Genre & Developer
A deceptively sweet-looking visual novel by Team Salvato (led by Dan Salvato), originally released in September 2017 and later expanded as DDLC Plus in 2021.

Plot Premise:
You, the player-controlled male protagonist, join a high school literature club at the encouragement of your childhood friend, Sayori. The other members—Natsuki, Yuri, and Monika—soon become the focus of romantic interest as you create poems and spend time with them.

Gameplay Mechanics:

• Visual novel format with dialogue progression and occasional choices.

• Poetry mini-game: select words to appeal to specific characters, influencing affinity paths (Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri).

The Horror Twist:

Shocking Transformation:
Midway, the game radically shifts from cutesy dating sim to psychological horror—glitch effects, creepy visuals, and unsettling audio distort the atmosphere.

Fourth-Wall Shattering:
Monika, the club president, reveals her awareness of being a game character. She manipulates game files (deleting characters, altering dialogue), even speaking directly to you, the player.

Disturbing Events:
Sayori’s tragic suicide and Yuri’s unsettling decline mark turning points. Monika’s interference forces you to remove other characters to achieve a “true ending”.

Why It’s So Impactful?

• Blends subversion of genre expectations with mental health themes like depression and self-harm.

• Innovative use of file-system manipulation and glitchy game design to heighten immersion.

• Critics hailed it as a cult hit, earning awards like IGN’s Most Innovative and Best Story in 2017.

• Its strong meme culture (e.g., “Just Monika”) and modding community further cement its status.

Conclusion:

Doki Doki Literature Club! starts as a light-hearted, anime-style dating sim but evolves into an unnerving, self-aware psychological horror. It explores deep themes, breaks the fourth wall, and manipulates game mechanics in ways rarely seen, all while maintaining massive popularity and critical acclaim.