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

  • Windows (bundled together in download)
  • Browser (Freem!)
  • Steam (Living in Spring)
  • Youtube (亡郷のアルメリア)


Games to Date

Usage

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
  • Takamagahara Makina: discord community manager

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 + Suggestions

  • 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. 
  • LVNTemplate is a minimal, quickstart template for those who want to create their own projects right away. 

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    User Communities

    • Discord
    • QQ: 909636560 (admin: xiakkto)

    Wikis

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    StatusReleased
    CategoryTool
    Rating
    Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
    (14 total ratings)
    AuthorSoul Engine Project
    GenreVisual Novel
    TagsKinetic Novel

    Download

    Download
    Light.vn.release.17.2.1-jp_250824_1057.zip 729 MB
    Download
    Light.vn.release.17.2.2-en_250827_1432.zip 824 MB
    Download
    Light.vn.release.16.9.3-kr_250228_2007.zip 675 MB
    Download
    LVNTemplate.17.2.2-jp_250828_0208.zip 144 MB
    Download
    LVNTemplate.17.2.2-en_250828_0208.zip 144 MB
    Download
    LVNTemplate.17.1.1-jp_250705_1048.zip 113 MB
    Download
    LVNTemplate.17.1.1-en_250705_1048.zip 113 MB
    Download
    LightvnTemplate.16.3.1-jp_高天原まきな制作.zip 108 MB

    Development log