Yarn Spinner

API—OSS—FREEyesDOCS4/5
YS5.9#6 of 25
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Ranked in Game Narrative Design Software ·Free plan

About

Yarn Spinner is a set of tools for planning, writing, integrating, and testing game dialogue. Its human-readable Yarn scripting language supports interactive conversations and branching narratives, with official integrations for Unity, Godot using C# or GDScript, and Unreal Engine using Blueprint or C++. The free, open-source Visual Studio Code extension includes syntax highlighting, error checking, a graph view, and dialogue preview in the editor. Teams can export dialogue strings with unique IDs, switch languages at runtime, and use Unity Localization. Voice-over support includes audio asset management, localization synchronization, and playback timing. Ready-made add-ons include speech bubbles and dialogue wheels; Text Animator is part of Yarn Spinner+. Try Yarn Spinner runs scripts in a browser, but its scripts stay in localStorage and are not backed up or synchronized. The core is licensed under MIT. Free includes the engine integrations and VS Code extension; Yarn Spinner+ for Unity costs 75.00 USD per once, or more, and includes Text Animator integration, dialogue presenters, priority support and bug fixes, and early access.

Who it is for

It suits writers, programmers, and game designers building dialogue for Unity, Godot, or Unreal projects. The browser tool may suit people who want to write and run scripts without setup, provided they manage their own backups.

What is good

  • Human-readable language for branching dialogue
  • Official Unity, Godot, and Unreal integrations
  • Free VS Code extension includes graph view and preview
  • Dialogue export supports unique IDs and runtime language switching

What to know first

  • Browser scripts are not backed up or synchronized
  • Text Animator is included in Yarn Spinner+
  • Unity add-on costs 75.00 USD or more, once

Verdict

Yarn Spinner connects dialogue authoring with engine integrations, localization, and voice-over tools. Its free core covers substantial authoring needs, while browser-script storage and paid Unity add-ons are worth noting.

Compared on game narrative design software

Free plan
Yesyarnspinner.dev
Branching dialogue
Yesyarnspinner.dev
Quest design
Yesyarnspinner.dev
Authoring model
document-basedyarnspinner.dev
Game engine support
Unity, Godot, Unreal Engineyarnspinner.dev
Localization workflow
Yesyarnspinner.dev

Facts

Purpose
Yarn Spinner creates narrative game tools for writers, programmers and game designers to plan, write, integrate and test game dialogue.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Scripting language
Yarn is a human-readable scripting language for writing interactive dialogue and branching narratives.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Engine integrations
Official integrations support Unity, Godot with C# or GDScript, and Unreal Engine with Blueprint or C++.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Editor
The free open-source Visual Studio Code extension provides syntax highlighting, error checking, graph view and in-editor dialogue preview.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Localization
Yarn Spinner exports dialogue strings with unique IDs, supports runtime language switching and can use Unity Localization.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Voice over
The feature set includes built-in voice-over support with audio asset management, localization synchronization and playback timing.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
UI add-ons
Ready-made add-ons include speech bubbles, dialogue wheels and Text Animator effects, with Text Animator included in Yarn Spinner+.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Browser tool
Try Yarn Spinner is a zero-setup browser tool for writing and running Yarn scripts.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Browser data limit
Scripts in Try Yarn Spinner remain in browser localStorage, are not sent to the team and are not backed up or synchronized.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Security and privacy
The company says web traffic uses HTTPS, infrastructure is secured, access is limited to team members who need it, and analytics are anonymized through Umami.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
License
The core of Yarn Spinner is provided under the MIT License.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Support
Support is available by email, with replies usually within a few business days, and through a community Discord server.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026
Services
Yarn Spinner Pty. Ltd. offers consulting, custom integrations, feature development, training and narrative design services.yarnspinner.dev · 1 Oct 2026

Company

Headquarters
Hobart, Tasmania, Australiayarnspinner.dev · 28 Sept 2026

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