Ren’Py is a visual novel engine – used by thousands of creators from around the world –
that helps you use words, images, and sounds to tell interactive stories that run on computers and mobile devices.
These can be both visual novels and life simulation games. The easy to learn script language allows
anyone to efficiently write large visual novels, while its Python scripting is enough for complex
simulation games.
Ren’Py is open source and free for commercial use.
Where does it run?
Android 5.0+
HTML5/Web Assembly (Beta)
Linux x86_64/Arm
Windows 7+
Mac OS X 10.10+
iOS 11+
Where do I get it?
The latest o
11 Comments
riffraff
Curious, I discovered this today as I played a visual novel built with it: Doki Doki literature club (free on steam).
Interesting read/play, but not for everyone.
TheDong
This was used to make 'Analogue: A Hate Story', which in my opinion was an interesting visual novel to read, with some more unusual interactive elements as well.
It feels to me like 'Hate Story' and its sequel ('Hate Plus') really pushed the bounds of what a visual novel engine can easily do.
optionalsquid
As somebody who has read a large number of visual novels (VNs), I consider Ren'py one of the better engines as a consumer:
– It has all the basic featured you'd expect, ranging from proper backlogs, to key bindings, and much more. You'd be shocked how many VN developers think that they can just pop out an VN engine themselves, and end up producing something that lacks even basic features.
– It is performant. You'd be surprised how poorly many VN engines run really poorly. Fast-forwarding past already-read text is often capped at a surprisingly slow rate, with your CPU pegged at 100%, due to how inefficient many engines are
– It is easily moddable, as you just need to plop a (pseudo-)python script into the game folder, so you can easily tweak or turn off annoying bits of UI
A number of localization companies have also ported (typically older) Japanese titles to Ren'py, instead of having to struggle with poor to non-existent support for non-Japanese systems in the original engine, as well as extremely expensive engine licenses, and just straight up poorly written bespoke engines. Examples of companies having done this includes JAST USA, FAKKU, MangaGamer, and (IIRC) Sekai Project/Denpasoft. In other words, the heavy hitters of VN localization.
The other main contender for best VN engine (in my mind) is the KiriKiri engine, which I believe is also open source, but which lacks the large, English-speaking community that Ren'py has built.
Despite that, Ren'py does have a bit of a poor reputation in the older VN reading community, more specifically among readers who mainly read localized, Japanese VNs, due to its association with low-budget, originally English visual novels. Typically the same people have only heard of DDLC and Katawa Shoujo, when it comes to originally English visual novels
jandrese
They have a database of over 4,000 visual novels built with this engine, but that barely scratches the surface. If you know where to look there are many thousands more projects built on this engine.
Frotag
For context, visual novels are basically ~novella sized stories that come with visuals like static backgrounds + a few dozen renders per character. The character renders tend to be mostly the same, with small variations in facial expression, pose, maybe outfit.
All that to say, you probably won't like VNs unless you like reading. Don't expect much gameplay / animation. That said, the more famous stories tend to have multiple endings determined by a handful of choices you get during the story. On occasion, some games go for sandbox-style gameplay where you roam the map to grind out currency to unlock visual novel scenes.
In terms of genre I'd say at least half are dating sims, with the rest being some kind of adventure or mystery story. I'd also guess at least half are nsfw / r18. Renpy VNs tend to be made by indie devs from everywhere but Japan, which has a VN industry with in-house engines.
Writing quality tends to be what you expect from indie authors / devs. That is, filled with tropes, tending towards the wish-fulfillment types. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, you'll be surprised what you'd be willing to overlook if the premise / plot seems interesting.
alt187
I really wish they'd implement proper XDG stuff, because the engine is great and I love VNs but all I can think about is the ~/.renpy littering my home.
lelandfe
Some really cool stuff has been built with Ren'Py. A (fairly) recent example for me is Roadwarden, a 20hr long RPG.
AdamH12113
If you're wondering what's up with the name, "Ren'Py" is a pun on the Japanese word "ren'ai" (恋愛), which means "romantic love".
VectorLock
If you look on SteamDB PyGame and Ren'Py are the 5th and 6th most used technologies, ahead of Godot. https://steamdb.info/tech/
Some people point out this is mainly because of the erotic novel shovelware that is quite popular on Steam.
philipov
I just picked up Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog, which launched on steam this week, and was made with RenPy. It's going great so far. Some of the lore reminds me a lot of Martian Successor Nadesico.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2118420/Stories_from_Sol_…
brianbest101
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