Serenity Forge revealed last night that Doki Doki Literature Club had been delisted from the Google Play Store earlier this week for violating the platform’s terms of service.
“DDLC is available on many different platforms, including iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and more,” creator Dan Salvato explained. “We’re continuing to do everything we can to find a path forward for getting DLLC reinstated on the Google Play Store. Meanwhile, we’re also looking into potential options for alternative methods of distribution on Android devices.”
It’s unclear how exactly Doki Doki Literature Club’s “depiction of sensitive themes” breached the Google Play Store’s terms of service, considering it was approved and has been available on the platform since December 2025, but the team assured that it will keep fans “updated on the future of DDLC for Android.
Is Doki Doki Literature Club The Latest Victim To Video Game Censorship?
Over the last year, payment processors have been pressuring storefronts such as Steam and itch.io into delisting adult games, and while the initial wave targeted controversial games depicting rape and incest, the idea that payment processors could leverage their power to unilaterally determine what is permitted raised alarm bells.
Adding to these anxieties, an employee from retro storefront ZOOM alleged that, during conversations with payment processors, titles such as Grand Theft Auto, Duke Nukem, and Saints Row were described as “potentially at risk.” Violent video games have been under scrutiny since their inception, but now political groups like Collective Shout have shown that this puritanical panic can be leveraged to pressure payment processors into taking action, setting a new precedent. This is especially concerning for indie developers who lack the funds to stand up to MasterCard and Visa.
We’ve already seen this campaign extend beyond adult games to indie horror, as Horses, Vile: Exhumed, and Red Pine Lake were all banned from Steam last year. While it’s unknown if Doki Doki Literature Club’s removal is tied to this recent wave of censorship, many, such as Castlevania: Nocturne character artist Suzanne Sharp, believe it to be the case. “They’re going after horror,” she said. “We said this would happen.”
Serenity Forge’s explanation that it DDLC was delisted due to “its depiction of sensitive themes” certainly suggests censorship, but the store page has been clear about these themes since it opened five months ago, and when launching the game, you’re asked to consent to “highly disturbing content” before being able to play. That’s not to mention that Doki Doki Literature Club was first released nearly a decade ago on itch.io and Steam. It’s no small secret that the cute pastel visuals typical of a visual novel are merely a mask for the graphic content and horror that DDLC is otherwise known for.
“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,” Salvato said. “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.”
- Released
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September 22, 2017
- ESRB
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e
- Developer(s)
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Team Salvato
- Publisher(s)
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Team Salvato
