The Tragedy (and Horror) of Doki Doki Literature Club

2021 is drawing to a close.

This was a very long year. The pandemic isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, my province has been in and out of lockdowns/quarantines (which interferes with my job), and I’m continuously aghast at the incompetence and cruelty of anti-vaxxers/maskers who will continue to prolong the situation because they value their individual ‘freedom’ more than public health.

Thankfully, I’ve had plenty of video games to help keep me sane, stimulated, and even enriched throughout the year, from industry giant Capcom’s Resident Evil Village to indie hits like Sable and Chicory: A Colorful Tale. But just recently, I decided to dive headlong into a game I initially didn’t think much of: Doki Doki Literature Club!.

Source: Steam

Originally released as a freeware game in 2017, the upgraded paid version, Doki Doki Literature Plus!, came out this year. Both versions were met with universal acclaim, along with a devoted fanbase that’s still going strong to this day.

On the surface, the game looks like another cute dating sim with anime influences. In reality, it’s much deeper than that, offering some truly shocking moments and one of the most disturbing uses of a fourth wall break.

In order to really discuss how much the game affected me, I have to go into spoiler territory. The rest of the post will be under a read more.