Freedom251 › Game Narrative Design Software
Drafft

What Drafft is
Drafft is an offline-first editor for interactive narrative and game design data. It can keep dialogue trees, scripts, variables, quests, items, and game design documents together, with project data stored locally by default. The dialogue editor supports branching choices, conditions, events, and links to scripts; a simulator can evaluate control flow using temporary state without running the game.
For documentation, the GDD editor supports Markdown, linked documents, embedded media, and JSON export. Drafft can also export structured JSON for game engines and tailor output to target formats. Its optional UAF scripting syntax adds structure to plain text. Drafft works offline, and its privacy page says it does not call home, track users, or store their data. Optional multi-user sync requires a CouchDB-compatible remote database that users provide and configure; item locking means collaborators should avoid editing the same item simultaneously. The optional REST API works only while Drafft is running with a project loaded. A seven-day trial includes all features and requires no credit card. Drafft supports Linux, macOS, Windows, API use, and self-hosting.
Who it suits
Drafft suits game writers and designers organizing branching dialogue, quests, scripts, and design documents in one offline-capable workspace. Teams considering sync should be prepared to configure their own CouchDB-compatible server and coordinate edits to avoid conflicts.
What it does well
- Works offline with project data local by default
- Simulates dialogue flow without running the game
- Exports structured JSON for game engines
- Seven-day trial includes all features
- No credit card required for the trial
What to know first
- Trial lasts seven days
- Sync requires a user-configured CouchDB-compatible server
- REST API works only while Drafft runs with a project loaded
- Collaborators should avoid editing the same item simultaneously
Limits
The trial lasts seven days and includes all features; Drafft has no free plan. Synchronization uses item locking, and the REST API is available only while Drafft is running with a project loaded.
Getting started
- Open the Drafft website
- Choose the seven-day free trial
- Install it on Linux, macOS, or Windows, or use self-hosting
- Create or load a project
- Enable the optional REST API in settings if needed
- Configure a CouchDB-compatible server for remote sync if needed
Verdict
Drafft brings narrative authoring and game design documents together while keeping projects local by default. Its sync and API options have setup and availability constraints to consider.
Questions
Is Drafft free?
Drafft is paid and has no free plan. The site offers a seven-day free trial with all features and no credit card required.
Which platforms does Drafft support?
It supports Linux, macOS, Windows, API use, and self-hosting.
Can Drafft work offline?
Yes. It stores project data locally by default and works offline.
How does collaboration sync work?
Optional multi-user sync uses a CouchDB-compatible server that users provide and configure. Items are locked during editing to prevent simultaneous changes.
Does Drafft provide an API?
An optional REST API can be enabled in settings. It uses an x-api-key header, defaults to port 9001, and works only while Drafft runs with a project loaded.
Facts from Drafft's own pages
- API
- The optional REST API works only while Drafft is running with a project loaded. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- API authentication
- The API supports an API key sent in the x-api-key request header, and its default port is 9001. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Collaboration limit
- Drafft’s multi-user sync uses item locking to prevent two users from editing the same item at once. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Dialogue editor
- The dialogue editor supports branching nodes, linked scripts, conditions, choices, events, and undo and redo. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Dialogue trees
- Its dialogue editor supports branching nodes, conditions, switches, events, and links to project scripts. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Export
- Drafft exports structured JSON for use with game engines and supports tailoring exports to target formats. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Game design documents
- The GDD editor supports Markdown, linked documents, embedded media, and JSON export. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Argentina · drafft.dev, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Optional remote collaboration and sync use a CouchDB-compatible server that users configure themselves. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The privacy policy identifies Alexis Boni in Argentina as Drafft. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Offline and privacy
- Drafft stores data locally by default and works offline; its privacy page says it does not call home, track users, or store their data. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The site lists Linux, macOS, and Windows support; its Linux downloads include x86_64, arm64, Snap, and Flatpak options. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Drafft says project data stays local by default and leaves the device only if the user chooses to sync it. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Drafft is an offline-first editor for interactive narrative systems and game design data. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- REST API
- An optional REST API can be enabled in settings, but it works only while Drafft is running with a project loaded. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Scripting
- Drafft scripts can be used for dialogue, scenes, and game logic, and the app can generate screenplay documents with voiceover tags. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Simulation
- The dialogue simulator evaluates conditions and control flow using temporary simulated state, without running the game. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site lists [email protected] as its support contact. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Sync constraint
- Drafft’s sync documentation says users should avoid modifying the same item at the same time to prevent conflicts and data loss. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Sync integration
- Optional multiuser syncing uses a CouchDB-compatible remote database that users provide and configure. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- Trial
- The pricing page offers a seven-day free trial with access to all features and no credit card required. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
- What it organizes
- It can organize dialogue trees, scripts, variables, quests, items, and game design documents in one place. · drafft.dev, 8 Oct 2026
Where Drafft stands on Freedom251
- Game Narrative Design Software#19 of 25