Doki Doki Literature Club!
Doki Doki Literature Club! (sometimes shortened to DDLC) is a 2017 freeware visual novel developed by American independent game studio Team Salvato for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The story follows a student who reluctantly joins his high school's literature club at the insistence of his friend Sayori, and is given the option to romantically pursue her, Yuri, or Natsuki. Club president Monika also features heavily in the game's plot. The game features a non-traditional plot structure with multiple endings and unlockable cutscenes with each of the main characters. Although it initially appears to be a light-hearted dating simulator, it is actually a metafictional psychological horror game that extensively breaks the fourth wall.
| Doki Doki Literature Club! | |
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Cover art with the main characters (from left to right): Sayori, Yuri, Monika, and Natsuki | |
| Developer(s) | Team Salvato |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Designer(s) | Dan Salvato |
| Programmer(s) | Dan Salvato |
| Artist(s) | Satchely VelinquenT |
| Writer(s) | Dan Salvato |
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| Release | Original
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| Genre(s) | Visual novel |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The game was developed in an estimated two-year period by a team led by Dan Salvato, previously known for his modding work as part of Project M. According to Salvato, the inspiration for the game came from his mixed feelings toward anime and a fascination for surreal and unsettling experiences. The game was initially distributed through itch.io, and later became available on Steam. Upon its release, Doki Doki Literature Club! received positive critical attention for its successful use of horror elements and unconventional nature within the visual novel genre. The game also inspired various internet memes and achieved a large online following.
An expanded version of the game called Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! was released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on June 30, 2021. A macOS version of the game was later released on August 12, 2021. It received generally positive reviews, with praise for its side stories and gameplay on consoles, but some criticism for its lack of changes. Unlike the original 2017 release, Plus! is a premium game.