TADS
6.5#14 in game narrative design softwareFree planFree planWebLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitTADS vs Yarn Spinner
Yarn Spinner
8.0#1 in game narrative design software$75 one-timeFree planWebAPIExtensionLinux
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | TADS | Yarn Spinner |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | TADS is a free authoring system for creating interactive fiction. | Yarn Spinner creates narrative game tools for writers, programmers and game designers to plan, write, integrate and test game dialogue. |
| Support | The site says TADS has no dedicated technical support department and directs users to the interactive fiction community forum for questions. | Support is available by email, with replies usually within a few business days, and through a community Discord server. |
TADS plans
- TADSFree
Yarn Spinner plans
- FreeFree
- Yarn Spinner+ for Unity$75, paid once
Pick TADS if…
TADS suits authors creating interactive fiction who want a programming-language-based system and a supplied game library. Windows users can also use its graphical Workbench; other platforms have command-line tools.
Pick Yarn Spinner if…
Yarn Spinner suits writers, programmers, and game designers building interactive dialogue for Unity, Godot, or Unreal Engine projects. It is also relevant to teams working with localization or voice-over.