Doki-Doki Universe

Overview

Doki-Doki Universe (lit. Heart-Pounding Universe) is a video game published and developed by HumaNature Studios for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. The game is unique in that its gameplay largely revolves around an interactive personality test. The game starts with a robot named QT3 and a talking red balloon accidentally getting left on an asteroid by a human family traveling through space. Roughly forty years later Alien Jeff locates QT3 and informs him that his model is being discontinued for lacking humanity.

The only other inhabitant of Home besides QT3 and Balloon is Dr. Therapist, a therapist that gives psych evaluations of the player controlling QT3. Evaluations are based on answers given when a player visits asteroids. On asteroids small abstract tests of four or five questions are given with multiple choice answers. They range from "Choose a caption" to "Without thinking pick a picture". The more asteroids the player visits the more thorough an evaluation Dr. Therapist will make.

On Home there are four Machines to interact with: Pick a Planet Style, Pick an Intersteller Steed, Pick an Avatar and Pick a Friend's Planet to Visit. The online is only passive, allowing you to visit a friend's world and see how they decorated. Avatars change the appearance of QT3 and a new avatar is unlocked as the player levels up. Interstellar Steeds are mounts used to leave Home and visit other planets and asteroids. One Interstellar Steed is unlocked each level as the player gains experience points.

Doki-Doki Universe received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics. Critics generally praised the premise of the gameplay, its open-world structure, well written dialogue, original personality tests, smart sense of humor and depth of themes and narrative, but otherwise criticized its general lack of challenge and repetitive gameplay structure, while the art style drew both criticism and praise. Some critics also cited its gameplay similarities to the game Scribblenauts. GameSpot critic Shaun McInnis gave the game a 7/10 score, citing delightful sense of humor, well-handed narrative and vibrant art style, while also criticizing its clumsy inventory screen and vague sense of progression. IGN also gave the game a 7.0 score, praising its unique concept and fun personality tests, but criticizing its repetitiveness.

Official trailer

Trailer. Watch on YouTube

Screenshots

Game details

Genres

Simulator, Adventure

Developer

HumaNature Studios

Publisher

HumaNature Studios

Platforms

PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita

Age rating

ESRB E10+

Modes

Single player

Yes

Local multiplayer

No

Online multiplayer

No

Co op

No

Age ratings

ESRB

E10+

PEGI

7

CERO

A

Release dates

Subscription history

Space and patches

Space neededAbout 514 MB

Playable today

Playable offline todayYes

Single-player only, with no online features.

Online

Plays offlineYes

Credits

Region

US