A downloadable tool

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.

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

Games to Date

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

Bug Reports

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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