Games that Hurt: A Look at Doki Doki Literature Club
A question I often get asked in regard to my thesis, Do I Date?, is “hasn’t this been done before?” The “this” being referred to is a dating simulator/visual novel-style game centred around mental disorders. Katawa Shoujo, a visual novel about physical disabilities, may be the closest game currently available. Katawa Shoujo does a very good job of portraying different physical disabilities without covering them in prejudice or clichés. However, it focuses mainly on physical disabilities- a girl with a burned face, an amputee, etc.
In terms of visual novels that touch on mental disorders, the closest game would be the infamous Doki Doki Literature Club (henceforth referred to as DDLC). DDLC begins as a cute, charming little dating simulator about a boy joining a writing club full of adorable, sweet schoolgirls (Monika, Natsuki, Sayori, and Yuri). What could go wrong? Here’s what could go wrong: Yuri becomes a crazed, obsessively jealous lunatic who fetishises self-harm, and ultimately stabs herself to death due to her uncontrollable love for the player character. Natsuki, whose father abuses her, experiences volatile mood swings and snaps her neck. Sayori hangs herself so that “everyone can be happy,” and Monika becomes so obsessed with the player character that she dehumanises all the other girls.
DDLC is meant to be a horror game, full of self-aware characters fond of breaking the fourth wall. It is not intended to educate players in any way. However, regardless of intent, I find that this game can be very hurtful towards peoples’ views on mental disorders. It is clear that none of the girls are exactly stable, and DDLC uses suicide as a shock factor more than anything else.
I don’t want to come right out and say that DDLC glorifies suicide, but in reality, it does. The message it sends is that suicide is an acceptable solution to being rejected by a boy, among other things. While it is true that in some cases, people with depression are so far gone that they feel their only escape is suicide, most of the time it’s not the answer. Not only is it presenting this message, it is also taking away value from actual suicide victims- it is normalising suicide as okay.
Again, DDLC is not meant to be educational- it is meant to be a horror game full of jump scares and shocking imagery. That said, suicide is just never something to “play around” with in this manner- it hits too close to home for some, and gives the wrong idea to others. Ultimately, I think Doki Doki Literature Club is a cleverly made game that explores breaking the fourth wall- however, it does not appropriately address the topic of suicide in any way.
