Doki Doki Literature Club is no longer available to play on Android devices. The hit 2017 visual novel was removed on April 8 over an alleged violation of the Google Play Store’s terms of service. Publisher Serenity Forge said it’s fighting to get the game restored to the mobile storefront and defended the visual novel’s handling of mental health issues.
“Their explanation is that the game’s content violates their Terms of Service in its depiction of sensitive themes,” the company wrote in a statement on April 9. “DDLC is widely celebrated for portraying mental health in a way that meaningfully connects deeply with players around the world, helping them feel heard, understood, and less alone on their journey.”
It continued, “Managing to achieve that—making a truly meaningful difference by using the power of fiction to connect to others—is what I’m most grateful for. It inspires me every day to keep making cool new things, things that can really reach others, especially those in need of connection.”
While Doki Doki Literature Club appears like a standard anime school romance visual novel to begin with, its story and themes quickly veer off into much darker and unexpected subjects, including a meta-narrative layer that transforms the way the game is understood. “This is a truly special game,” read former Kotaku writer Gita Jackson’s initial impressions back in 2017. “If you like horror games, especially ones that really get under your skin, please check out Doki Doki Literature Club.”
Doki Doki Literature Club came to the Google Play Store last December without issue and remains available on the Switch eShop, the PlayStation Store, Xbox, and Steam. The Android version had a near-perfect user rating with over 20,000 reviews. The sudden removal has been interpreted by some fans as part of an ongoing crackdown from banks and payment processors on platforms that host content some censorship groups find objectionable.
Last summer, a number of games were banned from Steam and other storefronts for including NSFW content or even just depictions of adult sexual themes. But since Doki Doki Literature Club remains available on iOS, it’s just as possible that Google simply messed up.