B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Doki Doki Literature Club! into the ol’ VCR.

We all know that I love horror games, granted, I don’t love actually playing video games myself.  

However, I do love me a good playthrough and/or let’s play. 

And friends, do I have a wild one for you today. 

Surprisingly, Doki Doki Literature Club! had evaded my radar until last week. 

(Shoutout to my tattoo artist, Lito, for recommending it) 

And boy howdy, is this one a doozy. 

Doki Doki Literature Club! is a 2017 computer game that was developed and released by Team Salvato, but don’t let the name fool you—it’s not some light-hearted game about an after-school club. 

But before we go any further, there are some major CWs/TWs that we need to address. 

Doki Doki Literature Club! is a horror game disguised as a dating simulator, emphasis on the horror part. 

There are a lot of dark themes depicted throughout the game, including su*c*d*, child ab*s*, self-harm, EDs, death, emotional ab*s*, and all like topics. 

PLEASE research this game before playing and/or watching any playthroughs, and, as always, I also recommend having a trusted person watch or play first. 

Alrighty, that should do us for introductions and disclaimers. 

Without further ado, let’s dive into the disturbing world of Doki Doki Literature Club! 

Doki Doki Literature Club! starts out innocent enough. 

The gameplay is from a first-person POV and begins with “you” describing “your” childhood best friend, Sayori, who invites you to join the literature club. 

Your character agrees, and you attend the club’s meeting, where you meet Monika, Yuri, and Natsuki. 

Throughout the first 55-ish% of the game, you spend time making connections with Yuri, Natsuki, and Sayori by spending one-on-one time with them and creating poems where the words you select correspond to each girl, thus increasing your connection depending on said chosen words. 

However, things begin to take an unfathomable turn after Sayori shares her depressive state with you. 

And this is where the game begins to show its true colors. 

The player is given the option to pick either platonic or romantic intentions with Sayori, but regardless of what’s selected, Sayori is then noticeably absent from the school/club in the following scene. 

Monika, the club’s president, shares a distressing poem Sayori wrote, which makes the player realize something’s wrong. “You” then race to check on Sayori, who, tragically, has succumbed to her depression and hanged herself. 

Then, the game crashes and resets itself, bringing us back to the beginning. 

When the game restarts, Sayori is not only missing, but it seems as though the player has no recollection of her existence. 

Additionally, no save files exist as though none of the previous gameplay ever happened. 

Whenever the game resets, it quickly veers into the horror lane, as you experience analog horror-style glitches and learn about Yuri and Natsuki’s tragic backstories through their poems and context clues. 

All hell soon breaks loose, and it seems like there’s way more to the Doki Doki Literature Club! than you could’ve possibly imagined…and Monika might not be as innocent as she seems. 

Doki Doki Literature Club! is a WILD ride, and the slow devolution from saccharine sweet to ghoulish game is pure genius. 

You never really know where each turn will take you, and I found myself shocked as each reveal was more gruesome than the last. 

If you’re a big fan of horror games like me, I simply can’t recommend this one enough. 

However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention something… 

I found a couple of tragic cases where teenagers did kill themselves after playing this game. At least one of their names is public, but I don’t personally don’t feel comfortable sharing the info of minors in this piece. 

I can’t begin to imagine the devastation their families experienced (and probably continue to experience), and it’s awful that these deaths occurred. 

Again, please take all of the CWs/TWs I mentioned earlier seriously. 

This game is DARK; don’t let its initial appearance fool you. 

I think of this game as a hard R for gore and subject matter, so if you’re going to let your child play it, I recommend sitting with them while playing and pausing to discuss the subject matter. 

Please know that I’m not commenting on the parenting of any of the families who lost their children here, as I would never do that. 

I’m just giving my recommendation because parents may not know or understand the game’s content. 

I don’t have kids, but I was a teenager with clinical depression at one time, and I’m just making a recommendation based on how I was raised (with open discussions) and remembering what it was like to be in that mental state. 

Please do whatever is best for your family. 🖤

Doki Doki Literature Club! is a blueprint for those looking to make an effective, slow-burning horror game. 

It’s twisted in ways I wasn’t expecting, and the payoff is worth it. 

If you’re looking for something that breaks the mold of the traditional horror game, I can assure you that Doki Doki Literature Club! is what you’ve been looking for.