Before I used Unreal Engine 4, I used Ren'Py for several games, so I developed the VN Framework with a lot of Ren'Py features in mind. I still love Ren'Py and return to it for more text-central games. But I love being able to utilize 3D environments and other powerful features within UE4 while crafting an interactive narrative.
Here's a breakdown of the main included features:
- Flexible scene system using datatables
- Includes instructions of how to convert your external scripts into usable .csv files
- Ability to branch scenes based on conditions
- Voice acting can easily be inserted into scenes as Sound Cues
- Characters can spawn in 3D space OR display in a UMG widget
- Complex, flexible choice system
- Automatically tracks and saves player choices
- Supports cycling choices so player can see more than one option
- Supports nested choices (a choice within a choice!)
- Characters can contain several layers for dynamic use (hair, mouth, clothes, etc.)
- Change character costumes and hair as story progresses
- Saving and Loading system
- Animated blinking and mouth movement (even in UMG widgets!)
- Auto Mode
- Supports skipping or rolling back through text
- Allows you to easily add dynamic camera angles to your scenes, such as character closeups
- Includes a basic menu system with gamepad functionality
- Options for text speed, text size, and audio levels
- Change levels and sublevels between scenes
- Full Gallery system to display CG illustrations and unlock them as player progresses
- StatLog system that tracks stats affected by choices
- Persistent data that can be used for CGs and more
Documentation: http://woodsy-studio.com/visual-novel-f ... k-for-ue4/
If you're unsure about getting the whole framework, you can start by checking out my video tutorial series about making a visual novel system from scratch:
In this tutorial series, I get you started with the basics of displaying text and using datatables in UE4--the lowest level building block of the VN Framework. But it's a long way from the full functionality of the VN Framework I've been developing for years.
If any of you give the VN Framework for UE4 a try, please let me know what you think! I continue to update the VN Framework as I use it to create my own visual novels in Unreal Engine 4.