Well it’s been a long time coming to this review. I am a big fan of gaming, and as such, I have always dreamed of making my own…whether it be a tabletop title or a simple RPG. So I decided to reach out to Nyu Media in regard to their Tyrano Builder Visual Novel Studio!
The software, like a few other simplified game development packages, is incredibly easy to use. It even comes with a tutorial so you can put your best foot forward right away. Once you’ve learned (mastered) the setup for the software, you’ll breeze through basic game creation.
However, if you think you can just jump right into it and start making complex, industry-strength titles, I have some bad news for you. Unlike packages such as RPGMaker or Unity Engine, Tyrano Builder only comes with two preloaded assets. 
This means that to create your game you must either be an artist or know an artist. Conceivably, you could still make a game using materials found online. But you can’t sell your creation unless you “own rights” to these materials. So if you’re considering Tyrano Builder without proper access to these sorts of assets, I would recommend against the investment.
The software is an incredibly powerful tool however for authoring a visual novel, whether it be a romantic comedy or a fan-fiction pairing between Jack Atlas and Carly Carmine.
I have already recommended it to Mikiko Ponczeck so she can create her own visual novels, rather than having to rely on Tokyopop and other publishing companies.
Overall, is Tyrano Builder Visual Novel Studio worth it? If you are an artist, yes. If you are a person with zero artistic talent, probably not. Despite its ups and downs, it’s an amazing piece of software and I really enjoyed taking a look at it.
An autistic gamer with opinions on games who also enjoys making dumb videos on the internet!