Dialogue and text
Show names and lines in the message window, with text speed, ruby, colour and size tags, auto and skip modes, and a backlog for rereading.
A game engine for visual novels and adventure games
LUMINA ENGINE
Build an ADV.
Write it, play it.
Create visual novels and adventure games with text scripts and your assets.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
The features visual novels commonly need
Show text, present characters, set the mood with sound, branch with choices — the essentials of an ADV are available as text commands.
Characters and backgrounds
Characters enter, leave and change expressions; show backgrounds and event CGs. Characters' mouths can move in time with the voice.
Screen effects
Fades and image-mask transitions, screen shake, monochrome and sepia tones, camera pans and zooms, and particle effects.
Animated characters
LUMINA's own 2D motion deforms a single illustration with a mesh to add blinking, lip sync and sway. Build it from a PSD in the dedicated editor.
About Live2D Live2D models are supported too. Using Live2D requires agreeing to Live2D Inc.'s license (and a contract when required). → About Live2D
3D scenes
Build scenes from glTF / GLB 3D models and layer them as backgrounds. You can also make 3D exploration parts where the player walks around.
Sound and movies
BGM, sound effects and voice with volume, fades and loops. Play opening and event movies too.
Choices and branching
Choices, variables, flags and conditions make multi-route, multi-ending stories. A weekly-schedule raising and dating sim system is built in too.
Multiple languages
Prepare text, images and scenarios per language — for example Japanese and English — and switch while playing.
Shipping and stores
Pack your assets for release, and encrypt them with a password if you like. Steam achievements and cloud saves, and Google Play asset delivery, are supported.
SCREENS
Screenshots of the editor and a 3D scene
See the authoring timeline and a 3D scene running in the engine.
Browser demo
Play a sample game made with LUMINA Engine right in your browser, with no install. Please use a WebGPU-capable browser (such as Chrome or Edge on a PC, or Chrome on Android).
Play the demo
HOW IT LOOKS
Scenarios are plain text
The example below shows background and character commands, dialogue, and choices. Commands and tab-indented dialogue are written from top to bottom.
- The text you write runs as it is. Encrypt it when you ship to protect the contents.
- Every command is explained with examples in the manual.
- Group frequently used steps into macros to keep scripts short.
*talk
bg 0 bg01a
chara_show 0 "student_smile" left 20 sync
chara_show 1 "yukata_trouble" right 20 sync
name "澪"
待ち合わせの時間には、まだ少し早いみたいね。
name "詩織"
噴水の前と、並木道。どちらから見て回りますか。
#select_add "噴水の前でひと休みする", *c_a
#select_add "並木道を歩いていく", *c_b
#select_showLines starting with * are labels (jump targets); lines starting with a tab are dialogue.
SYSTEM SCREENS
Sample title, save and other system screens are included
Title, save, settings and other commonly used screens come as ready-made samples. Use them as they are, or reshape their look and behaviour for your game by editing each screen's script.
Title screen
New game, continue, resume last session, settings and quit.
Save and load
Multiple slots with thumbnails, quick save and suspend save.
Auto and skip
Read on automatically, or skip what you have already read.
Backlog
Reread, replay voices and jump back to a scene.
Settings
Text speed, volume, window size, font, language and more.
Confirmation dialogs
Confirm before returning to the title or quitting, with a “don't ask again” option.
Flowchart and status
Show story progress and the state of characters.
Controls
Mouse, keyboard, touch and gamepad. On phones, a long press works as a right click.
PLATFORMS
One game on four platforms
Most of the work happens on Windows. The same scenario and assets run on the other platforms (export the browser and Android builds and check them there).
Windows
Runs
Ship as an app for Windows 10 / 11 PCs.
Steam
Runs
Release on Steam, with achievements and cloud saves (Steamworks setup required).
Browser
Runs
No install — play in a desktop or mobile browser (one that supports WebGPU).
Android
Runs
An app for phones and tablets, ready for Google Play.
Platform differences Linux, iOS, PlayStation and Switch are in development and cannot run yet. Some features differ by platform, such as movie formats ( platform differences ).
GETTING STARTED
Getting started
Prepare backgrounds and character art, write dialogue, staging and choices in a scenario, then run it to check your first scene. The beginner guide explains each step.
1
Add your assets
Put backgrounds, characters, music and so on in the right places in the game folder (GameData).
2
Write the scenario
Write dialogue and commands in a text file, and connect it to the title screen's New Game button.
3
Launch and check
Launch the game and play the scene you wrote, starting from the title.
MANUALS
Two manuals for two purposes
New to LUMINA
Open the beginner guide →
(Japanese)
Beginner guide
For people starting to write scenarios: folders, your first scene, common commands, branching, the title screen and saving — in order.
- Run your first scenario
- Common commands
- Flags and branching
- Title, settings and saving
For details and reference
Open the official manual →
(Japanese)
Official manual
How the engine works, how to ship, file specifications, tools, and the full list of commands.
- Shipping (Windows, browser, Android)
- File and data specifications
- System command reference
- Scenario command reference
Availability The engine and the audio and video playback plugins can be downloaded from the availability page.