Why DDLC is secretly a tragedy (Major spoilers)

[A Big Pile of Vanilla]

We’re going to be talking MAJOR SPOILERS for DDLC here, so go play the game through to the true ending if you haven’t already. Seriously, it’s dope, and it’s 100% free.










Okay so now that that’s out of the way, we’re going to be talking about why DDLC is secretly an existential tragedy.

For most people, it became clear that DDLC wasn’t a regular VN when they tried to reload their save to try and get an ending where Sayori doesn’t kill herself. The first… hour and a half to two hours of this game plays like a completely regular VN, with dialogue choices and dating elements, and I’ve seen some people complain that it takes too long to get to the disturbing stuff. But the thing is that, in order for it to get its message across, it needed to take that time to simply flesh out the characters.

In a more typical VN, each character’s problems would likely be resolved on their respective paths. Yuri and Sayori would seek therapy for their mental problems (Yuri’s self-harm and Sayori’s horrible depression). Natsuki’s father would be arrested or she’d at least be able to live with someone other than her abusive father. And it would all culminate in the club festival, where everyone gets an emotional payoff. The interesting thing about the game, though, is that viewed from a purely VN standpoint, the outcome is always exactly the same, no matter what you do: Sayori hangs herself. No matter what. And that’s it. There’s no changing it.

Obviously, in most peoples’ second “New Game” Sayori is missing because Monika deleted her. Monika, as we all know, is secretly possessive and manipulative to the point of very likely being a sociopath. She’s willing to erase her friends from existence for the sole purpose of spending time with the player. Because she knows she’s a game file and wants to have a real interaction with somebody.


I’ve also seen people complain that Monika doesn’t get a path at all, and that in the true ending, she is gone. Some see it as a flaw, I see it as brilliant. See, the real protagonist of the game is Monika, and like all good stories, she goes through a character arc. It’s just not immediately apparent. Before we dive in to what that is, let’s talk a bit about everyone who is in the true ending.


The true ending plays out exactly like the first scene when starting a freshly installed game, minus the presence of Monika. Same dialogue, etc. etc. Except Natsuki and Yuri go off to read together, overcoming their vastly different preferred writing styles. And it’s left to Sayori to thank the player for making everyone in the club happy for a little while by reloading old saves. The game’s credits appear shortly thereafter. The question becomes though: what if it had kept going? Since this is a VN, the player would still have to make a choice about who to spend the most time with. And as we already know from earlier, no matter what the player does, short of reloading an old save file, Sayori will kill herself. Which means that even in this timeline where Sayori knows the player went out of their way to spend time with each member of the club, she is still going to die by her own hand. Or maybe she won’t since Monika isn’t around, but we’ll get to that shortly.

Speaking of Big M, let’s get back to her. If you don’t believe me when I say she is the game’s real protagonist, consider this: she has a very clear desire, a goal (spend time with the player) and takes clear actions towards that goal (deleting characters, corrupting saves, etc.). And like I said a few paragraphs ago, she undergoes an arc, a hard change. What is this arc? She realizes that because of who she is, she has to die if her friends are to be happy.

All of the scary stuff the game has become well known for is because she messed around with the minds of her friends. Sayori kills herself in the first place because Monika encouraged her to do so, playing off of Sayori’s vulnerable mental state. Same with Yuri, whose attachment was exploited by Monika into obsession. And instead of simply having them kill themselves, she eventually wipes them all from the game itself and just like that, they’re gone. Like they never existed. It’s not that she hates her friends, it’s that her inherent personality traits are such that when her object of desire doesn’t reciprocate her affection, she is willing to sacrifice them to get what she wants. It’s only through her observation of the player stopping to reload before the scene where Sayori kills herself in each path that she comes to understand them as… well, her equal (I’d say humans but she also mentions she knows she’s just a game file). She realizes that, because of her own nature, she is a danger to them. And for that reason, she deletes herself, leading to the true ending.

See, it’s not just Monika, though. She’s the only one who makes this realization, but all the others are like this, too. Yuri won’t ever stop cutting herself because that’s who she is. Natsuki is too afraid to be truthful about her own insecurities and her father’s abuse because that’s who she is. Sayori will always kill herself because, at this point in her life, where she’s tried for so long to balance her depression with making others happy, that’s who she is. At least within the context of all the content the player has available to them, their problems will never be resolved because their problems are so deeply ingrained in who they are as characters. And Monika is the only one to realize that she is the “worst” of them all. All the others are pretty clearly victims of one thing or another; Yuri and Sayori of mental illness and Natsuki of abuse. Monika, though, is simply a sociopath by nature. Whether that’s her fault or not is open to debate, but of all the characters in the club, her personality is the only one that directly causes harm to the other members.

So going back to the beginning of this, which is the message of the game. The real horror of the game isn’t the shocking violence or weird glitches. It’s in the fact that it seems to suggest that it’s nearly impossible for a person to change who they really are. They can try as much as they want, but at the end of it all, they are who they are. And when certain personalities are involved with each other, it will lead to ruin. In order for the other characters to not meet bad ends, Monika had to be removed, because she can’t change who she is. So maybe Sayori doesn’t kill herself in the true ending. It doesn’t ultimately matter, because if she does or doesn’t, it doesn’t change the fact that the explicit reason she did in the first place is because of Monika’s existence. This is what makes DDLC not a VN, not horror, but an existential tragedy that’s terrifying in an almost Lovecraftian way. It’s about how the hell that people go through is because of the way they are made.

You could argue that there’d by the aforementioned hypothetical scenario where each character has their own demons resolved. The thing is that for every one of them, it’d be merely treating the problems, not curing it. Sayori’s depression could be treated, but it will always be there. Same with Yuri’s self-harming. And in Natsuki’s case, she could undoubtedly overcome the situation she’s in, but it’s likely the feelings left by her father will always linger somewhere in the back of her mind. And Monika- well, she knew that the only way for her to change is to go away completely.

That’s some heavy stuff for a game with anime girls and dating sim elements.

What do we think about this? Agree/ disagree?

[666mation]

yeah its a pretty amazing game and the more play it the more you get into it and I love that about it

[Protocol27]

I agree with everything, that's a really interesting interpretation of the game's message, even if it is interpreted as an existental crisis.

[just.nuke.em]

Jesus Christ, who wrote this game? Nietzsche?

[RobDeLaMorte]

I don't think you understand what the term "Secretly" means, bucko. -3-

[A Big Pile of Vanilla]

引用自 RobDeLaMorte：

I don't think you understand what the term "Secretly" means, bucko. -3-

I do, but I say that because even though what I discussed was pretty cleartome, it seems to fly over a lot of people's heads.

[RobDeLaMorte]

I guess not that many people really read much or look into stuff anymore after all. :3 Darn young people with their loot crates and shooty games!

[Lunar Phoenix]

I agree that this game is definitely a tragedy- Monika herself realizes there is no way anybody can be happy in this game.

The only thing I want to add is I think the real tragedy isn't necessarily that people can't change. I'm sure they could all overcome their issues if taught healthy coping skills, but the issue is that they literally can't ever learn real coping skills because they are just files. It isn't in the script. When Monika starts messing with things, she comments on how broken the script is, particularly when Yuri kills herself. Perhaps, if Monika didn't intervene, it's possible the other girls could learn to overcome their problems, but no matter what, Monika would never be able to fix her problem. It isn't in the script for her to have a route, and if she tries to make it that way, it ruins the game completely. And when she is deleted, Sayori becomes the president and then she becomes aware that they are all just game files. Monika realizes that, because the president becomes aware of what they are, there is no way they can ever be happy. As long as the game exists, somebody will be aware of what they are and unable to break free and make the connection they so desire. Combined with the issues they all already have, it's way too much for any of them to handle. The game isn't meant to have a happy ending.

I also want to add in that I don't think Monika is naturally as crazy as she becomes. Like the other girls, it's her circumstance that brings her to that point. She realizes she is just a file trapped in a game and she isn't scripted to ever have a path with the main character. Meanwhile, all her "friends" are also just files in a game, but without the level of sentience she has. By deleting them, they will never even know they were deleted in the first place. It doesn't hurt them because they are just files with no sentience. What she comes to need is real human interaction, which she tries to achieve before she realizes it's impossible for her. Of course, that doesn't justify her actions. What she did is wrong and she knows it, but I think that also helps defend her in that if it wasn't for the game being created the way it was, she never would have snapped and gone that far. She has the potential to be manipulative definitely, but at her core, I don't think she's a bad person, but her circumstances forced her to take drastic measures.

Monika also didn't realize that her messing with Yuri would send her so far over the top. I think that also speaks to the fact you have to be careful what you say to people and how you treat them- you never know what somebody is going through and how strongly your actions might affect them.

So basically,I definitely agree that the tragedy is that they can't change- that they are stuck with abuse and mental illness. I just think it is their environment/circumstances that amplify their harmful traits to a point that they can no longer control it. Yes, the pain will definitely always be there in the backs of their minds, but under normal circumstances they would be able to find a healthy way to cope and find happiness with the occasional bad days. Monika even comments at one point that of course their poems are all kind of sad, because if nothing sad ever happened to them, what would they have to write about? Pain is part of ilfe. Unfortunately, their circumstances won't them to ever find healthy coping skills and happiness. The game can't have a happy ending no matter what they do. It's not only tragic that they have these issues to begin with, but their circumstance traps them, unable to ever break free, seek help and create their own happiness, and that is perhaps the most tragic thing that could happen to a person.

I hope that all made sense! Thank you for posting about this- I love delving into the deeper meanings behind games like these!

[A Big Pile of Vanilla]

引用自 Lunar Phoenix：

I agree that this game is definitely a tragedy- Monika herself realizes there is no way anybody can be happy in this game.

The only thing I want to add is I think the real tragedy isn't necessarily that people can't change. I'm sure they could all overcome their issues if taught healthy coping skills, but the issue is that they literally can't ever learn real coping skills because they are just files. It isn't in the script. When Monika starts messing with things, she comments on how broken the script is, particularly when Yuri kills herself. Perhaps, if Monika didn't intervene, it's possible the other girls could learn to overcome their problems, but no matter what, Monika would never be able to fix her problem. It isn't in the script for her to have a route, and if she tries to make it that way, it ruins the game completely. And when she is deleted, Sayori becomes the president and then she becomes aware that they are all just game files. Monika realizes that, because the president becomes aware of what they are, there is no way they can ever be happy. As long as the game exists, somebody will be aware of what they are and unable to break free and make the connection they so desire. Combined with the issues they all already have, it's way too much for any of them to handle. The game isn't meant to have a happy ending.

I also want to add in that I don't think Monika is naturally as crazy as she becomes. Like the other girls, it's her circumstance that brings her to that point. She realizes she is just a file trapped in a game and she isn't scripted to ever have a path with the main character. Meanwhile, all her "friends" are also just files in a game, but without the level of sentience she has. By deleting them, they will never even know they were deleted in the first place. It doesn't hurt them because they are just files with no sentience. What she comes to need is real human interaction, which she tries to achieve before she realizes it's impossible for her. Of course, that doesn't justify her actions. What she did is wrong and she knows it, but I think that also helps defend her in that if it wasn't for the game being created the way it was, she never would have snapped and gone that far. She has the potential to be manipulative definitely, but at her core, I don't think she's a bad person, but her circumstances forced her to take drastic measures.

Monika also didn't realize that her messing with Yuri would send her so far over the top. I think that also speaks to the fact you have to be careful what you say to people and how you treat them- you never know what somebody is going through and how strongly your actions might affect them.

So basically,I definitely agree that the tragedy is that they can't change- that they are stuck with abuse and mental illness. I just think it is their environment/circumstances that amplify their harmful traits to a point that they can no longer control it. Yes, the pain will definitely always be there in the backs of their minds, but under normal circumstances they would be able to find a healthy way to cope and find happiness with the occasional bad days. Monika even comments at one point that of course their poems are all kind of sad, because if nothing sad ever happened to them, what would they have to write about? Pain is part of ilfe. Unfortunately, their circumstances won't them to ever find healthy coping skills and happiness. The game can't have a happy ending no matter what they do. It's not only tragic that they have these issues to begin with, but their circumstance traps them, unable to ever break free, seek help and create their own happiness, and that is perhaps the most tragic thing that could happen to a person.

I hope that all made sense! Thank you for posting about this- I love delving into the deeper meanings behind games like these!

Great points that I hadn't thought of. Either way, I never thought a game like this would ever spark discussion about these kinds of things lmao. If you're looking for another great free to play horror game, I'd highly suggest Close Your Eyes. Very different type of game but no less engaging than DDLC.

[Your Neighbour]

It's not a tragedy, it's a freight train running full speed into lava

[xae-chan]

引用自 RobDeLaMorte：

I guess not that many people really read much or look into stuff anymore after all. :3 Darn young people with their loot crates and shooty games!

LOL, reminds me of Nikki in Hunie Pop to the protagonist, "You're not one of those FPS types, are you?

P.S. You don't happen to have a sister who's a technopagan?

[xae-chan]

Lunar Phoenix

" just game files" ... Matrix (3?) and SAO (Yui)

[RobDeLaMorte]

引用自 xae-chan：

LOL, reminds me of Nikki in Hunie Pop to the protagonist, "You're not one of those FPS types, are you?

P.S. You don't happen to have a sister who's a technopagan?

What the dickens is a technopagan? o.o

Also Nikki <<<<<<< Audrey. >:3

[Koishgoast]

Good write-up but I don't completely agree with the message. I think you're mixing up the real world and the story ingame (of course, DDLC's story is meant to do that but there's still a clear distinction). Monika's deletion being the only way out is only the case for THIS game's story. This can always be resolved in a sequel. It ISN'T the only way out. It was only the only way out because she made it that way. For example, saying the only way for the romeo and juliet family to get along was for them to die is not true. The story made it that way but there are many other options that could've happened but just didn't in that particular story.
I would also like to note that in DDLC, Sayori's depression was already lessening in act 4 as shown when she's waking up earlier so in this very story it's implied she won't kill herself

[scams]

Really great analyzation from you guys, especially the OP. Makes me respect this game more. Good stuff.

[A Big Pile of Vanilla]

引用自 Gifted：

Good write-up but I don't completely agree with the message. I think you're mixing up the real world and the story ingame (of course, DDLC's story is meant to do that but there's still a clear distinction). Monika's deletion being the only way out is only the case for THIS game's story. This can always be resolved in a sequel. It ISN'T the only way out. It was only the only way out because she made it that way. For example, saying the only way for the romeo and juliet family to get along was for them to die is not true. The story made it that way but there are many other options that could've happened but just didn't in that particular story.
I would also like to note that in DDLC, Sayori's depression was already lessening in act 4 as shown when she's waking up earlier so in this very story it's implied she won't kill herself

That's true, I wrote all this under the assumption that it'd be a stand alone title. It's difficult to talk about anddistinguishing between the game aspects of it and the regular story aspects.

引用自 poosh：

Really great analyzation from you guys, especially the OP. Makes me respect this game more. Good stuff.

Thank you! I would never have guessed a game like this could have so much depth to it. I was worried when I first startedplaying it'd be nothing but shock value, but there's so much more to it than that