Use this list before you publish each chapter — whether you ship on Ren'Py, Unity, or Arleco. Copy it into your notes and check items off; missing one obvious broken route hurts reviews more than missing a background variant.
Story & structure
- Chapter has a clear opening hook in the first few beats
- At least one meaningful choice (or deliberate kinetic stretch with purpose)
- Cliffhanger or resolution that justifies the next episode
- Character voice stays distinct in dialogue (read aloud test)
- No placeholder “Lorem” or TBD lines left in publish path
Branching & logic
- Every choice leads somewhere — no dead-end nodes
- All endings in this chapter are reachable from at least one path
- Metric / stat changes documented if gates exist later
- Key items granted once; no duplicate grants on replay within same save
- Prior-chapter choices respected if this episode branches on them
See how to write branching stories for design patterns that keep forks coherent.
Art & presentation
- Backgrounds assigned for every scene (or intentional blank called out)
- Character sprites show correct expression for tone
- Text readable on mobile — font size and contrast checked
- CGs (if any) match aspect ratio and file size limits
- Content flags accurate (mature language, horror, etc.)
Audio (if used)
- Music loops cleanly or fades appropriately
- SFX not clipping or startling on default volume
- Rights cleared for any non-original tracks
Technical & saves
- Playthrough from chapter start on a fresh save file
- Continue from checkpoint after refresh / re-open
- Restart chapter clears progress for this episode only (if offered)
- Validation passes in your tool (orphans, missing entry, broken links)
- Preview on phone width, not just desktop
Publish & discover
- Episode title, short description, and thumbnail set
- Publish date or schedule confirmed (timezone aware)
- Series page lists chapter in correct order
- Previous chapter marked complete path for sequential unlock (if used)
- Short announcement ready (blog, Discord, social) — see publishing online
After launch (first 48 hours)
- Play once on live URL, not just studio preview
- Watch for reader confusion in comments or Discord
- Log typos for a quick patch; avoid rewriting plot mid-week unless critical
- Note metrics: completion rate, drop-off beat, return readers next chapter
Scope sanity
If this checklist takes longer than fixing the chapter, the chapter may be too big. Split oversized episodes — weekly serial fiction wins on consistency, not word count.
New to the full pipeline? Start with how to make a visual novel and pick your stack in our engine comparison.
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