Google has removed Doki Doki Literature Club from the Play Store due to what is said to be a violation of its terms of service.
Serenity Forge, the publisher behind the 2021 re-release of the beloved visual novel, published a joint statement with creator Dan Salvato regarding its sudden removal yesterday. The message says Google communicated “its depiction of sensitive themes” as the cause of its removal and points out that it remains available to purchase on other platforms, including iOS, Nintendo Switch, and the PlayStation Store.
A statement regarding the removal of DDLC from the Google Play Store: pic.twitter.com/G0byurRUJZ
— Serenity Forge (@SerenityForge) April 9, 2026
“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 and the Serenity Forge team 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.”
Warning! Spoilers for Doki Doki Literature Club follow.
Doki Doki Literature Club became a viral hit after it launched for PC in 2017. Its visual novel narrative garnered attention online not only thanks to characters like Sayori, Yuri, Natsuki, and, of course, Monika, but for a mid-game twist that sees its bubbly high school tale flip into a mind-bending horror story.
Players and onlookers alike gathered to watch their favorite content creators experience its rollercoaster of a narrative for the first time. What has also partly helped the game remain as a classic in the almost decade since its launch, though, are its themes.
Doki Doki Literature Club established its twists and turns and its handling of the topic of mental health in 2017, and re-established them again when Serenity Forge brought its Plus! re-release to more platforms in 2021. A mobile version of the base game was made available for free on iOS and Android in December 2025, with its Plus! additions available as a separate purchase. It’s unclear why Google chose now to pull it from the Play Store, which allowed players to download the game from Android and Chrome-supported devices.
In the meantime, Serenity Forge and Salvato say they are taking steps to try to get Doki Doki Literature Club reinstated on Google’s digital storefront. Alternate methods for distribution on affected platforms are also being looked into, though no concrete plans are in place yet.
“We worked hard to bring DDLC to Android, and we’ve gotten to see so much love and enthusiasm from passionate Android users over these past few months. Thank you so much to the community for continuing to express your love and support for DDLC through the years. We’ll keep you updated on the future of DDLC for Android.”
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! sold half a million copies in the two weeks following its July launch. We listed the original as one of the best horror games of 2017.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
