Yandere Simulator is a popular action video game available for Windows and Mac OS. It has an engaging look and user-friendly navigation, making it easy to play. YandereDev, the game developer, has hinted at a Mission Mode for the 1980s Mode, but there are no specific details yet. Currently, the focus is on implementing a real rival, as the remaining elimination methods are specific to each rival. YandereDev found that the majority of his fans are generally supportive, contrary to the vocal minority of detractors. He appreciated the thoughtful feedback and took some concerns into consideration, turning a potential controversy into a learning experience.
In the game, the main character ends up in crippling debt to a mortgage-shark named Mr. Haruka. In a video from July 24, 2016, it is revealed that if the player kills one of the Basu sisters in front of the other, they will no longer stand idle or run away. Even the school baseball team may become an obstacle at some point. YandereDev once contemplated splitting the character Osana into a gentle childhood friend resembling Rival-chan, and a tsundere childhood friend. At one point in the game, the player has the choice to kidnap Kokona, who has been trying to earn money through questionable means, and ransom her for the cancellation of all her father's clients' debts.
YandereDev has considered allowing the player to leave notes and gifts for Senpai to show that Ayano is not simply an emotionless stalker. This feature potentially helps in maintaining Senpai's hidden Sanity stat from dropping too low due to the player's murderous actions. It prevents the player from easily killing their rival without any witnesses, promoting the use of other methods to eliminate witnesses.
Avoiding confusion with another game with the same title, YandereDev is keen on not using a similar name. In the realm of Japanese media tropes, there are some recurring themes frequently discussed in the anime community. As the game is in early production, only one ending is currently available, the Genocide Ending. YandereDev has mentioned different possible endings, but they have not been fully implemented yet. Osana, one of the rivals, will admit that Senpai is not her type, but she develops feelings for him over time. A heartwarming moment is associated with Amai Odayaka, the rival for week 2. Unlike other rivals who rely on Senpai for emotional support, Amai becomes friends with Senpai specifically to provide him with emotional support after his previous week's emotional turmoil caused by dealing with Osana's elimination.
At 5:00 PM, Osana leaves a note in Senpai's locker, asking him to meet her under the cherry tree. Yan-chan, the player's character, then asks Kokona to meet her the following morning for a conversation. In a meetup with fans in 2017, YandereDev received a handmade Yan-chan plushie, which he proudly displayed in a subsequent video, expressing his adoration for its cuteness. In another video, YandereDev addressed the issue of Twitch's lack of response to him and defended the platform, providing reasonable explanations for the lack of communication. Eventually, Twitch responded in February 2017, explaining the previous ban on Yandere Simulator and why it was unlikely to be lifted in the near future. Twitch cited the need to avoid repeatedly reviewing the game with each change as the main reason for the ban.
