| Monika | |
|---|---|
| Doki Doki Literature Club! character | |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Monika_DDLC.png) Monika in Doki Doki Literature Club! | |
| First appearance | Doki Doki Literature Club! (2017) |
| Created by | Dan Salvato |
| Designed by | Satchely |
| Voiced by | Jillian Ashcraft |
Monika is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club! The character was created by Dan Salvato and voiced by Jillian Ashcraft. While Monika initially appears as the main tutor and supporting character that guides the player on their path to romance the three provided love interests, she is later revealed to be self-aware of her existence as a video game character; her words, actions and surroundings become increasingly malicious as she makes her intentions clear. She is apparently deleted at the end of the game, but returns to destroy the game itself to protect the player after the character Sayori becomes sentient in Monika's absence.
The inspiration for the character's creation extends Salvato's concept of an innocuous romance game that slowly falls apart over time as horrible things begin to happen and one girl takes control. The physical appearance of Monika went through several designs, one of which featured a chibi effect. Monika has been well received by critics and gamers, some of whom called her disarming, passive-aggressive, tragic, sinister and witty. She is considered one of the greatest video game characters, particularly among those created in the 2010s.