The popular psychological horror game “Doki Doki Literature Club” has been unexpectedly removed from the Google Play Store. The developers say they are looking for alternative distribution channels on the Android platform.
Google announced that the widely popular psychological horror game “Doki Doki Literature Club” has been removed from the Play Store. Development team leader Dan Salvato and publisher Serenity Forge said Google cited violations of the terms of service due to its depiction of sensitive themes. The game is widely praised for its profound portrayal of mental health issues and enjoys high global popularity.
The free version of Doki Doki Literature Club was released on PC in 2017 and has been downloaded over 30 million times. The paid version, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus, has also been downloaded over one million times. While it is unavailable on the Play Store, it remains downloadable on Steam, PS, Switch eShop, and iOS.
Doki Doki Literature Club’s art style and design appear typical of dating simulation games, but players soon encounter serious themes such as depression and suicide. The Play Store page has an age restriction of “Mature 17+”, meaning children using devices with parental controls cannot download the game. The developers have also explicitly stated that the game is not suitable for children or those easily frightened, and a warning option has been added to the menu.
Salvato and Serenity Forge are still working to find a way to re-list Doki Doki Literature Club on the Google Play Store and are also considering distribution on other Android devices. While Google has not issued an official statement regarding the removal of the game, it has been criticized as censorship of artistic freedom and could have a chilling effect on all future games dealing with mental health or dark themes.
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