
The man thought the horror video game was a direct cause of his son’s suicide
Video games can have a really big influence on children, as some people argue they can make them violent. Now, parents are worried about a horror video game that looks harmless at first, but has multiple references to violence, suicide, or traumatizing elements. The concerns became even more serious when a British parent blamed this game for his son’s suicide.
The title was easily classified as a psychological horror video game
Doki Doki Literature Club, developed by Team Salvato, appeared last year in September. The game looks completely innocent, as it exhibits characters drawn in a cartoon style. However, it is actually a horror video game with serious psychological implications and themes that include suicide and violence.
Soon after its release, the game became popular because it was massively streamed by YouTubers. Since its ending contained a lot of plot twists, these people recorded their shocked reactions and then posted them on YouTube. One user said the game was traumatizing and that he was left scarred by the ending. In fact, the developers posted a warning on Steam, saying the horror video game was not suitable for children.
The man thinks the game caused his son to commit suicide
If these concerns weren’t enough, a devastated parent blamed the horror video game for his 15-year-old son’s suicide. Darren Walmsley wanted everyone to know about the dangers of Doki Doki Literature Club. He couldn’t confirm the link officially, but he knew for sure his son was playing it. Although he didn’t talk about it, he could see how the gameplay was dragging him in and messing with his mind.
A coroner came to support the concerned man’s claims. His statement classified the title as a psychological horror video game with elements that might cause young people to experience suicidal thoughts. Things get even more serious if these people already have a feeble state of mind. Therefore, he encouraged all parents to check what games their kids are playing and get help if they notice something strange with them.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons