Text Game Enjoyers, Which Engine Do You Generally Enjoy most?

[Axeltheflurryofflames]

Basically what the title asks, is there any text game engine you prefer? And if so, why? Mostly curious as I'm interested in trying to delve into tinkering with these engines myself in the future with potential text games, and was curious as to what players, as well as developers who have potentially tried their hand at making a heavily text based game, prefer out of all these options.

 

[Pretentious Goblin]

I see RAGS and QSP as old and clunky, you don't see them used much for newer games. HTML seems best if you actually want gameplay in a text-based game. I guess R'P works too for simpler games.

 

[NeonSelf]

What do you mean by text game? Is it a text-based game without art, or is it a linear VN with nice art but without complex gameplay?

As a player, I prefer Ren'Py because it already has default menu and settings. So every time I start a new game I already know that rightclick lets me save\load, middle click hides UI overlay, etc. While games on other engines try to mimic it, but still they often lack some default features, like sound volume control or text speed adjustment.

 

[Axeltheflurryofflames]

What do you mean by text game? Is it a text-based game without art, or is it a linear VN with nice art but without complex gameplay?

As a player, I prefer Ren'Py because it already has default menu and settings. So every time I start a new game I already know that rightclick lets me save\load, middle click hides UI overlay, etc. While games on other engines try to mimic it, but still they often lack some default features, like sound volume control or text speed adjustment.

Really just anything that relies *mostly* on text for its gameplay, progress, and presentation. Including things like VN's and what not, even if they also rely heavily on images as well. As far as art goes itself though, that's another question I'd like to ask especially when it comes to Twine games, and I am kind of curious how much people prefer games featuring real porn, as opposed to animations/art.

 

[Pretentious Goblin]

I am kind of curious how much people prefer games featuring real porn, as opposed to animations/art.

I'm sure for most people real porn is a necessary evil (of wanting to have more characters in your game than you have $ in the game's budget). I mean, having some plastic bimbo-barbie porn actress as "suburban housewife mom" is not ideal, but better than not having images at all. Although maybe AI art will change that.

 

[♍VoidTraveler]

A game is the sum of its parts, of which there are many.
So if one only focuses on a single part, one has already failed.
Pick whatever engine will allow you to utilize your talents and skills to their absolute limit.

Personally i rather like html, it makes games like this one or this one possible, after all.

 

[loqex]

Kinda liked whatever Goblinboy used for his games. Adrift?

Only major issue qsp games, devs have a hard time making saves compatible with the next game update.

 

[Cryswar]

I'll play whatever as long as it's good, but I prefer Renpy in a vacuum.

It has the most built-in functionality that games in other engines often lack, and that functionality is shared with many other popular games, so players can go into it and immediately know what most basic hotkeys are.

Renpy can do most things you want it to, just needs Python knowledge instead of HTML or whatnot. Monster Girl Dreams managed some pretty crazy stuff in Renpy, and you can have anything from koikatsu/daz3d animations to full RPG progression and combat depending on what you're into. Also has great music functionality, and even text-focused games can still benefit from decent music, backgrounds, etc. as appropriate.

From a dev perspective, Renpy is incredibly approachable, though I've heard Twine is up there as well.

No engine will make your game for you though, and none will magic up a super complicated battle system or 600,000 words of content. At some point, you just gotta start doing. Unless you pick a wildly outdated or unfitting engine, it's probably not going to be a deciding factor in your success.

 

[Axeltheflurryofflames]

I'll play whatever as long as it's good, but I prefer Renpy in a vacuum.

It has the most built-in functionality that games in other engines often lack, and that functionality is shared with many other popular games, so players can go into it and immediately know what most basic hotkeys are.

Renpy can do most things you want it to, just needs Python knowledge instead of HTML or whatnot. Monster Girl Dreams managed some pretty crazy stuff in Renpy, and you can have anything from koikatsu/daz3d animations to full RPG progression and combat depending on what you're into. Also has great music functionality, and even text-focused games can still benefit from decent music, backgrounds, etc. as appropriate.

From a dev perspective, Renpy is incredibly approachable, though I've heard Twine is up there as well.

No engine will make your game for you though, and none will magic up a super complicated battle system or 600,000 words of content. At some point, you just gotta start doing. Unless you pick a wildly outdated or unfitting engine, it's probably not going to be a deciding factor in your success.

Yeah, its mostly going to be a personal project that I try and use to practice what little coding knowledge I already posses, and, really, to help me get a better grasp at coding. Twine was what I was looking at initially the most, and probably what I'm going to go with in the end since its what I've flirted with the most, but Ren'Py is a pretty attractive option, just wasn't sure how much people prefer it as a development option, or for its ease of use which seems to be a prevailing reason that people enjoy it.

Either way though, input like this is definitely something I appreciate, and naturally, yeah, the biggest part to getting started is really JUST getting started.

 

[jormungandrswe]

Twine/HTML seems way more flexible to me. With Ren'py, you basically need a full-screen image on screen at all times and the dialogue box allows for 1-2 sentences at a time, which is hugely limiting and pace-killing. If you wanna get creative you need to shell out time and money for more assets & renders.

HTML games can get by with minimal assets, only a couple of images per lewd scene. In R'py, scenes which go on for dozens of clicks make your hand ache like ass after a while.

That said, from a dev point of view, you do need to be juggling three code formats (HTML, twine, javascript), which can get messy.

 

[Ying Ko]

With Ren'py, you basically need a full-screen image on screen at all times and the dialogue box allows for 1-2 sentences at a time, which is hugely limiting and pace-killing. If you wanna get creative you need to shell out time and money for more assets & renders.

You can have paragraphs of text at one time with no full-screen images, and you can even use

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which create hyperlink functionality, i.e. jump to x location, or change the state of y.

 

[Rafster]

I only knew Twine, but honestly, it fits my game pretty well, so that's where I'm staying. As a player, and a text game enjoyer, I also like the simplicity of the format. The bad thing is, low barrier entry = many games launched way before they even get some content.

But sigh, beggars can't be choosers, it's hard enough to find gay focused games, so I take whatever I can.

 

[GrandYonic]

I'm pretty new the text game world, playing CoC and TiT atm. They're great but the excessive texts is wearing me down. Twine seems like it'd be nice, what are some cool texts games that use the Twine engine?

 

[jormungandrswe]

You can have paragraphs of text at one time with no full-screen images, and you can even use

You must be registered to see the links

which create hyperlink functionality, i.e. jump to x location, or change the state of y.

You may be right, I'm not a game dev so I don't know the full extent of what ren'py can do. However the vast majority of r'py games I've played are like I described, whereas I've noticed more diversity in interface design and flow/"game feel" with HTML games.

Another thing is expectations. Personally I'm more ok with HTML games that feel "cheap" (few images, etc.). If an r'py game has lots of black screens and heavy reliance text it feels underdeveloped and lazy, like the dev isn't exploiting the capabilities of the engine fully.

I'm pretty new the text game world, playing CoC and TiT atm. They're great but the excessive texts is wearing me down. Twine seems like it'd be nice, what are some cool texts games that use the Twine engine?

"Secretary" is probably the best Twine game out there in terms of production value and scope. It's a sissy/feminization game though, so it may not be your thing. But maybe check it out if you're looking for inspiration.

 

[GrandYonic]

Secretary" is probably the best Twine game out there in terms of production value and scope. It's a sissy/feminization game though, so it may not be your thing. But maybe check it out if you're looking for inspiration.

Oh hey this looks interesting thanks

 

[Ying Ko]

If an r'py game has lots of black screens and heavy reliance text it feels underdeveloped and lazy, like the dev isn't exploiting the capabilities of the engine fully.

I agree with you to some extent, but a Ren'Py text game doesn't have to be that basic, it's more flexible than you give it credit.