itch.io

Thanks for reaching out, ohmygothy! (And thanks for loving the game <33) Please feel free to email your rates to: dokidokidollmaker@gmail.com in case we're able to make it happen down the road!

Karitsa

Hello Protagonista,

Unfortunately, there are no official translations at this time. With enough interest, it might be possible in the future. 🙏 Thank you so much for your interest and support!

Karitsa

Hi Zakaries!

A steam release is being considered. Feel free to follow the project here on Itch.io and on X/Twitter @DokiDollmaker to be notified of any future releases. Thanks so much for your interest!

Karitsa

Hi wormaniel,

I’m no expert on the subject, but you should still be able to snuggle your pet worm even if it’s eating your bed - just snuggle with it on the floor after the bed has been consumed. Hope this helps and y’all are able to enjoy the game comfortably together. 😆

Karitsa

Hi yoslina102!

Thanks for playing Doki Doki Dollmaker and for leaving a spoiler-free comment/review - it means a lot to solo developers like me! So glad you enjoyed the art; both Dejinyucu and bemicat worked exceptionally hard on the various pieces and they really bring the characters to life. So happy you appreciate Cole and Tilly as well; we love our not-so-minor characters! I also consider the Full Group good ending to be canon, so yes, you are correct. ♥︎ (A friend of mine surprisingly likes the worst ending too, so you're not alone, haha!)

I'm not sure what changes I could have made to the story or pacing to make it feel more layered, but appreciate your feedback and am glad you still enjoyed the experience enough for multiple playthroughs. As for the character designs, particularly the dolls, they are over-the-top to create contrast between them and the human characters; I didn't want them to look like they came from or belonged in Lyle's world. Also, I just happen to like bright/fun designs and they felt like a good fit for the game's handmade/patchwork theming. Their epilogue sprites, which have regular clothing, help to tone things down a bit! (For the record, I think "Kahvel" is a stranger name than "Lyle," haha!)

Thank you again for playing and for sharing your thoughts!

Karitsa

You’re very welcome! Have fun unlocking all the goodies and experiencing the different scenes! 😊

Hi yoslina102!

Thank you so much for purchasing my visual novel! 💗 Please consider leaving a rating/review for the game when you’re finished - I would love to hear your thoughts and it really helps the project out. Torin is a great pick - I hope he makes you smile!

Karitsa

Only the (optional) epilogues!

Hi caroljudoca,

It is being considered, but nothing is confirmed yet. Be sure to follow the project for any future announcements - thanks for your interest!

Karitsa

Hi AlecNightfal,

There are no plans for an android release in the future. Feel free to follow the project to be notified of sales/discounts. Thank you for your interest!

Karitsa

Hi Ducksrock!

Thank you so much for playing Doki Doki Dollmaker and sharing your feedback! If you (or any other players) are interested in knowing the reasoning behind some of the writing decisions that were made, I’d be happy to share my thought process with you. Spoilers ahead, of course!!

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I’m sorry your experience with the solo route did not end as anticipated, but I am confident that the full group good ending will meet your expectations! The full group good ending is the TRUE ending, with the potential for Lyle to end up with any (or all) of the dolls after the events of the story.

The passage of time between scenes in Doki Doki Dollmaker is not always clear, which is common in the “slice-of-life” genre. Weeks, months, or even a year could have passed between Lyle leaving Mr. Mendoza’s shop and having his private scene with the individual doll (in Desifer’s case, the scene where Lyle is made late for school). When the epilogue screen finally appears, where the dolls are pictured on the desk as Lyle reminisces, it is meant to show not only that Lyle still thinks of the other four dolls, but that he misses them, too - after all, he still talks to them even though they are gone. To me, Lyle continuing to meet with them as time passes is his guilt. I imagine the dolls are at Tilly‘s house because Lyle can’t bear to see them sitting on his desk, knowing that he could never give them the life they deserved or repay them for their friendship, but players can interpret this however they choose, since it is not explicitly stated.

I hope my perspective was an interesting read. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts - I appreciate your detailed comment and hope to hear from you again in the future!

Karitsa

¡Hola! Google Translate me está ayudando a escribir en español. ¡Gracias por jugar a Doki Doki Dollmaker! Me alegra mucho que disfrutes la historia. ¡Espero que Rook te haga sonreír! Gracias por sus amables palabras. 😊💗

Karitsa

Oh, and yes, it is compatible with keyboard! You can use the arrow keys to navigate the menus and choices, and if self-voicing is enabled, the option will be read. Hope this helps!

Hi gamer824,

Yes, Doki Doki Dollmaker is blind/visually-impaired friendly!

The following alternative text will be read aloud when self-voicing is enabled by pressing “v” on your keyboard during gameplay:

• Dialogue and Narration

• Choices, Quick Menu text buttons, Custom GUI image buttons

• Physical descriptions of characters when they appear for the first time

• A phrase or description when “…!” is used to portray reactions

• Setting and CG descriptions (when not already in narration)

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions! Happy playing! 😊

Karitsa

It’s being considered! 😎 Thanks for your interest, Trampampam!

Hi Cassirole,

Thanks for your interest in Doki Doki Dollmaker! I hope you'll be able to pick it up in the future. It goes on sale occasionally, so follow the project on social media to be notified when there's a discount!

I actually commissioned some plush keychains a looooong time ago (when Rook's hair was still dark red lol), but I couldn't remember who made them, so I never shared photos online. If I ever find the artist's name again, I'll be sure to post pics! (Maybe I can post the pics to help find the crafter? Hmm...)

It'd be nice to sell some official "life-sized" plushies someday, though! I'll dream about that for a little while!! ♥

Karitsa

Hi ebi-hime!

I apologize for the late reply. I've been meaning to respond to this post since I saw it a month ago and failed to find the words before I got caught up in some "life" things myself! Responsibilities always seem to interfere with fun, don't they?

I can't thank you enough for your kind words. I'm so happy you enjoyed playing Doki Doki Dollmaker! I appreciate you following the project over its many years of development. Your enthusiasm brought a huge smile to my face - thank you for sharing your experience so thoroughly and thoughtfully!

I had a feeling you'd go for Desifer first! He's understandably quite popular with players. I hope his more heartfelt scenes were a pleasant surprise for you! If you can't bring yourself to romance the other dolls because you love Desifer that much, you could always just replay his route again and again, haha!

I put my all into the story and its characters and am glad it shows in the final product. I wanted to make sure my writing lived up to Deji and bemicat's amazing illustrations. I'm so grateful to have them on the team! This passion project couldn't have happened without support from team members and from players like you.

Thank you. ♥

Karitsa

Hi ManekiNeko,

Yes, a guide will be available in the future. I’ve been busy with the art book lately and haven’t gotten around to posting it, but should have something up next month! 😊

Karitsa

Hi Nacchan!

Yes, one of Doki Doki Dollmaker’s artists, Dejinyucu, was involved with that game - it’s called Autumn's Journey! I hope you’ll check both visual novels out. We love feel-good games! ☺️💕

Karitsa

Hi Akino Yamiko!

There are no plans to release Doki Doki Dollmaker on steam at this time, but if anything changes in the future I will be sure to let players know! Thanks for your interest!

Karitsa

Thank you so much for playing and for your kind words! There’s a hint on this itch.io page on how to get the full group ending, but if you’re still having trouble, a game guide will be released in the future. Thank you for your patience and good luck! 😊💕

puddlewater,

I’m glad you’re enjoying the game so far and am happy that my passion for the project is shining through in the final product! 🥺💕

If you’re talking about the *full group* ending, there is a hint on this itch.io game page if you look hard enough. Otherwise, check out Loveverly’s comment. 😉 Good luck!

Karitsa

Yaaaaay!! Give it some big hugs and enjoy! Thank you so much~ 😍🧡

DaSkillz2023,

Yes, as Loveverly stated, the age verification is at the start of every new game! There is no option to block/unblock mid-play through. Thank you for asking, as I’m sure other players will be curious about this as well!

Karitsa

dani4the6,

I’m so glad you’re enjoying the game and love the characters! 🥰 If you’re having trouble unlocking all of the CGs, the art book will include a small game guide in the future! Otherwise, there’s a hint hidden on the itch.io game page~ 😉

Karitsa

Loveverly,

I'm sorry to have made you cry, but I hope some were happy tears! Your cat is doing a wonderful job looking out for you. ♥ Thank you for your kind words and for helping bring the project to life with your pledge!!

Karitsa

Thanks for your interest in the project!!

     Nothing lasts forever – at least, that’s what young Lyle has come to believe. Forced to move away from home with his older brother, Lyle finds himself in a new town, far away from a painful past and heading toward a lonely future. When he finds comfort in making dolls using a mysterious sewing kit, he soon discovers that his life will be anything but lonely! Be immersed in this heartfelt tale of love and discover what it means to find yourself, no matter who, or what, is willing to lend a hand!

     Hello! My name is Karitsa and I'm a solo indie developer. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign in Spring 2021, my very first visual novel, Doki Doki Dollmaker is out now! It's a Boys Love (BL or BxB) romantic comedy filled with colorful characters and wholesome moments. I've been working on this passion project for over a decade now, writing, producing, and programming in my spare time. Doki Doki Dollmaker couldn't have happened without support from family, friends, fans, backers, and the talented artists, musicians, and editors commissioned to bring its story and characters to life. I'm so grateful for the support this project has received over its years of development and sincerely hope the full release exceeds expectations!

     The full version is now available for purchase exclusively on Itch.io along with a free extended demo for Windows, Linux, and Mac. (Due to limitations, the Linux and Mac versions have not been extensively tested.) Please consider leaving the project a rating/review here on Itch.io - it really helps the project's visibility!

Features:

💛 5 Romance Options

🧡 50+ CG Images

💗 10+ Hours of Gameplay

💚 8 Different Endings

💜 Optional 18+ Epilogues

Thank you for your interest in my visual novel! Follow the project on Twitter @DokiDollmaker to be notified of future sales and giveaways!

Karitsa

Hi miko,

Thanks for following the project all this time! 💗 Yes, I’m so excited to finally share Lyle’s story with everyone. I hope you enjoy your play-through(s) and get the ending(s) you’re aiming for!!

Karitsa

Hi xipielle,

Your comment brings me so much joy - thank you for your kind words! I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the demo and are excited for the full release. We're getting very close now... less than two months away! I can't wait to share Lyle's story with you. I hope your happy tears outweigh the sad ones!! ♥

Karitsa

Hi Gracefeel,

Doki Doki Dollmaker will be available on PC only via itch. There are no plans for a mobile/Android release in the future, but if anything changes, I’ll be sure to let players know on this itch page and on Twitter @DokiDollmaker as well. 😊 Thank you so much for your interest! I’m happy that you’re excited for the project. We’re working very hard on it!

Karitsa

Nautinthislifetime,

Thank you so much for sharing. 💗 We’ve been working very hard on the full release and hope to bring it to you soon. I’m happy to hear that you like the concept and characters; your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated! ☺️

Karitsa

Of course! ☺️ Thank you for your patience and support. 🙏

Hi Kelsea!

I appreciate your anticipation for the project! Here’s what’s left to be done before release (as far as programming goes):

-  Implement remaining CGs (as they come in)
-  Write five 18+ epilogues
-  Code and polish five 18+ epilogues
- Apply editor-advised changes and corrections (as they come in)

Another artist, bemicat, has joined the team to help us catch up with CG production, which we were behind on. Editing will be 60% complete by the end of next month. We don’t have an official release date at this time, but will communicate it with players as soon as one becomes available! 😊

Karitsa

Hi NewVane!

There are no plans to release Doki Doki Dollmaker on Steam at this time, but if anything changes in the future, I’ll be sure to communicate that with players. Thanks for your interest! 😊

Karitsa

I’m glad you’re looking forward to the full release, MyKawaiiPanda!

Hi Kelsea,

You’re not doing anything wrong! The “Buy Now” option does not work at this time because there is nothing to buy - the commercial version of the game has not been released yet. The full version will become available next year, alongside an extended demo; I hope you’ll look forward to it!

Thank you for your support. 💗

Kelsea,

Thanks for trying the demo! I’m so happy to hear you’re excited for the full release. Feel free to follow the project on Twitter/Tumblr to stay up-to-date with the project’s progress!

Also, Doki Doki Dollmaker’s artist is the same as Cute Demon Crashers; looks like you recognized Dejinyucu’s art! 😊

Marlonplays,

Thanks for checking out the demo and sharing your play through! I enjoyed watching your video; the commentary was entertaining and I caught myself laughing at many of your responses. I especially enjoyed your reaction to the dolls! Kahvel isn't often a first-choice, so it was cool to see someone gravitate toward him like you did.

I sincerely appreciate your kind words about the project and would love to watch your full play through someday!

Eviepuss,

I'm glad you enjoyed playing the demo and are excited to learn more about the characters! Although the story is fairly linear (with choices affecting specific scenes, dialogue, and endings), I'm sure the unique moments with each doll will make your repeat-plays equally enjoyable! If you've fallen for all five dolls, you may want to aim for the "full group" good ending - it's difficult to obtain, but the bonus scene is worth it.

Thank you for your kind words about Lyle's character and the story. Doki Doki Dollmaker is romance-focused, but it's also a coming-of-age story. Lyle is trying to adapt to his new environment, cope with loss, and learn about himself as he enters a new stage in his life. You will find that his relationships with Cole, Tilly, and Mr. Mendoza can be just as important to his growth as his relationship with the dolls. I'm happy to hear that these aspects of the story are a welcome addition to the script!

Thanks again for your lovely comment and support!