 22, 2020
    9
    Un juego que no es lo que aparenta, convirtiéndolo en algo mejor, esa mezcla de ternura con terror psicológico simplemente me encantó, revolucionando el género de novela visual y llevándolo a otro nivel
  21. Sanicthebiatch
    Aug 6, 2020
    9
    This game is almost a masterpiece because the story in the beginning is pretty long and boring, but later it will get scary. And also it has anime babes. 9 baby
  22. bancandrei
    May 15, 2020
    9
    A surprisingly enjoyable experience for a short game. If you are reading this review you really shouldn't be, because others may spoil it. What you should be doing is going through the first playthrough, which is a 2 hour long visual novel about poetry.
    If you feel like digging in deeper after that first one there is a surprising amount of depth of things which can be found. So after you    A surprisingly enjoyable experience for a short game. If you are reading this review you really shouldn't be, because others may spoil it. What you should be doing is going through the first playthrough, which is a 2 hour long visual novel about poetry.
    If you feel like digging in deeper after that first one there is a surprising amount of depth of things which can be found. So after you feel you're done I suggest checking out other things online, like Game Theorists videos. Don't miss out on that first playthrough, it is short enough, but it is unlikely to leave an impression if you don't play or make choices for yourself.    … Expand
  23. lessacebola
    Sep 2, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Eles foram ousados em fazerem a primeiras horas meio calmas, muita gente deixou de jogar por causa disso, mas depois de um tempo o jogo fica com a história bem interessante.

    8,5/10    … Expand
  24. DunkAss
    Oct 20, 2020
    9
    It looks like an ordinary and boring dating game but believe me it´s not, play this game if you want to be freak out and also it is not for kids.
  25. Dzhani
    Jan 7, 2021
    9
    You will have to read a lot in this indie Anime masterpiece!

    If you are looking for an emotional roller coaster this is just what you was looking for! The game will trick you on multiple occasions. At the beginning you’ll learn the basics of the characters and later you will discover a ton more thrilling details. DDLC has one of the best soundtracks which I’ve ever witnessed, it    You will have to read a lot in this indie Anime masterpiece!

    If you are looking for an emotional roller coaster this is just what you was looking for!

    The game will trick you on multiple occasions. At the beginning you’ll learn the basics of the characters and later you will discover a ton more thrilling details.

    DDLC has one of the best soundtracks which I’ve ever witnessed, it is simple but great. It changing from scene to scene. So keep the music on ;)

    It’s not that time consuming but while playing you’ll get lost in time, it’s very enveloping (just make sure to save the game so that you won’t lose any progress).

    And an advice: check your game files after the twist and afterwards, read the notes.    … Expand
  26. Pawlixx
    Feb 9, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Hmmm... Myślę że moja ocena może być trochę niesprawiedliwa. Większość ludzi siadała do tej gry, wiedząc co się szykuje. W przeciwieństwie ode mnie. Mój kolega pewnego dnia powiedział: "Hej stary, widziałeś tą nową fajną gre anime?" I tak to się wszystko zaczeło. Wszedłem, pobrałem uruchomiłem, zagrałem...I przeżyłem szok. Na początku myślałem " O wow fajna mechanika pisania wierszy". No a po jakimś czasie.. Jeb Sayori wisi. To był ten moment. Po przejściu tej gry czuje się emocjoalnie związanym z każdą bohaterką. Piękność tej gry nie leży w fabule, BA nie leży nawet w straszności tej gry. Piękność tej gry leży w systemach i pomysłach. Świetny jest np. pomysł z plikami, pomysł z tym że gra DOSŁOWNIE się rozpada od wewnątrz ( Tzn.Pliki podczas drugiego aktu, gdzie wszystko oficjalnie się pierniczy wyskakują glicze i gra realnie psuje i usuwa pliki tej gry) I do tego ta fabuła ukryta pod dekodowaniem, szyfrowaniem i buszowaniem po plikach. Wydaje mi się że człowiek siadający do tej gry wiedząc że jest horrorem psychologicznym nie ma takiego wrażenia po przejściu gra jak ja. I ta muzyka końcowa... Coś pięknieo. Więc moim zdaniem gra zasługuje na solidne 9/10 głównie przez to że nie miałem pojęcia co mnie czeka po wciśnięciu przycisku "Play"… Expand
  27. That_Normie7
    Jun 25, 2021
    9
    This is one of those games that you should experience without reading a review for it. So, if you haven't played it yet, please go ahead and do so, taking the game's warning seriously of course.

    When I first saw this game on Steam, I genuinely though the "Psychological Horror" tag was just people abusing the system. Given the game's positive reception, its catchy cover and popularity, I    This is one of those games that you should experience without reading a review for it. So, if you haven't played it yet, please go ahead and do so, taking the game's warning seriously of course.

    When I first saw this game on Steam, I genuinely though the "Psychological Horror" tag was just people abusing the system. Given the game's positive reception, its catchy cover and popularity, I decided to give it a go. After reading the reviews and being 2 hours in, I actually feared what might come next. I've never been so apprehensive about finishing a game due to its shocking nature. And sure enough, this game truly is disturbing, even if you prepare yourself for the worst. But it's impossible to keep the game's depth a secret when that makes up 90% of the appeal. So why am I giving this a positive review?

    Well, the game breaks the fourth wall like no other. I encourage you to play this game in windowed mode and after about 2 hours in, open your steamappscommonDoki Doki Literature Clubcharacters directory. These are real files with a different extension (one is a PNG, another is Base64 encoded message etc.).The game itself, written in Python2, actually changes the files (and not just those in that folder) as you play, which makes it feel truly real.

    But that's just some gimmick, right? Anyone could do that, it'sn ot the most creative idea. So, again, why am I giving this game a positive review? Especially after the ending it gave me. I assure I was most certainly NOT impressed. It left me more upset with the game and the writers' decision to end it like that, so much so that the shock factor was outweighed by my dismay of how it all happened. But you realise that's not all this game has to give.

    What truly sets DDLC apart is that it serves a much deeper purpose than your ordinary game. As a visual novel, this genre has very limited interactivity, and despite my inexperience with VNs, I've always wondered what the purpose of them is compared to an eBook. Yet Doki Doki Literature Club makes the best possible use of the medium. Simply put, it is a tool to raise awareness of mental health issues. It truly creates a sense of empathy that cannot be expressed in any other medium. As you "read" through DDLC, you begin to get a sense of how truly horrible loneliness and depression must be. You start to feel bad yourself. Then you wonder how it must feel like to live with this. Even if you can relate to some of the themes explored in DDLC, you begin to realise just how deep they can go. It's frightening, concerning, yet what makes it so impactful is that this is not a joke. Yes, it is taken to the extreme. But it's absolutely real. These things do happen, and even if extreme cases are not so common, even milder issues must be... just awful.

    So, despite the sadness, this game serves not only as an educational tool but also an inspiration. An inspiration to care more about those around you, and yourself of course, if you can relate to any of the characters. It makes you want to hug not only your friends and relatives but even strangers. It's one of those experiences that will stay with you. Depending on your personality, it may be haunting and you'll regret having beared witness to such tragedies. But to others, it may be a valuable learning experience    … Expand
  28. MaddoxWhite
    Apr 25, 2021
    9
    This game touches on a lot of issues that I find very important to make media about in a very interesting and unique way. It also has a great OST, and there's little secrets hidden everywhere that add to the main theme of the game. VERY worthy of it's praise.
  29. Heretic721
    Jun 20, 2021
    9
    This game for me defies easy definition without giving anything away, but it is great, and disturbing at the same time. If you're easily prone to panic attacks it can easily throw you into one. It did for me!
  30. Jesus_Saves
    Jan 27, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game has a special place in my heart. I love how it subverts your expectations by being a psychological horror instead of a cute anime dating simulator. I remember watching a playthrough of it in school (although I shouldn't have) in 9th grace by a YouTuber named Joshiball since my friends were talking about it and it was interesting to me. Seeing Sayori's death scared the living crap out of me as a 15-year-old struggling with OCD. I mean that messed with me for the rest of the day when I first saw it. I hated this game for months afterwards. Eventually I exposed myself to the image of Sayori hanging more and more, and now it doesn't bug me so much. As a result of this game, I now really like horror as a genre, whereas before I was always scared of it. The best thing about it is how it portrays mental illnesses and gives warning signs for them. I replayed it recently and unfortunately it wasn't scary to me at that point, most likely because I already knew everything that was going to happen. In addition, it takes quite a bit for it to get going in the first act. Despite its flaws, I love this game, as it has helped shape me into the person I am today.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

95
#95 Best PC Game of 2017
19
#19 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. GameGrin
    Feb 14, 2018
    85
    Doki Doki Literature Club is a mind boggling and hard hitting horror game that takes tried and tested formulas of both visual novels and dating sims and turns them on their heads. The themes and story pack a punch, and stayed with me long after I had finished playing. It may require commitment from some to get through but the reward for those who stick it is more than worth it
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Feb 8, 2018
    55
    A horror game disguised as a dating sim. First couple of hours are boring and written poorly to the degree of being hard to digest for me, then things get better, but the story is still shallow and the substance plays second fiddle to the form. [01/2018, p.61]
  3. Ragequit.gr
    Jan 21, 2018
    87
    Doki Doki Literature Club is a visual novella that masterfully manages to creep up on you, shatter the 4th wall with a sledgehammer and land it on your unsuspecting face.
    Read full review
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