SinVNE — Visual Novel Engine

Alpha 0.1.0

There are already plenty of visual novel engines available, so why build another one?, Why Buy this one?

SinVNE was created because I wanted a visual novel engine that was easy to learn without becoming limiting once a project grew more ambitious. Many tools either keep things simple by restricting what you can create, or offer enormous flexibility at the cost of requiring considerably more programming and technical knowledge.

SinVNE aims to sit between those two extremes.

It is a visual, node-based, low-code engine designed so that beginners can quickly create dialogue, characters, choices and scenes, while more experienced creators can build much more complex games without having to abandon the engine.

More than a traditional VN engine

SinVNE is built around customization. Projects can combine traditional 2D visual-novel presentation with full 3D characters and environments, lighting, animation, layered artwork, materials, texture and UV changes, particles, post-processing and retro rendering effects.

3D characters can be imported and used immediately, while creators who want more control can use SinVNE's built-in 3D pose and animation editor to create poses and animations without constantly returning to external software. Character portraits can use the live 3D model, a separate image, or be disabled entirely.

The engine also includes editors for particles, screen effects, layered characters and backgrounds, UI panels, themes, audio, character presentation and more. Effects range from simple weather and ambience to CRT, PS1, PS2 and N64-inspired display treatments.

Powerful systems without thousands of nodes

SinVNE is node-based, but it deliberately avoids turning every feature into another node.

Instead, larger systems are created and customized in their own editors and then referenced by simple story nodes. This keeps story graphs readable while still allowing individual systems to become highly configurable.

For example, one Minigame node can launch any configured minigame rather than requiring a separate node for every possible game type.

Current systems and tools include:

• Dialogue, choices, variables, branching, labels, jumps and player input
• 2D, layered 2D, animated and 3D characters
• 2D, layered, panoramic and 3D environments
• Built-in posing and character animation
• Materials, textures and UV customization
• Custom dialogue, choice, portrait and menu presentation
• Visual UI creation with interactive widgets and behaviour scripting
• Phones, contacts and messaging
• Maps, inventories and other custom gameplay interfaces
• Particles, weather, screen effects and retro display filters
• Audio playback, effects and filtering
• RPG/JRPG and point-and-click style gameplay systems
• A growing collection of customizable minigames, including puzzles, rhythm games, Match-3, card and timing games
• Content packs and starter assets for rapid prototyping
• Demo builds and multiple export targets

And this is still only part of what SinVNE is intended to support as development continues.

Optional 18+ tools

SinVNE was originally created with adult visual novels in mind, because many existing engines did not provide the systems I wanted without extensive custom development. However, SinVNE is fully usable for non-adult games as well.

Projects can be configured as Everyone, Teen or Adult (18+). Adult-specific tools and nodes are clearly marked and are hidden when a project is not using the 18+ content profile.

Optional adult systems include specialized minigames, X-ray/layer functionality and haptic integration through supported hardware and services. Haptics can also work with controller rumble and compatible phone vibration. These systems remain disabled when they are not required.

Adult projects can display a customizable age/content warning before the game begins, and SinVNE can create an SFW build that removes adult-tagged assets and systems, disables adult minigames and haptics, and changes the build's content profile.

Creators remain responsible for following the rules and content requirements of any platform or storefront they distribute their game through.

Designed for beginners — without being beginner-only

A new creator should be able to open SinVNE, add characters, write dialogue, create choices and press Play without needing to understand programming.

More advanced tools are available when they are needed rather than being forced onto the user from the beginning.

That philosophy applies throughout SinVNE:

Start simple. Customize when you want to. Go deeper when you need to.

The screenshots only show a small part of the engine. Listing every editor, system and customization option would make this page considerably longer than the game you were probably planning to make with it.

Alpha Notice

SinVNE is currently in Alpha 0.1.0.

Features, interfaces, project formats and node behaviour may change during development. Bugs should be expected, and creators should keep backups of important projects and exported builds.

The engine is under active development, with current work focused on stability, workflow improvements, expanded 2D/3D functionality, lighting, controller support, export improvements and general polish.

AI & Bundled Content Disclaimer

Some of the starter artwork and audio included with SinVNE is AI-generated or AI-assisted and is currently intended primarily as placeholder and prototyping material.

Bundled placeholder content is provided for use in projects created with SinVNE, including commercial projects, under the terms supplied with the engine. It is royalty-free and does not require attribution unless specifically stated otherwise.

The bundled content is not intended to replace your own final artwork, audio or other creative assets, and much of it may be replaced or improved as SinVNE develops.

Any third-party assets that you import yourself remain your responsibility to license correctly.

Games & Licensing

Your game is your game.

Artwork, music, writing, characters, models and other content you create or import remain yours or remain subject to the licence under which you obtained them. Games created using SinVNE may be released for free or sold commercially.

The SinVNE software itself may not be redistributed, reuploaded, resold, repackaged or presented as your own software except where explicitly permitted by the SinVNE software licence.