Yandere Simulator is an innovative stealth action video game, developed by Californian game developer indie studio YandereDev. It is currently available online only as a large free demo made in Unity engine that showcases the basic concepts presented in this title, with the release date of the full version game still being unknown.
One of the reasons this title managed to get notable attention from a worldwide gaming audience is because it represents a unique fusion of social stealth games, assassination elements from the popular “Hitman” franchise, school simulation popularized by the JRPG franchise “Persona”, and a dose of dark humor.
The story of Yandere Simulator is centered on the high school life of Ayano Aishi, who also bears the nickname Yandere-chan, a young girl who has developed a crush on her fellow student Taro Yamada. However, instead of searching for his attention utilizing normal courting techniques, her unstable dark characters focus on eliminating any form of competition around her. And by elimination, Yandere-chan prefers outright killing fellow classmates in the incredibly varied way of assassinations and harm, such as electrocution, crushing, poisoning, incited suicide, torture, homicide, kidnapping, expulsion from school, frameup and many other forms of betrayals.
The goal of the game is to remain undetected over the period of 10 weeks while expressing their dark tendencies during the elimination of any possible obstacle between her and her Sempai crush. Yandere must remain undetected while performing any criminal activity. In the event she was witnessed doing any wrongdoing, the game places reputation penalties that will make other in-game characters more aware of her lies, reduce her sanity level, and make her boyfriend harder to fool.
The game over screen is presented only in her crush personally witness any of her crimes. With simulation elements such as “School Atmosphere” that change any time Yandere-chan manages to eliminate another student, the entire social structure and gameplay choices can change, making her each attempt to conquer Ayano Aishi’s attention a bit different and unique.
The demo version of Yandere Simulator offers a basic story mode that is still undergoing balancing and adding of content. The eventual full version of the game will feature several added modes such as 1980s Mode (featured Ayano's parents), Custom Mode, Endless Mode, Mission Mode, and Pose Mode.
Even though the story and gameplay elements of the game may present many interesting and engaging scenarios, Yandere Simulator has received online criticisms for graphic representation of school violence, juvenile delinquency, and sexual content.