# Ren'Py > visual novel engine **Wikidata**: [Q1196014](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1196014) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren'Py) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ren-py ## Summary Ren'Py is a free, open‑source visual‑novel engine that lets creators write interactive story games using the Python programming language. First released on 24 July 2004, it runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and web browsers, and is distributed under the MIT and GNU Lesser General Public Licenses. ## Key Facts - **Inception:** 24 July 2004. - **Primary language:** Python (used for scripting and engine logic). - **Licensing:** Dual‑licensed under the MIT License and the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). - **Current stable version (as of source data):** 6.99.12.1. - **Supported platforms:** Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and web browsers. - **Instance of:** visual novel engine, free software, and game engine. - **Mascot:** Eileen, the default character shown in the engine’s logo. - **Official website:** https://www.renpy.org/. - **Source code repository:** https://github.com/renpy/renpy (GitHub). - **Aliases:** rpy, Renpy, Ren'Py, 戀愛派森, 렌파이. ## FAQs ### Q: What kind of software is Ren'Py? A: Ren'Py is a free, open‑source visual‑novel engine that uses Python for scripting interactive story games. ### Q: Is Ren'Py free to use and modify? A: Yes. It is released under the MIT License and the LGPL, allowing anyone to run, study, change, and distribute the software and its derivatives. ### Q: Which operating systems can run games made with Ren'Py? A: Games built with Ren'Py can run on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and modern web browsers. ### Q: Do I need to know Python to use Ren'Py? A: Basic Python knowledge is helpful because Ren'Py’s scripting language is built on Python, but the engine provides many high‑level commands that simplify game development for beginners. ### Q: Where can I find examples of games created with Ren'Py? A: Notable titles include *Café 0 ~The Drowned Mermaid~* (2011), *The Way We All Go* (2014), *Naked Ambition* (2020), *Our Personal Space* (sci‑fi marriage simulation), *Scarlet Hollow* (2020 horror visual novel), and many others listed in the related games section. ## Why It Matters Ren'Py has become the de‑facto standard for independent visual‑novel development because it combines the flexibility of Python with a purpose‑built engine for storytelling. Its open‑source nature lowers the barrier to entry for creators, enabling hobbyists and professional studios alike to produce narrative‑driven games without costly licensing fees. By supporting a wide range of platforms—including mobile devices and browsers—Ren'Py ensures that visual novels can reach diverse audiences worldwide. The engine’s extensive community contributes tutorials, assets, and plugins, fostering rapid iteration and innovation. Consequently, Ren'Py has powered hundreds of released titles, shaping the modern visual‑novel landscape and demonstrating how free software can drive creative industries. ## Notable For - **Dual licensing (MIT + LGPL):** Provides both permissive and copyleft options for developers. - **Cross‑platform deployment:** One codebase can be exported to desktop, mobile, and web environments. - **Python‑based scripting:** Leverages a widely‑known language, making the engine accessible to programmers. - **Mascot Eileen and distinctive branding:** Recognizable visual identity across the community. - **Large ecosystem of games:** Used for titles ranging from indie horror (*Scarlet Hollow*) to romance (*Café 0*) and experimental narratives. ## Body ### Overview Ren'Py is a visual‑novel engine that interprets a Python‑based scripting language. It enables creators to define dialogue, branching paths, character sprites, music, and transitions with concise code. ### History - **2004‑07‑24:** First public release of Ren'Py. - **Subsequent releases:** Frequent updates (e.g., 6.18.1.670 on 2014‑09‑23, 6.99.0.244 on 2015‑03‑05) demonstrate active maintenance. - **Current version:** 6.99.12.1, reflecting ongoing development. ### Licensing Ren'Py is distributed under two compatible licenses: the MIT License (permissive) and the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). This dual model allows both unrestricted commercial use and the option for copyleft distribution. ### Technical Architecture - **Programming language:** Python. - **File formats:** Supports Ren'Py Archive (v2 & v3) for both readable and writable game packages, as well as compiled game files. - **Engine type:** Classified as a visual‑novel engine, game engine, and free software. ### Platform Support Ren'Py builds executables for: - **Desktop:** Windows, macOS, Linux. - **Mobile:** iOS, Android. - **Web:** HTML5‑compatible browsers via WebAssembly. ### Community & Ecosystem - **Package repositories:** Available in Arch Linux (`renpy`, `renpy-demos`), Debian (`renpy`), Gentoo (`games-engines/renpy`), FreeBSD (`games/renpy`), OpenBSD (`games/renpy`), NetBSD (`games/py-renpy`), and Chocolatey (`renpy`). - **Online tags:** It appears on RAWG (`renpy`), itch.io (`made-with-renpy`), and TV Tropes (`UsefulNotes/RenPy`). - **Documentation & tutorials:** Hosted on the official site and community wikis. ### Notable Games Built with Ren'Py - *Café 0 ~The Drowned Mermaid~* (2011) - *The Way We All Go* (2014) - *Naked Ambition* (2020) - *Our Personal Space* (sci‑fi marriage simulation) - *Scarlet Hollow* (2020 horror visual novel) - *Butterfly Soup 2* (2022) - *Raptor Boyfriend* (2021) - *Momotype* (2021) These titles illustrate Ren'Py’s versatility across genres, platforms, and artistic styles. ## Schema Markup ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ren'Py", "description": "A free, open‑source visual‑novel engine that uses Python for scripting and runs on multiple platforms.", "url": "https://www.renpy.org/", "sameAs": [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%27Py" ], "additionalType": "VisualNovelEngine" } ## References 1. [Release 6.18.1.670. 2014](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.18.1.670) 2. [Release 6.18.2.724. 2014](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.18.2.724) 3. [Release 6.18.2.725. 2014](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.18.2.725) 4. [Release 6.18.2.729. 2014](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.18.2.729) 5. [Release 6.18.3.761. 2014](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.18.3.761) 6. [Release 6.19. 2014](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.19) 7. [Release 6.99. 2014](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99) 8. [Release 6.99.0.202. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.202) 9. [Release 6.99.0.244. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.244) 10. [Release 6.99.0.254. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.254) 11. [Release 6.99.0.257. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.257) 12. [Release 6.99.0.268. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.268) 13. [Release 6.99.0.271. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.271) 14. [Release 6.99.0.279. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.279) 15. [Release 6.99.0.299. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.299) 16. [Release 6.99.0.301. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.301) 17. [Release 6.99.0.303. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.0.303) 18. [Release 6.99.1.308. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.1.308) 19. [Release 6.99.1.318. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.1.318) 20. [Release 6.99.1.329. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.1.329) 21. [Release 6.99.2.399. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.2.399) 22. [Release 6.99.2.403. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.2.403) 23. [Release 6.99.3.404. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.3.404) 24. [Release 6.99.4.438. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.4.438) 25. [Release 6.99.4.466. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.4.466) 26. [Release 6.99.4.467. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.4.467) 27. [Release 6.99.5.587. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.5.587) 28. [Release 6.99.5.594. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.5.594) 29. [Release 6.99.5.595. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.5.595) 30. [Release 6.99.5.601. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.5.601) 31. [Release 6.99.5.602. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.5.602) 32. [Release 6.99.6.679. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.679) 33. [Release 6.99.6.692. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.692) 34. [Release 6.99.6.709. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.709) 35. [Release 6.99.6.711. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.711) 36. [Release 6.99.6.712. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.712) 37. [Release 6.99.6.713. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.713) 38. [Release 6.99.6.718. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.718) 39. [Release 6.99.6.722. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.722) 40. [Release 6.99.6.723. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.723) 41. [Release 6.99.6.726. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.726) 42. [Release 6.99.6.727. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.727) 43. [Release 6.99.6.731. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.731) 44. [Release 6.99.6.736. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.736) 45. [Release 6.99.6.738. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.738) 46. [Release 6.99.6.739. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.6.739) 47. [Release 6.99.7.843. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.7.843) 48. [Release 6.99.7.844. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.7.844) 49. [Release 6.99.7.845. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.7.845) 50. [Release 6.99.7.856. 2015](https://github.com/renpy/renpy/releases/tag/6.99.7.856)