danishblunt/ren-py-beginner-template

This repository is a starter template for people who want to build a visual novel using Ren'Py, a popular engine for story-driven games. It is aimed at beginners who are just starting out and may not know how to organize their project files. The creator has put together a suggested folder layout so newcomers can avoid common mistakes that make a project hard to manage later on. The template recommends splitting your work across a few folders. Scripts holds the logic, meaning things like minigames, location changes, and any custom code your game needs. Screens is for menus and interfaces where the player interacts, which is more useful for visual novels that play like sandboxes rather than ones that simply tell a linear story. Dialogs is where you put all your written conversations and story text. Images is the spot for backgrounds, character art, and anything visual. The author gives clear advice about the core Ren'Py files that come with the engine. You should not edit scripts.rpy, gui.rpy, options.rpy, or screens.rpy unless you need to change something central, like the look of the main menu. For anything new you want to add, use the custom folders instead. The reason is practical: keeping your additions separate from the default files saves you from ending up with a tangled mess that is painful to debug or expand. The template also encourages thinking ahead about how your project will grow. If you have a location called "city" and you know it will have many sub-areas like a gym or train station, create a folder named "city" and put all related screens inside it. This keeps files easy to find as the project gets bigger. The creator invites questions and suggestions through GitHub issues and pull requests.