pwnthkthxbye Doki Doki Literature Club Review

This game is truly what the video game industry needs more of. There's currently a lack of credit afforded to the video game industry, degrading the potential of all games to the maturity of games like Mario or Call of Duty. While there's nothing wrong with these games (in fact, they are the backbone of the gaming community), society affords video games little to no space to be taken as seriously as television or film. Doki Doki takes what the average non-gamer believes about video games and flips it on its head. Without revealing too much, this “dating sim” is incredibly self-aware and brea​​ks the typical form of this genre, turning it into something much more intriguing. Just from its gameplay experience, it's an intriguing narrative that uses unique mechanics for player interaction to draw the player into its world, captivating the user for every second you spend playing. From an analytical standpoint, it comments on the dangers of being too immersed in the digital spaces we hold so dearly to our hearts and brings nuance to a conversation that has been distilled into a black and white narrative. Even the elements of the game that I would typically complain about (the lack of character customization, limited player agency, etc.) all serve a purpose in the game’s overall narrative and message. Overall, playing DDLC has changed the way I interact with games and deepened my appreciation for game developers and their craft.