Narrat
What it is
Narrat is a free, open-source game engine for making narrative games, RPGs, visual novels, and interactive fiction. Authors build games with a scripting language that supports branching choices, functions, variables, and conditions. Built-in systems cover skills and checks, inventory, quests, achievements, saving and loading, audio, and notifications. The engine also supports interactive visual screens, character portraits and poses, animations, and video backgrounds. Its interface can be themed with CSS, while YAML settings files provide further configuration. Localization features include translated-string syntax and a language switcher. Developers can extend Narrat with TypeScript code, Vue components, commands, menu tabs, data stores, and lifecycle hooks; documentation also lists a Godot 4 integration plugin. Games can be published as static websites or desktop applications for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Steam build support is experimental, and mobile games are delivered as HTML5 web games. Narrat uses the MIT license and permits personal or commercial projects without restrictions.
For and against
For
- Free and open source under the MIT license.
- Scripting supports branching choices and conditions.
- Includes quests, inventory, skills, and save/load.
- Localization includes translated strings and a language switcher.
- Games can publish as websites or desktop applications.
Against
- Steam build support is experimental.
- Mobile delivery is through HTML5 web games.
- The scripting language and YAML settings require authoring work.
The verdict
Narrat brings narrative-game systems and extension options into a free engine. Its publishing choices include web and desktop, while Steam support remains experimental.
Who it suits
Narrat suits creators building story-driven games who want built-in quest, inventory, and dialogue systems. It also fits developers who need localization, extension points, or Godot 4 integration.
Plans and prices
Free and open source
personal or commercial use · no restrictions · MIT License
Read 1 Oct 2026 · narrat.dev
Enterprise support and consulting
custom features · technical support · integrations · partnership options
Read 1 Oct 2026 · narrat.dev
On the record
- Built-in systems
- Narrat includes skills and skill checks, inventory, quests, achievements, save/load, audio and notifications.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Commercial use
- Narrat is free and open source under the MIT license and may be used for personal or commercial projects without restrictions.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The UI is themeable with CSS and the engine is configurable through editable YAML settings files.docs.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Game-size limits
- The FAQ states there is no known limit to game size or complexity and reports a working project with more than 100,000 words.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Godot integration
- The documentation lists a Godot 4 integration plugin.docs.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Narrat can be integrated into an existing website, infrastructure, program or another game engine through consulting arrangements.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Localization
- The documentation describes built-in localization with syntax for strings and a language switcher.docs.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Mobile support
- The FAQ says Narrat works on the web, mobile and desktop, with mobile delivered through HTML5 web games.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Plugin API
- The plugin API lets developers add TypeScript code, Vue components, custom commands, menu tabs, data stores and lifecycle hooks.docs.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Publishing
- Narrat games can be built as static websites or desktop applications for Windows, Mac and Linux, with Steam build support described as experimental.docs.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Scripting
- Games are written with an approachable scripting language supporting branching choices, functions, variables and conditions.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can get help through the documentation, troubleshooting guide, community forum and Discord.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- Visual features
- The engine supports interactive visual screens, character portraits and poses, animations, and video backgrounds.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Narrat is a beginner-friendly game engine for making narrative games, RPGs, visual novels and interactive fiction.narrat.dev · read 1 Oct 2026
