Doki Doki Literature Club - a disturbing surprise

If you've tipped your toe a little bit into story-based games, whether they're episodic adventures or visual novels, then you've probably heard of Doki Doki Literature Club. Sounds like a normal cutesy-anime visual novel, right? That was what I thought too, as someone who isn't familiar with visual novels and anime. But boy, it really took me off guard. the game is best explored the less you know about it (preferably almost zero) but here are some of my non-spoilery thoughts.

When the news of Telltale's bankruptcy broke, I was left a little disheartened. It was such a loss. Their highly-praised game, The Walking Dead Season One, the first season of a three-part series of episodic adventure games, was my special introduction to the story-telling side of video games. It was from Telltale's point-and-click adventure games that I began to develop interest in narrative-based games which I personally call "movie-games". Except I get to make the choices, and see what unfolds as the consequences of my decisions. Then I made my way to the Life of Strange series, which too, left me amazed. After exhausting all my options by trying them out, I was left without any new episodic series to play, and went back to... well... games that are not narrative- and choice-based. That was, until I decided to venture into another genre of narrative-based games: visual novels.

And that was when I heard of Doki Doki Literature Club, knowing absolutely nothing about it other than the name and the impression that it's just another visual novel, possibly a light-hearted dating sim, that appeals to the anime crowd. Sure, that's an uncharted territory for me, but since it's so popular, why not give it a shot, I thought. Strangely, almost every review I read warned me not to look further into the game, as it's best played with a blank slate. Then I read the warning:

This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.

Other than that, the game's Steam page gives absolutely no hint whatsoever that would spoil your initial impression of it. But you know is that there's something sinister and unsettling looming in the background. That surprise is what DDLC relies heavily on. And the experience must have been so incredible for those who have played it, to the point that it has made them respect the premise so much, that they warn unsuspecting new players to avoid any spoilers and to play the game as it's intended to be played.

And this game is nothing like you think. It truly is something special.

Doki Doki Literature Club is free and available on Steam.

But it will still make you pay for playing it... just, not with money...

And I'm so glad I'm back on medication, this game has left me with mixed feelings, none of them is happiness.