Doki Doki Literature Club has been removed from Google Play for TOS violations

Just yesterday, I mentioned my distaste for developers choosing Apple over Android. Yes, I know that Apple has a smaller set of devices, so it's easier to optimise, but as an Android wielder, I am annoyed. Today, the Google Play Store has made it harder to have that stance by removing Doki Doki Literature Club.

DDLC was originally released back in 2017, before coming to December 2025. It isn’t overall new, but fresh for our community. So, having said that, we will try to go light on the spoilers, but just be warned, there might be one or two things you don’t want to read. Or, according to Google Play, all of it.

Dan Salvato and Serenity Forge, developer and publisher respectively, put out an announcement on TwiX explaining the removal. Apparently, DDLC violates the Terms of Service of Google Play, particularly in its “depiction of sensitive themes." 

Whilst the game does start as a dating simulator, it does take a wild turn at some point and starts getting a little weird. During that time, the topic of mental health does come up, which is presumably what caused the violation. Or I can immediately think of a scene with Sayori or Natsuki that some people might say went “too far”.

Overall, though, I don't think DDLC does anything egregious, especially not bad enough to be straight-up removed. Besides, it is a very interesting story that is expertly executed. From what I can see, Google has not issued a statement clarifying the reasons why this occurred. Evidently, gambling is fine, but visual novels that delve into psychosis are not. I wonder which one makes them more money, go figure.

Happily, Serenity Forge is trying to get it back on Google Play, or failing that, an alternative storefront for Android. Until such a time, you can download Doki Doki Literature Club from the App Store if you have an Apple device. Hopefully, the Epic Store or someone can save Android.