The Ren'Py Visual Novel Engine

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <title>The Ren'Py Visual Novel Engine</title> <link rel="alternate" href="/feed/" title="Announcements Atom Feed" type="application/atom+xml"> <meta name="fb:page_id" content="179822028707441"> <link rel="icon" href="/static/favicon.ico"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/bootstrap/css/bootstrap.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/colorbox/colorbox.css" type="text/css" media="screen" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css">  </head> <body> <nav class="navbar navbar-default" role="navigation"> <div class="container"> <div class="navbar-header"> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navbar-collapse-1"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> </button> <a class="navbar-brand" href="/">Ren'Py</a> </div> <div class="navbar-collapse collapse" id="navbar-collapse-1"> <ul class="nav navbar-nav"> <li ><a href="/why.html" title="Why Ren'Py?">Why Ren'Py</a></li> <li ><a href="/latest.html" title="Download Ren'Py">Download</a></li> <li ><a href="/doc/html/">Documentation</a></li> <li ><a href="http://games.renpy.org/">Ren'Py Games List</a></li> </ul> <form class="navbar-form navbar-right" action="https://www.google.com/cse"> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="000797277883883151475:iiwpz4lr2zw" /> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="UTF-8" /> <div class="form-group"> <input class="form-control" id="search" type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search Ren'Py" title="Search Ren'Py"> <button class="btn btn-default" type="submit" title="Search Ren'Py">Search</button> </div> </form> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="container content"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8"> <img src="/static/index-logo.png" class="index-logo" alt=""> <h1>What is Ren'Py?</h1> <p>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.</p> <p>Ren'Py is open source and free for commercial use.</p> <div class="center"><a href="/why.html" class="btn btn-lg btn-link">Why Ren'Py?</a></div> <h2>Where does it run?</h2> <div class="row platforms"> <div class="col-sm-2"> <div class="platform-logo"> <img src="/static/android-small.png" alt=""> </div> Android 5.0+ </div> <div class="col-sm-2"> <div class="platform-logo"> <img src="/static/html5-small.png" alt=""> </div> HTML5/Web Assembly (Beta) </div> <div class="col-sm-2"> <div class="platform-logo"> <img src="/static/linux-small.png" alt=""> </div> Linux x86_64/Arm </div> <div class="col-sm-2"> <div class="platform-logo"> <img src="/static/windows-small.png" alt=""> </div> Windows 7+ </div> <div class="col-sm-2"> <div class="platform-logo"> <img src="/static/osx-small.png" alt=""> </div> Mac OS X 10.10+ </div> <div class="col-sm-2"> <div class="platform-logo"> <img src="/static/ios-small.png" alt=""> </div> iOS 11+<br> </div> </div> <h2>Where do I get it?</h2> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-6"> <p> The latest official release of Ren'Py 8 is 8.3.7 "Second Star to the Right", released on March 17, 2025. Ren'Py 8 is recommended for all projects. </p> </div> <div class="col-md-6"> <p> The nightly fix version of Ren'Py is built every night, and contains fixes to the latest stable version. It isn't tested as well as the official release, but often has fixes that haven't made it through the release process. </p> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="center"><a href="/latest.html" role="button" class="btn btn-lg btn-success">Download Ren'Py 8.3.7</a></div> </div> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="center"><a href="https://nightly.renpy.org/current-8-fix/" role="button" class="btn btn-lg btn-success">Download Ren'Py 8 Nightly Fix</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12"> <p> Ren'Py 7 is the legacy version of Ren'Py, to support ongoing projects that will be released in 2024. The latest version of Ren'Py 7 is 7.8.7 "Straight on Till Morning", released on March 17, 2025. </p> <div class="col-md-12"> <div class="center"><a href="/latest-7.html" role="button" class="btn btn-link">Download Ren'Py 7.8.7</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-6 clearfix"> <h2>Where do I start?</h2> <p> The <a href="http://www.renpy.org/doc/html/quickstart.html">quickstart</a> walks you through the process of creating a simple game. </p>  <p> Ren'Py comes with a comprehensive, if complex, <a href="/doc/html/">reference manual</a>, also available in <a href="http://ja.renpy.org/doc/html/">Japanese</a>, <a href="https://www.renpy.org/doc/html/">Simplified Chinese</a>, and <a href="https://www.renpy.cn/doc-tw/">Traditional Chinese</a>. </p> <img class="octocat" src="/static/github.png" alt=""> <p> If you think you've found a bug in Ren'Py, report it to our <a href="http://www.github.com/renpy/renpy/issues">GitHub issue tracker</a>. </p> <p> If you'd like to contribute to Ren'Py development, please visit our <a href="http://www.github.com/renpy/renpy">GitHub project page</a>. </p> </div> <div class="col-md-6"> <h2>How do I keep in touch?</h2> <p> The best places to ask questions about Ren'Py are the <a href="http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/">Lemma Soft Forums</a>, the <a href="https://discord.gg/6ckxWYm">Ren'Py Discord</a>, and the <a href="http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=renpy">#renpy IRC channel</a>. </p> <p>We make news about Ren'Py available on a number of social platforms:</p> <p> <b>Twitter:</b> You can follow Ren'Py's lead developer <a href="http://twitter.com/renpytom">@renpytom</a> for release announcements, development news, and general commentary on life. </p> <p> <b>Facebook:</b> We announce new releases on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/renpy">our Facebook page</a>. </p>  </div> </div> <h2>Who is it sponsored by?</h2> <div class="banner-sponsors clearfix"> <div class="sponsor-740" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://ratalaikagames.com/renpybanner.php" rel="nofollow"><img src="/static/sponsors/740x150/Ratalaika Games.png" alt="Ratalaika Games" width="740"></a> </div> <div class="sponsor-740" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="https://www.renpy.org/agegate?url=https://komisari.itch.io/heros-harem-guild" rel="nofollow"><img src="/static/sponsors/740x100/Hero's Harem Guild.png" alt="Hero's Harem Guild" width="740"></a> </div> <div class="sponsor-740" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1129190/Our_Life_Beginnings__Always/" rel="nofollow"><img src="/static/sponsors/740x100/GB Patch Games.png" alt="GB Patch Games" width="740"></a> </div> <div class="sponsor-740" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="" rel="nofollow"><img src="/static/sponsors/740x100/Zimon.png" alt="Zimon" width="740"></a> </div> <div class="sponsor-740" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/developer/blacktabbygames" rel="nofollow"><img src="/static/sponsors/740x100/Black Tabby Games.png" alt="Black Tabby Games" width="740"></a> </div> <div class="sponsor-740" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="https://kaijoseisoft.itch.io/galactic-love-utopia-arrival" rel="nofollow"><img src="/static/sponsors/740x100/Galactic Love Utopia.png" alt="Galactic Love Utopia" width="740"></a> </div> <div class="sponsor-740" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3040110?utm_source=renpy" rel="nofollow"><img src="/static/sponsors/740x100/Galantrix.png" alt="Galantrix" width="740"></a> </div> <div class="sponsor-740" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="" rel="nofollow"><img src="/static/sponsors/740x100/Brian Knox.png" alt="Brian Knox" width="740"></a> </div> <div class="sponsor-350" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="https://bit.ly/3DwE8sS" rel="nofollow"><img src="/static/sponsors/350x100/Fallen Eros.png" alt="Fallen Eros" width="350"></a> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-6" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; font-size: 18px;"> Natalie Van Sistine </div> <div class="col-md-6" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; font-size: 18px;"> ToastCrust </div> <div class="col-md-6" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; font-size: 18px;"> RA </div> <div class="col-md-6" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; font-size: 18px;"> <a href="https://www.renpy.org/agegate?url=https://www.patreon.com/BildurTyr" rel="nofollow">Bildur</a> </div> <div class="col-md-6" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; font-size: 18px;"> CobraPL </div> <div class="col-md-6" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; font-size: 18px;"> <a href="http://www.hanakogames.com/" rel="nofollow">Hanako Games</a> </div> <div class="col-md-6" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; font-size: 18px;"> Denny Cheng </div> <div class="col-md-6" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; font-size: 18px;"> OppaiMan </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12" style="font-size: 18px; margin-top: .5em;"> ... and <a href="/sponsors.html"><b>876</b> more sponsors</a>. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/renpytom" style="color: #e6461a"> <img style="margin-left: .5em; margin-right: -6px; max-height: 25px; vertical-align: top;" src="/static/sponsors/patreon.png"> Become a Sponsor! </a> </div> </div> <p class="center"> To ask questions that aren't appropriate for a public forum, or to find a speaker for your visual novel-related conference or con, please <a href="/email">contact us via email</a>. </p> </div> <div class="col-md-4 featured"> <h2 class="hidden-md hidden-lg">Featured Games</h2> <p class="blurb"> Ren'Py has been used to create over 8,000 visual novels, games, and other works. You can find Ren'Py visual novels at <a href="https://vndb.org/v?q=&ch=&f=05N18fwRen_7Py-N18a5h741N18Ng01N18gwcomplete-&s=n2w">the Visual Novel Database</a>, and games made with Ren'Py on <a href="https://itch.io/games/top-rated/made-with-renpy">Itch.io</a> and <a href="https://steamdb.info/tech/Engine/RenPy/">Steam</a>. </p> <p class="blurb"> Here are just a few of the games made with Ren'Py. </p> <figure> <a href="/static/featured/bet.png" class="colorbox"><img src="/static/featured/bet.png" class="img-responsive"></a> <figcaption> Bad End Theater (<a href="https://nomnomnami.itch.io/bad-end-theater">Itch</a>, <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1764390/BAD_END_THEATER/">Steam</a>) uses Ren'Py to subject its protagonists to dozens of terrible fates. </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <a href="/static/featured/slay_the_princess.jpg" class="colorbox"><img src="/static/featured/slay_the_princess.jpg" class="img-responsive"></a> <figcaption> <p>In <a class="gamename" http="https://blacktabbygames.com/content-warnings-stp">Slay the Princess</a>, a voice asks you to kill the princess to save the world. Can you trust it?</p> <p>Slay the Princess uses Ren'Py to change on each play-through. Some graphic content means it may not be suitable for all players.</p> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <a href="/static/featured/ddlc.png" class="colorbox"><img src="/static/featured/ddlc.png" class="img-responsive"></a> <figcaption> <p>The desktop version of <a class="gamename" href="https://ddlc.moe">Doki Doki Literature Club</a> makes use of Ren'Py to be more than it appears to be.</p> <p>Some graphic content means it may not be suitable for all players.</p> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <a href="/static/featured/highway_blossoms.jpg" class="colorbox"><img src="/static/featured/highway_blossoms.jpg" class="img-responsive"></a> <figcaption> <a class="gamename" href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/451760/">Highway Blossoms</a>, the tale of two girls' epic road trip through the American southwest. </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <a href="/static/featured/videoverse.jpg" class="colorbox"><img src="/static/featured/videoverse.jpg" class="img-responsive"></a> <figcaption> <a class="gamename" href="https://www.gamesbykinmoku.com/videoverse.html">Videoverse</a> uses Ren'Py to bring you back to the world of 1-bit video. </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="/static/jquery.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/static/jquery.browser.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/static/bootstrap/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/static/colorbox/jquery.colorbox-min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/static/main.js?5"></script> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-N81SL5BT3F"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-N81SL5BT3F'); </script> </body> </html>

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The Ren'Py Visual Novel Engine