# godot-genre-visual-novel

An agent skill for building visual novels in Godot: branching narrative, dialogue, rollback and persistent flags.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 330 installs · ★ 893
- Author: thedivergentai
- License: LGPL-3.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/godot-genre-visual-novel/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-16
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/godot-genre-visual-novel

## What it does

The skill treats a visual novel as a loop: read a line, hit a choice, branch, live with the consequence, reach an ending. Your agent gets the rules plus four scripts — `story_manager.gd` for flag-aware dialogue, `dialogue_ui.gd` for the typewriter and choice window, `vn_rollback_manager.gd` for the history stack, `visual_novel_patterns.gd` for BBCode effects and sprite layering.

Order matters here. Snapshot the state before you mutate flags, or undo lies to the player. The typewriter runs on a Tween over `visible_ratio`, not `_process`, and on skip the ratio jumps straight to 1.0. Choices are filtered by `StringName` flags, heavy backgrounds load through `ResourceLoader.load_threaded_request()`, and the active speaker goes to the front with `move_to_front()`. Dialogue text belongs in JSON, CSV or custom `Resource` files, not in GDScript, and the box stays at three or four lines.

A decision table covers storage: JSON or CSV scripts, typed `Resource` dialogue trees, the Dialogic plugin, or a small custom build. If Dialogic already owns your timelines, don't write a second StoryManager. The skill lives in `thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills` under LGPL-3.0 and targets Godot.

## Requirements
- Works with: Godot

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills --skill godot-genre-visual-novel -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/godot-genre-visual-novel/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/godot-genre-visual-novel/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills --skill godot-genre-visual-novel -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/godot-genre-visual-novel/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills --skill godot-genre-visual-novel -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/godot-genre-visual-novel/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills godot-genre-visual-novel
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/godot-genre-visual-novel/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills --skill godot-genre-visual-novel -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills --path skills/godot-genre-visual-novel
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/godot-genre-visual-novel/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills --skill godot-genre-visual-novel -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/thedivergentai/Game-Dev-Agentic-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/godot-genre-visual-novel/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- build a branching story with flags instead of hardcoded lines
- add a typewriter effect with instant skip on input
- let players roll back a misclicked choice
- layer character sprites and dim everyone but the speaker
- keep narrative text in JSON or Resources so writers can edit it

## Example prompts
- Set up a dialogue system for a Godot visual novel using this skill
- Add state rollback for flags and backgrounds with `vn_rollback_manager.gd`
- Filter choice options by `StringName` flags

## Similar
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From the same set: [thedivergentai/game-dev-agentic-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/thedivergentai/game-dev-agentic-skills.md) — 51 cards

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