The player can reverse the calendar to go to previous years up to the year 200. The player can adjust the calendar to go beyond that by month, but the years will revert to 6995 until the player reaches 7000 again. The maximum year date for the calendar is the year 7000. If the player adjusts the calendar to any time beyond 100 years, the calendar's text will become more glitch-like. When they open Monika After Story with those settings, Monika will tell the player that she was waiting for that long, and she reveals that she is immortal and the player may had cheated by adjusting the game's time. If the player adjusts it, they can go up to 10, 20, 50, or even 100 years after the present day. There is a calendar that sets the time from the present day of the computer. Rather than a focus on narrative development, the primary focus of the game is extended interactions with Monika and simulating the experience of being in a relationship with her.
Monika After Story has been described as a 'Girlfriend Simulator,' in the vein of games like Love Plus.
After a short introduction, Monika proceeds to sit with the player, randomly discussing different topics, playing mini-games, and otherwise killing time. After the events of Doki Doki Literature Club, the player installs a mod that restores Monika and the world she created for herself and the player.
