How to get RPG Maker JSON

RPG Maker MV/MZ projects store most game text inside JSON files (usually in data/). For a stable translation workflow, always start from the original project folder.

Recommended

Translate from the project source (the folder you open in RPG Maker). This avoids encrypted deployments, missing data, and broken map event references.

Where the JSON files live

In both RPG Maker MV and RPG Maker MZ, the data files are typically in the data/ folder.

MyRPGMakerGame/
  data/
    Actors.json
    Armors.json
    Classes.json
    CommonEvents.json
    Enemies.json
    Items.json
    Map001.json
    Map002.json
    Skills.json
    States.json
    System.json
    Troops.json
    Weapons.json
  img/
  audio/
  js/
  index.html

Which JSON files usually contain text?

File	Common text inside	Notes
MapXXX.json	Event dialogue, choices, item messages	Most story text often lives here
CommonEvents.json	Shared event dialogue / logic	Used across maps
System.json	UI terms, game title, menu strings	Be careful: changing certain fields can affect UI layout
Actors.json, Enemies.json	Names, profiles, descriptions	Keep placeholders/control codes intact
Items.json, Weapons.json, Armors.json	Item names, descriptions	Icons/metadata should not be edited
Skills.json, States.json	Skill/state names, descriptions, messages	Common in battle UI

Do not break RPG Maker control codes

RPG Maker text often contains control codes that must remain unchanged. VNTranslator Preview/Edit can help you spot issues before exporting.

\V[n] variable value
\N[n] actor name
\P[n] party member name
\G currency unit
\C[n] text color
\I[n] icon index
\{, \}, \., \| timing/formatting controls

Good:
"You got \I[64] Potion x\V[3]!"

Bad (code removed):
"You got Potion x3!"

Keep JSON valid

Do not remove quotes, commas, or brackets. One missing character can break the entire file and prevent the game from loading.

If you only have a deployed game

Some deployed builds encrypt or pack assets and may not include clean project JSON. If you cannot find a readable data/ folder with .json files, ask the developer for a translation-friendly source package.

Legal / safety note

This guide does not cover bypassing protections or extracting content you don't own. Always respect the game's license and the developer's terms.

Quick checklist

You are working from the original project folder.
data/*.json files are readable and valid JSON.
Control codes are preserved.
You test the game after exporting.