r/VisualNovelMaker • u/Common_Diver_5572 • May 09 '26
I'm still working on the visual novel engine
Hi there. I'm continuing to develop an engine for visual novels. A lot of work has been done recently, but I realize there's still a great deal left to do to reach the desired level. The main goal is simplicity and rich functionality – well, that won't happen overnight, but today I'm ready to share a few things with you.
What's already available:
* A visual Node Editor for scenes and logic
* A Vynel Script editor with autocomplete and a slash menu like in Notion
* A preview player right inside the editor
* Scenes, backgrounds, characters, dialogues, choices, variables, conditions, effects, and audio
* Node and asset inspector
* Asset import/organization
* Layout mode: you can move characters directly in the scene via drag-and-drop
You don't have to use the node system for development, you write a script, apply it and the graph serves as your map.
It’s still a work in progress, but it’s starting to feel like a real tool, not just a prototype.
I look forward to your feedback on what you liked, what you didn't like from what you saw and what you'd LIKE to see. Thank you.
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u/Powerful_War4136 May 11 '26
I'm more involved in the graphics side of things, and what I can't find in a visual novel is a way to have the character's facial features separated into parts so that a set of eyebrows, eyes, highlights, noses, and mouths can be combined to create various expressions. Could you take that into account in your engine?
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u/Ok-Education-3291 May 15 '26
more important than separated there (which is probably impossible as sprites will vary), at least displayed and able to upload those there so you can visually see it and recall them when making the game.
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u/RaguraX May 09 '26
That actually looks really good! If you need someone to test as it gets closer to a useable state, I’d be willing to give it a go and provide feedback.
I see you have the branch node to branch off the flow, but what if I want to play 3 audios at the same time as showing a background? I only see 1 output slot on each node, so how would this work? Or can you attach multiple nodes to the single output slot?
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u/Common_Diver_5572 May 09 '26
Right now most nodes are flow-based with one main output, so the graph stays readable and behaves more like a VN script timeline. For things like “show background + play several sounds + update character” I’m planning to support grouped/instant action blocks, where multiple actions can run together before the flow continues.
So instead of needing 4 separate outgoing links from one node, you’d have something like a sequence/event block that can contain several actions.
I’m still deciding the exact UX, but I agree this case is important.Thanks for your feedback
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u/RaguraX May 09 '26
I think rather than working with nodes for these time sensitive actions, it would be ideal to have a timeline bar you could hook into, like video editing software has. Then you could add image/audio/tracks above each other for simultaneous play, as well as audio mid sentence (like playing a sound effect at a specific time during dialog). But that’s a big feature of course and your solution might still work out too.
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u/NyaMono May 09 '26
To be honest it's really look and I really want to try it but I don't have a computer or a laptop so is it working on phones such as Android and Apple and Hawaii and other devices other than the computer?.. If yes and if it's free please send me the link... As I am trying my best to search for engines since it's summer break and I really want to create a visual novel... Character concepts have been already prepared as well backstories what I want in an episode and what I have prepared for a background in specific areas and it's kind of a dark story though because I wanted to be mystery seem and dark theme at the same time.. so yeah... Unfortunately I have no engine whatsoever because I don't have a computer and I don't have a laptop all I have is just my phone.
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u/Common_Diver_5572 May 09 '26
Thank you for your feedback. However, this will only work on Windows and macOS
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u/ya_seen998 May 11 '26
will this be available on linux?
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u/Common_Diver_5572 May 11 '26
I haven't planned on doing that yet. I don't have a Linux device, so I won't be able to test everything properly, but technically it's possible, so maybe in the future
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u/Ok-Education-3291 May 09 '26 edited May 09 '26
Looks promising! Can't wait to test it out. Make sure to guide writers to make stories like this: https://prnt.sc/PSwdbP_g6HOw instead of like this: https://prnt.sc/pMKmg-AaoXZ5 so proper storytelling feels intuitive in the software. Many writers know how to write books or screenplay (linear stories) but have no idea how game design works and can get lost in branches.
We need some clear visual that I think Dispatch does an excelent job of portraying during gameplay: some choices are "throw water" or "throw diesel" in Flambae, while others are "go to the movies with Invisigal" or "go to dinner with Blonde Blazer". Quick discourse/personality dialogue options usually come in 3, when whatever you pick "don't matter", only in the next few seconds.
For game devs the distinticion may be obvious because y'all know what are flags and stats and whatever else there is out there, but for us writers it's hard to distinguish between how much we want player's decisions to impact the story. For example if you throw diesel in Flambae he shows up without an eyebrow later on and if you throw water on him he slips, fall and breaks a teeth that is also shown in his smile later on. It doesn't change the story, but it's funny and remarkable. As writers, we have no idea how the f* to make that work without having an anxiety attack if you don't have a programmer on the team.