A downloadable tool for Windows and macOS

BROKVN is a free tool to make interactive visual novels, offering these features (and more):

  • Play dialogue (up to 4 characters at once on screen)
  • Make choices
  • Manage variables and do checks ("choose your own adventure" style)
  • Load / save, progress management
  • Manage inventory
  • Display text, images and backgrounds, move them, apply effects
  • Import and display custom characters, with full body and animated eyes/mouth
  • Create clickable areas
  • Create re-usable functions
  • Presentation:
    • Chapter title
    • Screen fade in/out
    • Screen  effects (shake, snow...)
    • Ambient color applied to characters
  • Dialogue log
  • Move characters around
  • Custom user interface and custom fonts
  • Play music, sounds, ambient tracks
  • Play voices with lipsync
  • Mouse, keyboard, gamepad and touch support
  • Translations support
  • Accessibility support
  • Export to PC, mobile and consoles


The engine works with plain text files and a simple syntax. As such, it is pretty easy to use. No programming knowledge required to start with it! It should also be possible to make simple 2D first-person point & clicks with it.

I created it when I realized that my game BROK the InvestiGator's code already contains everything needed for a visual novel. I provide with the engine a number of ready-to-use assets from  it (and as such it's ideal to make "fan visual novels" based on BROK)

Let's be clear though: it can make any kind of visual novels - just create your own characters and backgrounds!


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HOW TO USE:

  • Download the BROKVN_Engine.zip
  • Uncompress it somewhere and launch "vnengine.exe"
  • On first launch, it should automatically start with a basic example. Follow the instructions.
  • Read the documentation inside the "BROK_VN_DOCUMENTATION" folder and start editing the basic example in "AppData/Local/vnengine/VN/" path to make your own visual novel.
  • Check the more complete "VN_ADVANCED" example once you get the hang of it. (copy those files inside your VN folder)
  • A pack of assets ready to use is also available to download separately on this page: BROK_VN_ASSETS.zip


For a real world example, you can also check out my BROK Natal Tail Christmas game, which was entirely made with it.


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To create the games: For now, this tool requires a PC (Windows, Mac or Linux). I may provide more platforms in the future.

To run the games: the engine is built on top of GameMaker code, so it can technically export to many platforms, including PC/Mac/Linux, Android, iOS and potentially even consoles! (Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 and Xbox) 

To get help: I will personally provide support during the development phase on my Discord server: https://discord.gg/brok

Consoles development is tough but I have experience (I have released 5 games on all consoles on the market) and I'm ready to help anyone with an ambitious project to port their game to consoles.

Published 11 hours ago
StatusIn development
CategoryTool
PlatformsWindows, macOS
Rating
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
(1 total ratings)
AuthorCOWCAT
GenreInteractive Fiction, Visual Novel
Made withGameMaker
TagsFangame, First-Person, Game engine, GameMaker, Meaningful Choices, Narrative, Ren'Py
Average sessionA few hours
LanguagesEnglish
InputsKeyboard, Mouse, Xbox controller, Gamepad (any), Touchscreen
AccessibilitySubtitles, Configurable controls
LinksDiscord

Download

Download
BROK_VN_ASSETS.zip 1.3 GB
Download
BROKVN_Engine_WIN_0.8.zip 73 MB
Download
BROKVN_Engine_MAC_0.8.dmg 90 MB
Download
BROKVN_Engine_LINUX_0.8.AppImage 71 MB

Install instructions

Windows:

  • Download the BROKVN_Engine_WIN.zip file.
  • Uncompress it somewhere and launch "vnengine.exe"

Mac:

  • Download the BROKVN_Engine_MAC.dmg file.
  • Drag and drop the vnengine icon to your Applications folder in Finder.

Linux:

  • Download the BROKVN_Engine_LINUX.AppImage file.
  • Run the AppImage directly, it includes most libraries needed. If needed you can also extract the files, it's a simple zip archive.

On first launch, it should automatically start with a basic example. Follow the instructions.

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