Ren'Py AlternativesTop Game Development Tools and other similar apps like Ren'Py

Ren'Py is described as 'A visual novel engine that helps you use words, images, and sounds to tell interactive stories that run on computers, mobile devices, and the web' and is a popular game development tool in the development category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Ren'Py for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Web-based and Android apps. The best Ren'Py alternative is Twine, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Ren'Py are Dream Novel, LÖVE, Inky by Inkle and Ink by Inkle.

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Ren'Py alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Twine icon

    Twine

     89 likes
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    Twine is an open-source tool for telling interactive, nonlinear stories.

    52 Twine alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    The interface when a new story is made.
     
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    11
    Comments about Twine as an Alternative to Ren'Py
    cel
    1

    Not exactly a visual novel engine, but rather an interactive fiction engine.

    Visual novel: usually has a ton of graphics, showing character in the screen. Interactive fiction: mainly text-based, image and visualization often not present.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    This is one of two software I was deciding between and after working with both I decided to go with Ren'py, but I see myself using both in the future depending on situation

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ren'Py Icon
    Twine icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Twine is a great Ren'Py alternative.

    • Twine is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Ren'Py.

    • Twine is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Ren'Py.

    • Twine is Free and Open SourceRen'Py is also Free and Open Source
    • Twine is LightweightRen'Py is not according to our users
  2. Dream Novel icon

    Dream Novel

     10 likes
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    Dream Novel is an AI-powered visual novel platform where every story adapts to your choices. Create dynamic, branching narratives with evolving characters and immersive worlds - no two playthroughs are the same.

    34 Dream Novel alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    Dream Novel screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Dream Novel as an Alternative to Ren'Py
    Angelica Lloyd
    Positive
    1

    Dream Novel is way easier to use than Ren’Py since you don’t need any coding. You just write, and the AI helps you build everything right in your browser.

    Philippa McCarthy
    Positive
    1

    You don’t need to code or install anything, and the AI helps you build stories that actually react to your choices.

    Ren'Py Icon
    Dream Novel icon
    • Dream Novel is Free and ProprietaryRen'Py is Free and Open Source
    • Dream Novel is Lightweight and Privacy focusedRen'Py is not according to our users
  4. LÖVE icon

    LÖVE

     98 likes
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    Hi there! LÖVE is an awesome framework you can use to make 2D games in Lua. It's free, open-source, and works on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android and iOS.

    103 LÖVE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • FreeBSD
    LÖVE screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about LÖVE as an Alternative to Ren'Py
    Guest
    Negative
    3

    LOVE is a generic game engine. Ren'Py is specific to visual novels.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ren'Py Icon
    LÖVE icon

    • Some users think LÖVE is a great Ren'Py alternative, some don't.

    • LÖVE is the most popular Android, iPhone & iPad alternative to Ren'Py.

    • LÖVE is Free and Open SourceRen'Py is also Free and Open Source
    • LÖVE is LightweightRen'Py is not according to our users
  6. Ink by Inkle icon

    Ink by Inkle

     9 likes
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    ink is a scripting language built around the idea of marking up pure-text with flow in order to produce interactive scripts.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Ink by Inkle screenshot 1
     
  7. TyranoBuilder icon

    TyranoBuilder

     4 likes
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    Start making your own multi-platform video games right NOW, even if you know nothing about game programming or scripting! TyranoBuilder’s suite of intuitive drag-and-drop tools allows you to create high quality visual novels with speed and ease, and bring your creativity visions...

    32 TyranoBuilder alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Steam
    TyranoBuilder screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about TyranoBuilder as an Alternative to Ren'Py
    jayrab
    Positive
    0

    No coding or scripting, just drag what you want into the scene

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ren'Py Icon
    TyranoBuilder icon

    • TyranoBuilder is the most popular commercial alternative to Ren'Py.

    • TyranoBuilder is Paid and ProprietaryRen'Py is Free and Open Source
  9. Tuesday JS icon

    Tuesday JS

     10 likes
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    Tuesday is a free open source engine for creating visual novels, interactive stories and text-based adventure games. Written in JavaScript without using any third party libraries. There is support for the Apache Cordova framework for building native mobile and desktop...

    28 Tuesday JS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Visualization script
     
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    1
    Comments about Tuesday JS as an Alternative to Ren'Py
    Mano
    Positive
    -1

    Very easy to use and understand. You can run the editor online on download to run on your machine. Since it's pure javascript, it's easy to run the editor, and the games, anywhere.

    Ren'Py Icon
    Tuesday JS icon

    • Tuesday JS is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Ren'Py.

    • Tuesday JS is Free and Open SourceRen'Py is also Free and Open Source
  11. QuestJS icon

    QuestJS

     2 likes
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    Quest 6 is a full re-write of Quest, an interactive fiction app, to pure JavaScript. It's a framework for creating parser-based text adventures.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    QuestJS screenshot 1
     
  12. Pixi’VN icon

    Pixi’VN

     5 likes
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    Pixi’VN is a very versatile and powerful visual novel/2D game engine. It is based on JavaScript/TypeScript and uses the PixiJS library for rendering.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • JavaScript
    • Typescript
    • Node.JS
    Pixi’VN screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Pixi’VN as an Alternative to Ren'Py
    ringostrar3
    Positive
    1

    They are very similar. But pixivn gives the possibility to use javascript and also ink.

    Mad Max
    Positive
    0

    Much lighter and more complete than renpy

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ren'Py Icon
    Pixi’VN icon
    • Pixi’VN is Free and Open SourceRen'Py is also Free and Open Source
    • Pixi’VN is LightweightRen'Py is not according to our users
  13. RenJS icon

    RenJS

     Like
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    RenJS V2 is finally here! Coded from scratch in Typescript (thanks to RockDaFox!), RenJS V2 has better performance and a multitude of new features to make the Visual Novel of your dreams. There's also a new site where you can find the latest version of the library, as well...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    RenJS screenshot 1
     
  14. Naninovel icon

    Naninovel

     6 likes
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    Full-featured, writer-friendly and completely customizable visual novel engine.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • OSVR
    • HTC Vive
    • Self-Hosted
    • Apple TV
    • Playstation VR
    • Unity
    • Steam
    • Playstation
    • Gear VR
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Daydream
    • Xbox
    • Oculus Rift
    Naninovel screenshot 1
     

    • Naninovel is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Ren'Py.

    • Naninovel is Paid and ProprietaryRen'Py is Free and Open Source
12 of 47 Ren'Py alternatives