According to Salvato, the inspiration for the game came from his mixed feelings toward anime, and a fascination for surreal and unsettling experiences. The game was developed in an estimated two-year period by a team led by Dan Salvato, known previously for his modding work for Super Smash Bros.
While the game appears at first glance to be a lighthearted dating simulator, it is in fact a metafictional psychological horror game that extensively breaks the fourth wall. The game features a mostly linear story, with some alternative scenes and endings depending on the choices the player makes. The story follows a male high school student who joins the school's literature club and interacts with its four female members.
The game was initially distributed through itch.io, and later became available on Steam. Game Review Doki Doki Literature Club! is a 2017 American visual novel developed by Team Salvato for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.
