You’re probably at least vaguely aware of Doki Doki Literature Club. If not, then you might want to stop reading, since this game is best experienced as fresh as possible. If you know too much about the game beforehand, the impact is lessened. I will do my best not to spoil anything major, but if you want the pure experience, you might want to go to Steam, download the game, play it, and then return to this review. The game is free, so what do you have to lose . . . besides your sanity?
Doki Doki Literature Club: Join a Book Club with Cute Girls
Developed by Team Salvato, Doki Doki Literature Club starts with an extremely simple premise. You’re an average person who joins a school literature club, where students get together to read books and share their writing. There are four girls in the club, all of whom take an interest in you. During each meeting, you can talk to the girls, choosing dialogue options that affect them in different ways. After the meetings, you can write poems, and each girl has certain words she likes to see in poems. At first, it seems like a standard dating sim with some appealing characters. You could even call it a cozy game.
But Then, Weird Stuff Starts Happening
A horrific event abruptly alters the tone, and things just get weirder from there. The game starts glitching and forcing you to restart it. At first, you might think that restarting the game will reset the experience so you can make different choices and undo the horrific event, but no. The game remembers you. Eventually, it starts breaking the fourth wall. I’m not going to spoil more details, but the dramatic shift in tone makes for an experience that draws you into the game in a way that few other games manage. You aren’t just a player – the game world and the real world have merged.
Now, is Doki Doki Literature Club fun as a game? I won’t lie; there are some points where the action slows down. In particular, there’s a moment where you have to click through glitchy text for what seems like ages. That part could have easily been shortened without lessening the game’s impact. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that the overall experience is something to remember. Games aren’t always about unwinding – sometimes they can be about making yourself uncomfortable and embracing it.
Conclusion
Halloween is all about staring discomfort in the face and laughing, which makes Doki Doki Literature Club perfect for this season. It forces you to look at the line between reality and fiction and wonder just what is on the other side of the screen. The game can be downloaded for free on Steam. There is also a “Plus” edition available on Steam for $14.99 that includes extra side stories and other content, but that might be the subject for another review.
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