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Yarn Spinner

yarnspinner.dev

Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPIBrowser extension
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Spec score 8.6 #4 of 25 in Game Narrative Design Software

What it is

Yarn Spinner is a set of tools for planning, writing, integrating, and testing dialogue for games. Its human-readable Yarn scripting language supports interactive conversations and branching narratives. Official integrations are available for Unity, Godot with C# or GDScript, and Unreal Engine with Blueprint or C++. The free, open-source Visual Studio Code extension adds syntax highlighting, error checking, a graph view, and an in-editor dialogue preview. Dialogue strings can be exported with unique IDs, and the system supports runtime language switching and Unity Localization. Voice-over features include audio asset management, synchronization with localization, and playback timing. Ready-made add-ons include speech bubbles and dialogue wheels; Text Animator is part of Yarn Spinner+. Try Yarn Spinner offers a browser-based space to write and run scripts without setup, but its scripts remain in browser storage and are not backed up or synchronized. The core is licensed under MIT. The Free plan costs nothing; Yarn Spinner+ for Unity costs 75.00 USD or more, once.

Spec sheet

What it does
Yarn Spinner provides tools for planning, writing, integrating and testing branching dialogue in games.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Purpose
Yarn Spinner creates narrative game tools for writers, programmers and game designers to plan, write, integrate and test game dialogue.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Support
Support is available by email, with replies usually within a few business days, and through a community Discord server.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
License
The core of Yarn Spinner is provided under the MIT License.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Headquarters
Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaRead 28 Sep 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Browser data limit
Scripts in Try Yarn Spinner remain in browser localStorage, are not sent to the team and are not backed up or synchronized.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Browser data limitation
Browser scripts are not synchronized or backed up, so users are told to save work to disk regularly.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Browser privacy
Browser tools compile and run locally, keep scripts in localStorage and do not send script contents to Yarn Spinner servers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Browser tool
Try Yarn Spinner runs Yarn scripts and dialogue directly in a browser with no installation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Commands and game integration
Commands can trigger game events, update variables and control game state from Yarn scripts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Company headquarters
The company is based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Company legal identity
The maker identifies itself as Yarn Spinner Pty. Ltd., an Australian private company.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Company size listing
LinkedIn lists Yarn Spinner Pty. Ltd. as privately held with 51–200 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · au.linkedin.com
Core licence
The core Yarn Spinner repository is published under the MIT License.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Dialogue preview
Writers can play through dialogue inside VS Code and preview scripts in the browser without installing an engine.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Dialogue UI
Built-in and customizable dialogue views can show lines, character names and options, while custom views can be created.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Documentation depth
Documentation covers beginner scripting, fundamentals, advanced scripting, engine guides, add-ons, samples, API reference, FAQ and migration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.yarnspinner.dev
Editor
The free open-source Visual Studio Code extension provides syntax highlighting, error checking, graph view and in-editor dialogue preview.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Engine integrations
Official integrations support Unity, Godot with C# or GDScript, and Unreal Engine with Blueprint or C++.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Function extensibility
The Library API lets developers register, import, query and remove functions callable from Yarn programs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.yarnspinner.dev
Godot integration
Godot support includes C# and an early-access GDScript implementation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Graph view
The editor displays node relationships in file-level and project-wide interactive graphs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marketplace.visualstudio.com
Independent editor praise
Reddit users repeatedly describe Yarn Spinner as easier to use than more advanced alternatives and especially suitable when localization is needed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Installation options
Unity users can install through Itch.io, the Unity Asset Store, GitHub or OpenUPM.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.yarnspinner.dev
Limit: engine maturity
The official install page labels Unreal support alpha and GDScript support early access, indicating those integrations are less mature than Unity.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Limit: feature depth
In a Reddit comparison, users say Ink offers more advanced or powerful built-in scripting options than Yarn Spinner.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Localization
Localization exports dialogue strings with unique IDs, supports runtime language switching and can use Unity Localization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Newer licence terms
Some newer releases use the Yarn Spinner Public Licence, which restricts competing dialogue tools and AI training while allowing game distribution.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Origin
Yarn Spinner began as a tool created during development of Night in the Woods and operates as a Secret Lab spinoff.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Public API
The C# API exposes Dialogue execution, line and option handlers, command handlers, variable storage, markup parsing and saliency namespaces.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.yarnspinner.dev
Rating on Itch.io
5.0 out of 5 from 16 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.itch.io
Recent release
Yarn Spinner+ for Unity 3.2.8 was released on 7 August 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.itch.io
Scripting language
Yarn is a human-readable scripting language for writing interactive dialogue and branching narratives.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Security and privacy
The company says web traffic uses HTTPS, infrastructure is secured, access is limited to team members who need it, and analytics are anonymized through Umami.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Security statement
The privacy policy says transmitted data uses HTTPS, access is limited to necessary team members and software is kept updated.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Services
Yarn Spinner Pty. Ltd. offers consulting, custom integrations, feature development, training and narrative design services.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Story Solver
Story Solver is presented as a verification tool for finding soft locks and broken quest states.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Support channels
Support is offered through documentation, a community Discord, email help and paid priority support for Yarn Spinner+ users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
UI add-ons
Ready-made add-ons include speech bubbles, dialogue wheels and Text Animator effects, with Text Animator included in Yarn Spinner+.Read 1 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Unity integration
Yarn Spinner for Unity includes a Dialogue Runner and components for loading and delivering dialogue to game UI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Unity requirement
Yarn Spinner for Unity 3 requires Unity 2022.3 or newer; Unity 2021.3 is supported by the 2.x line.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.yarnspinner.dev
Unreal integration
The Unreal Engine integration is described as an alpha release with Blueprint and C++ support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Voice-over
The feature set includes voice-over asset management, localization linkage and playback timing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
VS Code editing
The VS Code extension offers syntax highlighting, autocomplete, hover help, real-time error checking and project configuration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marketplace.visualstudio.com
Yarn language
Its screenplay-like Yarn language supports branching choices, variables, commands and flow control.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.yarnspinner.dev

Plans and prices

Free Free free forever Yarn language support · engine integrations · VS Code extension · documentation and community support Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.dev
Yarn Spinner+ for Unity $75, paid once one-time minimum price Text Animator integration · Classic RPG and Snaaake presenters · priority support and bug fixes · early access Read 15 Oct 2026 · yarnspinner.itch.io

Every Yarn Spinner plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Official integrations cover Unity, Godot, and Unreal Engine.
  • Free VS Code extension includes error checking and dialogue preview.
  • Supports runtime language switching and unique dialogue IDs.
  • Core is provided under the MIT License.

Limits

  • Try Yarn Spinner scripts are not backed up or synchronized.
  • Yarn Spinner+ for Unity costs 75.00 USD or more, once.

Who it suits

Yarn Spinner suits writers, programmers, and game designers building interactive dialogue for Unity, Godot, or Unreal Engine. Its document-based authoring and localization features may also suit teams managing dialogue across languages.

Verdict

Yarn Spinner combines a dialogue scripting language with engine integrations and authoring tools. Its browser tool keeps scripts only in local browser storage, so it is not a synchronized or backed-up workspace.

Where Specifiction places it

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