A visual novel engine is a package of code designed to simplify the programming of visual novels. They reduce the burden of visual novel creation by allowing developers to reuse a framework that provides many of the basic features, such as utilities for displaying sprites, backgrounds, and music; saving and loading systems; choice screens and non-linear control flow; and pre-built accessibility features.
Ren'Py is the most popular engine for indie, English-language visual novels. As of July 2025, almost 23,000 visual novels made with Ren'Py were cataloged on VNDB. Engines such as KiriKiri and TyranoBuilder are more popular in Japan, with 6,800 and 4,700 games cataloged on VNDB respectively.
Visual novels are also developed in more general purpose game engines such as RPGMaker, Gamemaker, and Unity. Some of these engines have visual novel frameworks built on top of them, like NaniNovel for Unity.
Most popular engines
Other engines
| Name |
Last Update |
Platforms |
Access
|
| Belle |
2017 |
Web |
Open Source
|
| CatSystem2 |
2016 |
Windows |
Free/Commercial
|
| Dorian |
2023 |
iOS, Android |
Gated
|
| KiriKiri Z |
2017 |
Windows, Android (Kirikiroid2) |
Open Source
|
| Kocho |
2021 |
iOS, Android |
Free
|
| libnpengine |
2019 |
|
|
| Light.vn |
2024 |
Windows, Web, iOS, Android |
Free
|
| LiveMaker |
2018 |
Windows |
Free
|
| Monogatari |
2022 |
Web |
Open Source
|
| Novelty |
2010 |
Windows |
Free
|
| nScripter |
2018 |
Windows
|
| NVList |
2022 |
Multiple |
Open Source
|
| Om3ga Visual Novel Engine |
2018 |
|
Free
|
| OpenEngine |
2024 |
|
Free
|
| RenJS |
2022 |
Web |
Free
|
| RichCast |
2023 |
Windows, macOS |
|
| SEEVN 2 |
2021 |
Windows, macOS, Linux |
Free
|
| Tuesday JS visual novel engine |
2023 |
Multiple |
Open Source
|
| Visual Novel Maker |
2025 |
Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, Mobile, Web |
One time purchase
|
| VNgen |
2020 |
|
Commercial
|
| Narrat |
2024 |
Windows, macOS, Linux |
Free
|
| Project DVN |
2024 |
Windows, macOS, Linux |
Open Source
|
Narrative engines & middleware
| Name |
Last Update |
Platforms |
Access
|
| Inky |
2023 |
Web |
Free
|
| Twine |
2023 |
Windows, macOS, Linux |
Open Source
|
| March22-Unity |
2019 |
Unity |
Open Source
|
| Dialogic 2
|
2025
|
Godot
|
Open Source
|
Defunct engines
Guides
External links
