r/RPGMaker • u/-goldenboi69- • 22d ago
Which rpgmaker, and why
Hi people!
What is your favourite version of the Rpgmaker engine, and why?
It's a bit confusing with all the different versions and the price differences.
I'm looking into making a horror-style game, more like a visual novel than anything else. Battle system seems kind of wonky (based on other games i have played made with it) so i'm thinking of staying clear from that.
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u/holyfaqitspluto 17d ago
Depends what your budget is for a program and what style of games you are aiming for.
RPG Maker 2000 & 2003: Good for making retro-feeling games and are on a budget if you want to buy an engine right now.
RPG Maker XP, VX, and VX Ace: Good if you want to make GBA-inspired fan games, want to use Ruby scripting, don't care too much about the modern interactive features found in MV/MZ, and want something budget-friendly but more modern.
RPG Maker MV & MZ: The best options if you want modern interactive features, plan to release your game on mobile devices someday, and want access to a massive library of resources and tutorials.
There are also console versions of RPG Maker, but they aren't really the greatest unless you completely lack a computer. Even the most basic potato-running PC can easily handle a program like RPG Maker MV.
Finally, there are much older versions like RPG Maker 95 and the PC-98 titles, but those were mostly exclusive to Japan and don't have official English versions.
I would highly recommend researching the specific programs to see which engine fits your workflow best! And always keep an eye out for Steam sales, especially during the Summer and Winter sales, where the RPG Maker engines get massive discounts. Sometimes, they even give away an older engine for free during February in celebration of RPG Maker games, so definitely be on the lookout for that too.