Ren'Py vs Wicked Engine
Ren'Py
renpy.orgWicked Engine
wickedengine.netSide by side
| Figure | Ren'Py | Wicked Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Game Engine Software | 9.0 (#6) | 7.2 (#87) |
| Security | Ren'Py warns that games can perform harmful actions and that loading untrusted save or persistent files can run arbitrary code. | The site describes the editor as requiring no internet connection; it makes no security or compliance certification claims on the pages opened. |
| Support | Ren'Py directs users to its Discord and Lemma Soft Forums for questions, and to GitHub for bug reports. | The project links to Discord chat and its GitHub source code; its GitHub README directs users to Discord or GitHub issues for help. |
Plans
In their own words
Ren'Py
Ren'Py is a free visual novel engine for making interactive stories and life simulation games with words, images, and sounds. Its script language handles visual-novel writing, while Python can be used for more complex game logic. Default games include menus, automatic saves, rollback, predictive image loading, and mouse, keyboard, or gamepad controls. Creators can customize screens and styles using the screen language and Python. The launcher builds Windows, Mac, and Linux games from any of those desktop systems. Ren'Py also supports Android export and can package games for WebAssembly browsers, though web support is beta and lacks networking and multithreading. It targets Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.10 or later, Linux x86_64 or Arm, Android 5.0 or later, and iOS 11 or later. Building for iOS requires a Mac and Xcode, and that support remains a work in progress. The engine is free for commercial and non-commercial use; most is MIT-licensed, with some LGPL components whose terms distributors must meet.
Wicked Engine
Wicked Engine has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.