This is a thread of resources you can use to make your game! Please note the individual licenses on each item, as they may vary.
Engines
- Ren'Py (Free, Open Source, Dedicated VN Engine) [Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5 Possible*, Consoles Possible*]
- NVList (Free, Dedicated VN Engine) [Win, Mac, Linux, Android]
- Godot (Free, Open Source, 2D/3D Engine) [Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5, Consoles Possible*]
- Novelty (Free, Dedicated VN Engine) [Win]
- Omega VNE (Free, Dedicated VN Engine) [Win, Mac, Linux, Android]
- RenJS (Free, Dedicated VN Engine) [HTML5, Win, Linux]
- SEEVN (Free, Dedicated VN Engine) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Tuesday JS (Free, Dedicated VN Engine) [HTML5]
- Ink (Free, Dedicated Text-based Language) (+ Calico/binksi) [HTML5] (+ Unity/Godot) [Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5, Consoles Possible*]
- VIDEOTOME (Free, Dedicated Textbased Engine) [HTML5]
- Videotome:ADV (Free, Dedicated VN Engine) [HTML5]
- Twine 2 (Free, Dedicated Text-based Engine) [HTML5, Narrative Design Tool]
- VNMaker (Paid, Dedicated VN Engine) [Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5]
- TyranoBuilder (Paid, Dedicated VN Engine) [Win, Mac, HTML5, Android, iOS]
- GameMaker + VNgen (Paid, 2D Engine) [Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5, Consoles Possible*]
- Unity + Naninovel (Free/Paid, 2D/3D Engine) [Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5, Consoles Possible*]
- Unreal Engine + Visual Novel Framework (Free/Paid, 2D/3D Engine) [Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5, Consoles Possible*]
* Indicates that support for these platforms may involve more work
Please note that for the majority of general use engines that have a + after them, these are known/suggested frameworks for creating VNs but other methods of making VN-like games are available/possible to program from scratch.
Art Programs
- FireAlpaca (Free, Drawing) [Win, Mac]
- Krita (Free, Drawing) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- MediBang Paint Pro (Free, Drawing) [Win, Mac, iOS, Android]
- Paint Tool SAI (Paid, Drawing) [Win]
- Corel Painter (Free, Drawing) [Win, Mac]
- Inkscape (Free, Vector Graphics) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Clip Studio Paint (Paid, Drawing) [Win, Mac]
- GIMP (Free, Drawing, Graphic Design) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Adobe Photoshop (Paid, Drawing, Graphic Design) [Win]
- Sweet Home 3D (Free, 3D Interior Design) [Win,Mac, Linux]
- SketchUp (Free/Paid, 3D Interior/Exterior Design [Web, Win, Mac]
Audio Programs
- Audacity (Free, Audio Recorder and Editor) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Bosca Ceoil (Free, Music Composition) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- GarageBand (Free, Music Composition) [Mac]
- Image to Music (Free, Music Toy) [Win]
- LabChirp (Free, SFX Generator) [Win, Linux]
- LMMS (Free, Music Composition) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- MuseScore (Free, Music Composition [Win]
Writing Programs
- FocusWriter (Free) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- LibreOffice (Free) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Google Docs (Free) [Web]
- Manuskript (Free) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Scrivener (Paid) [Win, Mac]
- The Guide (Free, Information Organizer) [Win]
- Write or Die (Free) [Web]
- Written? Kitten! (Free) [Web]
Code Editors
- Notepad++ (Free) [Win]
- Atom (Free) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Editra (Free) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Sublime Text (Paid) [Win]
Fonts (Please check individual licenses!)
- GoogleFonts (Commercial Use OK)
- Google Noto (Commercial Use OK)
- FontSquirrel (Commercial Use OK)
- itch.io fonts (Check individual licenses)
- FontMeme (Commercial Use OK for fonts in this category)
- 1001Fonts (Commercial Use OK for fonts in this category)
Pre-Made/Creative Commons/Generator Assets
lunaterra's collection of VN Assets, Tutorials, and Tools should be your first stop to finding CC resources! She adds resources that others have uploaded to itch in this collection, so you'll find a variety of visual & audio assets, as well as code templates and tutorials!
The VisuStella Emporium has Weapon, Potion, and Plant icons you can use! The Stella Character Generator can also be used to create sprites
- Mannequin (Paid, Character Generator) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Spiral Atlas' Ren'Py Sprite Creator (Free, Character Generator) [Win, Mac, Linux]
- Red's Art Assets (Free, Character Sprites, Items)
- Konett's Art Assets (Free/Paid, Character Sprites, Backgrounds, Items)
- Deji's Art Assets (Free/paid, Character Sprites)
- mugenjohncel's 3D BGs (Free, Backgrounds)
- SoundImage (Free, Music, Textures, 2D images)
- LSF Resource Catalogue (Various)
Miscellaneous Tools and Guides
Like using Twine 2 for your narrative design outline and want to make your game in Ren'Py? Consider checking out ludowood's Twine to Ren'Py Tool.
Alternatively, if you like using Twine 2 for your final games, take a look at Grim Baccaris' Twine Grimoire! Here is Volume One and Volume Two.
If you're relatively new to VNDev, why not check out the new VNDev Wiki? It's a Work In Progress, but we hope it'll become a great resource soon!