Light.vn

Light.vn Visual Novel Engine

Light.vn is a visual novel engine designed for ultra fast iteration to bring out the highest quality in all projects. 

• Homepage
• Twitter | Youtube | Bilibili
• Discord 
  • (all welcome!)

Main features

• Realtime Preview: the biggest feature in Light.vn. open up your project in the editor and click on a line - the preview screen immediately displays the state of the project at that point in time.

• Games in an instant: Unlike drag and drop UIs, Light.vn's scripting language allows you to simply copy-paste your scenario, your first game is done in an instant.

• Pixel perfect: Feel free to finally get that textbox, that image just right up to the very pixel. No need to restart the game or click refresh - Light.vn's editor auto reflects on preview your every single change

• Complete UI set: Backlog, Config, Save, Load, Replay, etc. - Light.vn's official sample comes with all built in, ready for use. 

• Simple: Your whole project is just a single folder. Copy paste to backup. Double click the editor to go again. No need to install some central bulky program on your PC.

• Extensible: From traditional visual novels to 2D RPGs and 3D dungeon mechanics, unleash your possibilities. 

• Well Tested: Tired of software that breaks now and again? Light.vn comes with it's own testing suite, LightTests.exe, guaranteeing quality, stability, and deterministic performance.

• Completely free: We take no dime. (And have taken none since development start in 2012)

• Great support: We've worked with teams both small and large for over 10 years. Have a question? Just drop into Discord! We have your back.

Outputs

• Windows (8~), Browser. iOS, Android.
• Light.vn's c++ core library guarantees ultra-fast, no stress execution on all platforms.

Games on different Platforms

• Windows (bundled together in download)
• Browser (Freem!)
• iOS (App Store)
• Android (Google Play)
• Steam (Living in Spring)
• Youtube (亡郷のアルメリア)

Games to Date

• https://wikiwiki.jp/lightvn/Lightvn_list/contents

Usage

• LightApp.exe: game application
• LightEditor.exe: development editor. 
  • Entry Script: set in Project -> Settings.
  • F5 to switch between edit and test play mode.
• LightTests.exe: tests that can be run to check you or the user's development environment

Configuration

• Data: for all your assets
• SaveData: where saved data gets placed (can be configured)
• configuration files:
  • settings.xml: application settings
  • settings_dev.xml: editor settings

Updating from previous versions

• Copy the following from the latest version to your project:
  • _export/
  • Config/
  • Tools/
  • LightApp.exe, LightEditor.exe, LightTests.exe

Made By

• BerserkD: main developer (since 2012)
• Yukihara Takashi: wiki manager + japan representative
  • creator of Living in Spring
• Takamagahara Makina: discord community manager
  • creator of Perfect Girl

License

• Free usage for both free and commercial projects
• Commercial projects require submitting our contact form on release
• Light.vn needs to be listed in product spec. and credit pages
  (both free and commercial projects)
• Projects using Gen AI require a [Gen AI tool name] label
• No restrictions on content published

Contributions

• We accept translation contributions

Bug Reports

• Please post in our Discord + Github

Download

• Check below for the English version (-en suffix). 
  • Comes with an extensive tutorial. Start it by opening LightApp.exe!
• The latest version (Japanese) is also uploaded here.
• Note: the official sample contains moving / flashing lights. 

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User Communities

• Discord
• QQ: 909636560 (admin: xiakkto)

Wikis

• Japanese Wiki (main)
• English Wiki
• Chinese Wiki
• Bilibili search (Light.vn) 

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