Scarlet City of Devils

About

Scarlet City of Devils is a single player hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Shademare and was released on March 7, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Scarlet City of Devils is a 2D Metroidvania with intense soulslike combat set in the chaotic city of Elovelle, where demon clans battle for control of a powerful fountain. Players explore freely with six unique movement weapons while uncovering a story of conflict, virtue, and survival. After completing the game, a challenging Boss Rush mode unlocks for added replayability.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

The game features engaging combat mechanics and a variety of weapon styles, making battles enjoyable and dynamic.
The hand-drawn artwork and soundtrack are standout elements, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.
Exploration is rewarding, with numerous secrets and upgrades to discover throughout the interconnected zones.

Control customization is limited, with no option to rebind movement keys, which can hinder the gameplay experience.
The map design is inconsistent, often not reflecting the actual layout of the game world, leading to confusion during exploration.
There are technical issues such as stuttering and character getting stuck in the environment, which detracts from the overall experience.

graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The graphics of the game feature a distinct hand-drawn art style that is generally well-received, with clean visuals and attention to detail, though some players note a tendency towards objectification in character design. While the environments are minimalistic, they are deemed sufficient for the gameplay experience, and the overall aesthetic is described as fun and engaging, albeit with some clunky animations. Players recommend the game for its visuals, particularly if they appreciate the "ecchi" style, but caution that it may not appeal to everyone.
- “The soundtrack and artwork are particularly good!”
- “Fascinating unique hand-drawn artwork, fun challenging combat through several weapons.”
- “Fun indie metroidvania, with a distinct art style, a variety of bosses, a decent sized map with varied environments with secrets and upgrades to collect.”
- “Pretty fun game with decent combat and an interesting, if a little rough around the edges, art style.”
- “A bit clunky at times due to the animation lock and graphical style.”
- “There is a lot of attention to detail in the art that would come through better if the graphics were scaled up and then optimized instead of being small to begin with.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The gameplay is heavily influenced by Metroid-style exploration, encouraging players to memorize maps to avoid getting lost, while enemy respawns add a layer of challenge, especially in low-health situations. Players find the core mechanics engaging and rewarding, with a variety of weapons and upgrades that enhance the experience, although some have noted issues with movement and hitboxes. Overall, the gameplay is described as fun and well-crafted, appealing to fans of the metroidvania genre despite some narrative shortcomings.
- “I played through the game in two sittings and, even afterward, I found myself wishing there was more, simply because the gameplay was so engaging.”
- “A well-crafted indie metroidvania that rewards mastery of the game mechanics.”
- “It's packed with a lot of weapons, mechanics, special effects, and bosses that would give any metroidvania fan a good time!”
- “The movement felt floaty, plus some hitboxes just felt off (especially with the first boss) and the stagger mechanic felt unreliable.”
- “I think this game has a lot of charm and personality, but the gameplay just didn't feel right to me.”
- “Gameplay: the gameplay does lean heavily into the Metroid-style maps, and you will want to try and memorize them as much as possible if you don't want to get lost. The enemies will respawn once you leave the area, which is good, but it can get overwhelming in low health situations.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall experience, with a diverse and fitting soundtrack that complements various locations and gameplay scenarios. Reviewers highlight the engaging battle music, eerie synth-heavy themes, and the seamless integration of sound with the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's best aspects, elevating both exploration and combat.
- “An eerie, synth-heavy soundtrack pulses in the background, perfectly capturing the tone of the city.”
- “While the game is a polished work with various praiseworthy elements, its musical accompaniment warrants special consideration.”
- “The music... the music will have you in constant jam mode as you play through all the different locations.”
- “Whether you're sneaking through shadowed corridors or locked in a high-stakes boss fight, the music adapts to amplify the tension.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and humorous, while others criticize it for being uninteresting or poorly thought out. The prologue is noted for spoiling key plot points, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its simplicity, the narrative is appreciated for its charm and integration with gameplay, though issues like objectification and awkward dialogue have been highlighted.
- “For an indie game, I did enjoy the story for what it was worth compared to other indie games of similar styles.”
- “The banter back and forth is silly and had me laughing out loud as I progressed through the storyline.”
- “Scarlet City of Devils is a hand-drawn art metroidvania with a fun battle system. The story is about Scarlet, who ventures on a mission to take down enemies causing a ruckus all over the city and stop their ultimate goal.”
- “The prologue spoils the entire plot of the game.”
- “What's the point of spoiling your own story?”
- “The story does not come across as being as thought out or as cared for as the gameplay, ranging between a reading experience of awkward to fine, though I wish it was considering how much exposition and dialogue you click through while playing.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing random stuttering issues, which detracts from the overall experience. Reviewers suggest that the attention to detail in the art could be enhanced with better graphics scaling and optimization.
- “The game runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware, showcasing excellent optimization that allows for a wider audience to enjoy it.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, ensuring minimal loading times and a seamless experience throughout.”
- “The optimization is impressive; I can play at high settings without any lag, which really enhances the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The game is stuttering at random moments.”
- “There is a lot of attention to detail in the art that would come through better if the graphics were scaled up and then optimized instead of being small to begin with.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by silly banter that effectively elicits laughter, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the storyline.
- “The banter back and forth is silly and had me laughing out loud as I progressed through the storyline.”
- “The humor is spot on, with clever jokes that kept me entertained throughout the game.”
- “I couldn't stop chuckling at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations the characters found themselves in.”