Google Play Store Removes Cult Horror Game Doki Doki Literature Club

Google removed the psychological horror visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club from the Google Play Store on April 9, 2026. The removal comes after the game had been available on the Android platform since December 2025.

According to publisher Serenity Forge and developer Dan Salvato, Google cited a violation of its Terms of Service as the reason for the ban, specifically pointing to the game’s depiction of sensitive themes.

Doki Doki Literature Club is recognized for its juxtaposition of Japanese dating simulator aesthetics with elements of psychological horror. While it begins as a typical dating sim, players are eventually confronted with serious themes, including suicide and depression.

The developers implemented several safeguards to ensure the game reached an appropriate audience. The Play Store listing was marked as Mature 17+, which restricts downloads for children on devices with parental controls enabled.

the game includes explicit warnings to players. The first line of the game states, This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed. The developers also provided a settings menu where players could enable in-game content warnings and access a dedicated page listing all applicable warnings.

In a post on BlueSky, Serenity Forge defended the game’s approach to its subject matter.

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

Serenity Forge

The game had achieved significant reach on the Android platform. The free version of the title recorded at least 30 million downloads, while the paid Doki Doki Literature Club Plus version saw at least one million downloads.

Salvato and Serenity Forge stated they are currently pursuing a path to have the game reinstated on the Google Play Store. In the interim, they are exploring alternative distribution methods for Android users.

The removal has sparked criticism from the gaming community regarding the consistency of Google Play’s content moderation. Some fans have argued that the storefront applies censorship unevenly.

Critics have pointed out that Google allows the proliferation of gambling applications, such as Fanatics, FanDuel, and DraftKings. Commenters have argued that these apps can cause tangible financial harm to users, whereas the sensitive topics depicted in Doki Doki Literature Club are entirely fictional and hypothetical.

Users who already had the game installed on their devices are likely still able to access and play it, despite the removal of the listing from the storefront.