articy:draft X vs Narrat
articy:draft X
articy.comNarrat
narrat.devSide by side
| Figure | articy:draft X | Narrat |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €5.83/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 7 | 2 |
| Spec score · Game Narrative Design Software | 9.4 (#1) | 7.8 (#14) |
| Integrations | The product provides dedicated Unity and Unreal integrations, along with JSON, Excel, Word, and XML exports. | Narrat can be integrated into an existing website, infrastructure, program or another game engine through consulting arrangements. |
| Localization | Localization includes project languages, state tracking, Excel import/export, voice-over workflows, reports and optional DeepL translation. | The documentation describes built-in localization with syntax for strings and a language switcher. |
| Scripting | Global variables, conditions and instructions can control story flow and player choices. | Games are written with an approachable scripting language supporting branching choices, functions, variables and conditions. |
| Support | Support resources include downloads, a help center, tutorials, training and consulting, community links, and technical support. | Users can get help through the documentation, troubleshooting guide, community forum and Discord. |
| What it does | articy:draft X is a visual database and narrative design tool for organizing storylines, characters, variables and branching interactive content. | Narrat is a beginner-friendly game engine for making narrative games, RPGs, visual novels and interactive fiction. |
Plans
articy:draft X
- articy:draft X FREEFree
- articy:draft X FREEFree
- articy:draft X Monthly subscription€6.99 a month
- Single User Monthly subscription€7.98 a month
- Team bundles€56 a month
- articy:draft X Annual subscription€69.99 a year
- Single User Annual subscription€79.99 a year
In their own words
articy:draft X
articy:draft X is a narrative design and game writing tool for creating and managing interactive stories. Its visual Flow Editor lets writers build branching, non-linear stories and nested flows. A Game Object Database keeps entities, assets, and related project content together, while scripting uses variables, conditions, and instructions to shape choices and game flow. Localization tools track project languages and translation status, with spreadsheet import and export. Unity and Unreal integrations connect the tool to those game engines; JSON, Excel, Word, and XML exports are also available. Multi-user licenses provide simultaneous project access, version history, and SVN or Perforce support, but not Perforce Stream depots. The free edition supports unlimited projects, though a project locks after it passes 700 objects until content is removed or the project is upgraded. The free plan is free, with a free multi-user collaboration trial lasting 14 days, requested through sales. Single-user subscriptions cost €7.98 a month or €79.99 a year. It runs on Windows, macOS, self-hosted environments, and through an API.
Narrat
Narrat is a game engine for creating narrative games, RPGs, visual novels and interactive fiction. Authors use a scripting language with branching choices, functions, variables and conditions. Built-in systems cover skills and checks, inventory, quests, achievements, save and load, audio and notifications. The engine supports interactive visual screens, character portraits and poses, animations, and video backgrounds. Its interface can be themed with CSS and configured through editable YAML settings; built-in localization includes string syntax and a language switcher. Developers can extend it with TypeScript code, Vue components, custom commands, menu tabs, data stores and lifecycle hooks, and documentation lists a Godot 4 integration plugin. Games can be built as static websites or desktop applications for Windows, Mac and Linux; Steam build support is experimental. Mobile delivery is through HTML5 web games. Narrat is free and open source under the MIT license, with personal and commercial use permitted without restrictions. Documentation, troubleshooting resources, a community forum and Discord are listed for help.