For new game creators it might initially seem more intimidating, but it is worth the time. It is well supported by a massive community in the Lemma Soft forums, and relatively bug free. Joel Peterson, Destructoid: 'For what little code you actually need to learn to put together a basic game, Ren’Py makes sense. It’s worth reaching outside of Ren’Py’s apparent feature set, as there’s a wild world of additional tutorials out there that can help you get the most out of it. You can implement stat-tracking systems, item management mechanics, and various other cool tweaks that make your game feel more rich and full-featured than you may have previously thought. Your mileage will vary in this department, naturally.Īs long as you can edit photos, provide custom artwork, and follow simple instructions, Ren’Py opens up dramatically beyond the simple conversation paths most visual novels are content with. More difficult things like parallax transitions, customized menus, and transitions took some studying, but I was able to figure them out. Despite having zero knowledge of Python or any prior programming experience, I was able to edit the sample game it came packaged with in a satisfactory manner, simply writing code based on the examples in the short visual novel that serves as a demo of what Ren’Py is capable of. When setting out to create my own visual novel, my first stop was with Ren’Py, as I had used it years ago to enter an online contest (and won!). You can implement stat-tracking systems, item management mechanics, and various other cool tweaks All of this, however, can be learned through visiting online tutorials, tinkering with sample projects, and studying Python independently.

It’s a simple open source engine that only truly requires you know how to edit text and utilize some basic Python programming. It’s been around for quite some time, and you’ve probably played several games that use Ren’Py as their basis. Talking to VN creators, Ren’Py is the choice of the overwhelming majority. Ren’Py is likely the first tool you’ll hear about when you begin your search.

Perfect for you if: You enjoy straightforward design, learning bits of code, and following instructions to implement additional mechanicsĮxample games: Butterfly Soup, Katawa Shoujo, Ladykiller in a Bind, Long Live The Queen, Analogue: A Hate Story, Doki Doki Literature Club!

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