Doki Doki Literature Club! is a 2017 psychological horror visual novel by Team Salvato that starts as a cheerful dating simulator before transforming into a darker and unsettling experience. Players join a high school literature club, write poems, and interact with four girls while uncovering the game's unique twists and psychological themes.
The protagonist joins the Literature Club at the invitation of his childhood friend, Sayori. As he gets to know Monika, Yuri, and Natsuki through poems and club activities, the game unfolds as a lighthearted dating simulator while subtle hints suggest that something isn't quite right.
Following a shocking turn of events, the club's daily life becomes increasingly unsettling. Characters begin acting strangely, reality starts to break down, and the game shifts fully into psychological horror.
The story takes an unexpected direction as the player confronts the true nature of the world and the forces behind the bizarre events, focusing heavily on the game's metafictional elements.
The consequences of the previous act reshape the Literature Club one final time, bringing the story to its emotional conclusion and revealing the game's ending.