Best Visual Novels Made In Ren'Py

Visual novels are the hidden gems of the gaming community. Laxer than a fully interactive title, they often offer gameplay that is easier to relax to while still feeling like a video game. Yet, many people aren't familiar with how visual novels are made and will become confused when asked about Ren'Py.

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Ren'Py is an open-source visual novel-making software that is designed to be easy to access and use. Despite the limited coding knowledge needed, this simple program has made some of the best indie visual novels the industry has to offer. From famous choices like Doki Doki Literature Club to lesser-known choices, there is no end to the options available from Ren'Py.

Updated December 15, 2023 by Rie Takumi: Despite new visual novel engines coming out, Ren'Py games remain popular. Developers and players alike love Ren'Py's simple interface and the engine's flexibility. It's this flexibility that allows visual novel developers to innovate on what mechanics they can introduce to players.

Aside from stat-raising, turn-based fights, programming, and other mini-games, Ren'Py also gives developers the tools to create unique experiences. The best Ren'Py visual novels can use the UI, input functions, and even the way the engine stores files to tell their story.

17 Our Life: Beginnings & Always

Overwhelmingly Positive (10,273 Steam Reviews)

Players grow up with friends and potential love interests in Our Life: Beginnings & Always. Their relationships are player determinant as players can choose their character’s personality, gender, sexuality, and romantic orientation. Player choices also determine what other characters feel about them through ages 8, 13, 18, and 23.

Our Life also released a voiced name expansion. Love interest Cove Holden will say the player’s name if it’s present in the game’s name bank. Several character-focused DLCs were also released for fans who wanted more content.

Our Life: Beginnings & Always can be downloaded from here.

16 Doppelganger

Holostars EN First Official Game

Doppelganger takes place in an alternate universe where players encounter “doppelgangers” of Holostars EN’s talents. Following visual novel traditions, each route has dark themes like cannibalism and suicide. Completing every route is also mandatory for players who want to see the true end, and exclusive lore key to the overall story.

Although predicated on familiarity with the vtuber agency Holostars EN, Doppelganger has solid writing on its own. Every character also features voice lines from their vtuber counterparts. Doppelganger is an atmospheric horror tie-up that players can coast through quickly.

Doppelganger can be downloaded from here.

15 Doki Doki Literature Club!

78 Metascore (PC) | Based On 7 Critic Reviews

To anybody who has played their share of visual novels, Doki Doki Literature Club! Should not be a new name. To many, it's one of the best novels this decade. The lone game from Team Salvato, DDLC has topped the charts of its genre all while remaining a free-to-play visual novel.

Centering around a group of high-school students in a literature club (much like the title implies), the story focuses on the MC who is looking to get close to various members of the club. Starting as a normal, run-off-the-mill visual novel, the player won't suspect when something seems off. With striking visuals and an excellent soundtrack to boot, Doki Doki Literature Club! Is a good starting point for Ren'Py games.

Doki Doki Literature Club! Can be downloaded from here.

14 Butterfly Soup

LGBT Friendships And High School Baseball

One of the golden points of independent visual novels is its increased selection of LGBT+ novels. While there's a huge selection of these types of visual novels, one of the most popular is Brianna Lei's Butterfly Soup.

Focused on a group of queer Asian-American girls attending a high school baseball club, Butterfly Soup offers a fresh view of important issues in society. Of course, this doesn't mention the unique art style and deep characters. Overall, Butterfly Soup is a great visual novel for people looking for a fresh perspective.

Developer Brianna Lei released a sequel in 2022. Butterfly Soup 2 still follows Diya, Noelle, Akarsha, and Min-seo. Now set in 2009, players will see the kids navigate through high school life, homophobia, and racial tensions.

Butterfly Soup can be downloaded from here.

13 Sepia Tears

Very Positive (911 Steam Reviews)

Sepia Tears feels and plays like a traditional, early 2000s visual novel. The player will guide Mark, the main character, through his days as he tries to uncover a repressed memory of his. Throughout the story, players will discover more about the mysterious world around them, as they learn about a girl named Myra.

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Granted, Sepia Tears does start slowly. However, players who have the resolve to play through will be rewarded with a story riddled with twists. Not only that, but the visual novel also has fairly cute artwork and a decent soundtrack. It's available for free on Steam, so there's no reason not to give it a try.

Sepia Tears can be downloaded from here.

12 Loren The Amazon Princess

Very Positive (398 Steam Reviews)

Most visual novels are more interactive than others. And while these types tend to be more difficult to make, their efforts are rewarded most of the time with an excellent gameplay experience — Loren the Amazon Princess proves that much.

Focused on the story of Princess Loren who's searching for her missing mother, the story takes with it a lot of the qualities that make RPGs enjoyable: turn-based combat, classes, and customizable heroes. All in all, this makes Loren the Amazon Princess interactive while still delivering the in-depth story of a visual novel.

Loren the Amazon Princess can be downloaded from here.

11 Don't Open Your Eyes

Short Indie Horror Experience

Horror has had a spot in the visual novel genre for a long time, with titles like Higurashi and Saya no Uta. However, indie Ren'py visual novels also have their charm, and Don't Open Your Eyes is one of these gems. During the game, the player will play as an insomniac person just trying to fall asleep.

However, the game's usage of simplistic, yet creepy line artwork and clashing colors makes for an anxiety-inducing experience despite the simple premise. The actual meaning of the game is left up for individual interpretation, making for an experience that is ultimately personal and one-of-a-kind.

Don't Open Your Eyes can be downloaded from here.

10 Katawa Shoujo

8.9 Metacritic User Score | Based On 216 User Reviews

Katawa Shoujo is perhaps the most famous Ren'Py game to date, considered by many as one of the best. For many, this was their first visual novel in general, not just of Ren'py games. Focused on the story of a young man, the visual novel explores the struggles of five women with disabilities.

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By  Sara Ann

In one word, this visual novel is professional. The artwork is clean, the music is top-quality and even has an animated opening. Every part of this game expresses peak effort on the side of the production staff. And this is to a very successful end, as the story draws in audiences with its compelling visuals.

Katawa Shoujo can be downloaded from here.

9 Over The Hills And Far Away

Very Positive (192 Steam Reviews)

While historical visual novels aren't always the most common type, Ren'Py does produce some gems for the genre from time to time. Produced by WarGirl Games, Over The Hills And Far Away focuses on the War of 1812.

A rogue redcoat, William Aubrey has fled to the frontiers of the Northwest, where he meets a Shawnee girl named Mai. The story offers a heartwarming and tragic view of warfare and the life of outcasts, perfect for history buffs and drama lovers alike.

Over The Hills And Far Away can be downloaded from here.

8 Everlasting Summer

Overwhelmingly Positive (70,101 Steam Reviews)

Though released in 2013, Everlasting Summer offers a semi-nostalgic feeling while also providing excellent visual content. A visual novel developed by Soviet Games, the story takes place in the Soviet Union during a summertime pioneer camp. The protagonist, Seymon, has been transported here from the modern world, now looking to figure out why and how he has been transported to the camp.

However, there is a lot more to the story than what might initially be apparent. This is ultimately what makes Everlasting Summer so enjoyable, as players will learn more about the characters and plot as they complete more endings. For those who wish to avoid mature content, there is a completely clean version available both in mobile app stores and on Steam.

Everlasting Summer can be downloaded from here.