| CGMagazine |
Philip Watson |
8.5 / 10 |
08-19-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! transcends its visuals and becomes its own unique entity, shattering any limitations set by previous entries in the Anime Dating sim genre, and the Horror genre. This game should be experienced by any game enthusiasts that can stomach the heavy subject matter. |
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| Checkpoint Gaming |
Charlie Kelly |
7 / 10 |
07-01-2021 |
Near four years since its original release and Doki Doki Literature Club has still stood the test of time thanks to this ‘Plus!’ edition. Where there are some shortcomings in the fact that it takes a little while to get the ball rolling and will be even harder to enter unspoiled, it’s worth it when you consider what’s on offer. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is a delight. It’s horrific. It’s heartbreaking. But most of all, it’s a wonderful model of how to take the visual novel formula and absolutely turn it on its head. Just be aware, there’s some sadness behind those anime characters’ eyes. |
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| COGconnected |
Stephan Adamus |
92 / 100 |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus is the kind of game that provides experiences unique to the video game medium. It is also the kind of game that pushes the visual novel genre’s boundaries, and serves as an excellent example of what non-video game players might not know they’re missing, if they’re not willing to try different kinds of games. This is a game you will tell everyone about when you’re finished playing it, and at the same time, just like this humble reviewer, you won’t want to share why. For less than $20, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus is a highly recommended and very unique gaming experience. |
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| DASHGAMER.com |
Mark Isaacson |
Recommended |
07-02-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus is highly recommended. It takes you on an unexpected journey through a ridiculous yet compelling narrative, with twists and turns that are as much about leaving you breathless as they are scaring the crap out of you. |
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| Digital Chumps |
Will Silberman |
8.5 / 10 |
07-02-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is a great addition to the Doki Doki Literature Club! franchise, but I do wish there was just a bit more in the game. For those of you who have already played through DDLC!, you’ll have a great time playing through it once again to learn more about our characters’ prologues and other secrets embedded in the game itself. You might not be as surprised as you were during your first playthrough of DDLC! back in 2017 (or whenever you played it), but you will be quite intrigued and puzzled as you try and unlock the additional content. Just do your best to avoid spoilers that will be posted online. If you haven’t played DDLC! before, DDLCP! is worth your time and an excellent way to get into the franchise. Just know this: This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed. You’ve been warned. |
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| Digitally Downloaded |
Matt Sainsbury |
4 / 5 stars |
07-06-2021 |
In the end, Doki Doki Literature Club (and this Plus version) is both a homage and a challenge. It’s a homage in the way it delightfully plays with the dating visual novel genre – sure, it ends up subverting that to horrific effect, but there’s such glee in how it does that that hugely entertaining. On the other hand, it’s also a challenge – a suggestion that the genre can be a bit more reflective, look for ways to approach things differently, and that there is a lot that this genre can do with characterisation and relationship dynamics. The director has been outspoken that the initial seed of Doki Doki Literature Club from his “love/hate” relationship with anime and VNs. There’s much more of the love in there, I think, but developers making games in this genre should certainly play this game to encourage them to think about the structure of their own work from a different angle. |
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| Game Rant |
Sarah Fields |
4.5 / 5 stars |
07-01-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club is one of the most celebrated psychological horror games of recent history, and the Plus release adds enough new content to refresh the experience for veterans who’ve already experienced the original. Meanwhile, players who have never tried out Team Salvato’s original game will find the most complete experience yet from Doki Doki Literature Club Plus. |
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| GameSpew |
Richard Seagrave |
8 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
If you’re a visual novel fan, or at least open to them, you should definitely give Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! a try. |
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| GamingTrend |
Lawrence Le |
85 / 100 |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is both a celebration of visual novels and a deep dive into the potential of interactive fiction. This updated version introduces new content that continues to weaponize the game’s mastery over the visual novel format to land even more emotional gut punches. |
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| Generación Xbox |
Alejandro Serrador |
9 / 10 |
07-16-2021 |
That means that Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! can leave a distinct impression depending on our mood. So much so that a good mental strength, that which serves us to face challenges and complex situations, is imperative if we want to take charge of a proposal that tries to promote awareness about mental health,trying to end prejudices, stereotypes and the stigma that it carries rooted. It asks us to exercise responsibility. |
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| God is a Geek |
Chris White |
8 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is a psychological horror that takes strides in the genre, unsettling and challenging you at every corner. |
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| IGN Italy |
Biagio Etna |
9 / 10 |
07-06-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! compared to the free experience on PC, adds either a lot or nothing, depending on your point of view. Pragmatically one could argue the futility of the expense in the face of mostly identical content available for free. However, the point is not this: whether you want to reward the developers after the experience with the free edition, or in case you want to approach the game using its “improved” version (despite some limitations), Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! remains a work of extraordinary emotional impact. |
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| Luis Alamilla |
Luis Alamilla |
8 / 10 |
07-01-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus is a great game but remarkably better than its original free PC release. This release on console is shockingly well done for a game that relied so much on it being on PC. Team Salvato did a great job crafting together a virtual machine system that while doesn’t completely work as well as just playing on PC, does a good enough job to keep that experience prevalent on consoles. The base story continues to be a chilling and goosebump in goosing story but fails to add anything remarkable with the side story content. While die-hard fans of the series might appreciate the extra lore, I personally didn’t feel like it added more that was all that worthwhile. Ultimately, if you don’t have a computer with access to the base game, DDLC+ does an exceptional job at bringing the experience to other platforms, it just doesn’t add much more to it. |
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| MonsterVine |
Samantha Lienhard |
4.5 / 5 stars |
06-30-2021 |
Whether you’re an old fan of Doki Doki Literature Club or someone checking it out for the first time, this new release has something for everyone to enjoy. |
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| Nintendo Enthusiast |
Steven Rollins |
9.5 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is nothing short of a masterpiece and highly recommended to anyone who can handle darker content. It navigates the jump from PC to console well overall, with new mechanics developed to handle gameplay situations that would normally be impossible outside of PC. The extra content, especially the Side Stories, is terrific as well, though it may not be enough to justify a $15 price tag given that the original game is still free on PC. |
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| Nintendo Life |
Kate Gray |
8 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
Don’t discount Doki Doki Literature Club because it’s cute, because it’s pink, or because it’s an anime dating game |
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| Nintendo Wire |
Ricky Berg |
8 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
What it never stops being, though, is interesting. A blend of unapologetic and bittersweet were the lasting flavors, and even if I didn’t savor every moment that brought me to the end it was a refreshingly unique break from reality. |
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| NintendoWorldReport |
Zachary Miller |
8 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club doesn’t disappoint as an off-kilter visual novel. If you, like me, tend to avoid this genre, you might consider DDLC as an exception to the rule if you can handle some disturbing content. |
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| NoobFeed |
Kurtis Seid |
78 / 100 |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is great for existing fans that want to know more about their favorite characters and possibly the deeper universe. |
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| PlayStation LifeStyle |
Chandler Wood |
8 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club works best if you go into it knowing nothing about it. It’s still a visual novel dating sim, and the Plus! version really doubles down on the visual novel aspect, but it breaks the status quo and does the unexpected, making a deeply disturbing psychological horror game out of something that looks cute and adorable on the surface. The console version diminishes some of what made the PC version’s twist work so well, a necessary sacrifice to get the game to a wider audience. And if you are just looking to return to this world and these characters, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! feels like the version that was made for the fans. |
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| PSX Brasil |
José Viana |
90 / 100 |
06-30-2021 |
Subversive, shocking and even touching, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus brings a definitive package to consoles for all players, fans and new players alike. |
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| Push Square |
Brett Posner-Ferdman |
7 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club is still a fantastic visual novel, but the Plus version on PS5 struggles to find a purpose besides being a new way to play the original. Existing fans will appreciate some of the new content, such as the side stories and concept art, but locking the content behind multiple playthroughs of a game that loses its appeal after the first time around is a tough pill to swallow. On the other hand, newcomers have no reason to play this version instead of the freeware PC release, since some core PC features were compromised for this port. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus is still a great experience that should be played by anyone remotely interested, but this specific version struggles to be a worthwhile purchase for any fan, new or old. |
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| Screen Rant |
Rob Gordon |
4 / 5 stars |
07-03-2021 |
Overall, though, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! shows that the original game has lost none of its power. Those wishing to visit the game again will find its new content deep enough to warrant a replay, and its excellently-told story will still hold weight with newcomers. Go in spoiler free where possible and enjoy its twists and turns. |
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| TechRaptor |
Nirav Gandhi |
8 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
The original Doki Doki Literature Club is a phenomenal horror title, but loses a lot of the elements that made it so impressive on its translation to consoles. |
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| The Outerhaven Productions |
Andrew Agress |
5 / 5 stars |
06-30-2021 |
With new stories, secrets, soundtracks, Sayori snacks, and so much more, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus proves the definitive way to experience an already great game. |
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| ThisGenGaming |
Justin Oneil |
9 / 10 |
07-16-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! starts a bit slow but quickly establishes itself after that as a must-play visual novel. Everything starts all cute and fun but when the dark side of these girls starts coming out, you’ll want to keep playing until the end to see what happens. The game touches on a lot of dark subject matter and it is very much a pure visual novel experience so if you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy those things then this won’t be the game for you. For those who do enjoy this genre you’ll get a multi-hour long experience that will stay with you long after the conclusion. |
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| Twinfinite |
Ed McGlone |
5 / 5 stars |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club is among the most memorable, creative, and iconic horror games of the last decade and should be experienced by anyone who is able to safely stomach it. The Plus version of the game effectively adds even more valuable story content to the mix. The writing team was able to show off their skill in these side stories, and the result is a heartwarming experience that makes the Dokis somehow even more lovable than they already were. |
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| WayTooManyGames |
Aaron Price |
7 / 10 |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! brings some much needed quality of life changes to the original game. It also makes it much more accessible to people, no longer being PC only and bringing it to most consoles. If you’re into visual novels, horror, puzzles, or all of the above, this is a nice cheap one to check out. |
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| Windows Central |
Carli Velocci |
5 / 5 stars |
06-30-2021 |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus is the same game you remember, but with a few small extras that make it all feel more worthwhile. |
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