I'm looking for advice on how to create a straightforward game engine specifically for text-based games. While I've had some experience with Godot, it doesn't fit the vision I have in mind for this project. The functionality I require is fairly simple, which makes me think that building my own engine is feasible. I've got a background in web development, so I'm not asking as a complete newbie—I'm really after some guidance on design patterns, useful libraries, or any resources that might help me in this journey. Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
I'm curious—what is it about Unity, Unreal Engine, or Godot that makes them unsuitable for your idea?
Can you clarify what you mean by "text game"? Text appears in pretty much every game these days. Are you thinking of something with a static 2D background and speech bubbles filled with dialogue, or is it more like a single line of text that changes? It would help to know more about your concept before diving into the technical aspects.
I'm envisioning an open-world concept where the game consists of various scenes or rooms the player can navigate. Each scene will be described by a narrator and will include NPCs. Players can examine their surroundings or interact with characters. Expect a lot of multiple-choice options and checks for stats/abilities, leading to branching dialogues and events. I plan to incorporate voice acting as well, so syncing the audio with text is a key aspect. Think of games like Disco Elysium or Planescape: Torment, but with static backgrounds only.
It's less about their capabilities and more about finding a tool that aligns better with what I want to achieve for this project.