Scarlet Hollow
- June 11, 2021
- Black Tabby Games
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam"Scarlet Hollow" is a narrative-driven folklore horror visual novel. You play as a protagonist who travels to a remote Appalachian town for a funeral, only to become entangled in supernatural events. The game features branching storylines, multiple endings, and character customization.
Reviews
- Engaging and immersive storytelling with choices that genuinely matter.
- Beautiful hand-drawn art style that enhances the atmosphere of the game.
- Complex and well-developed characters that feel real and relatable.
- Currently unfinished with only 4 out of 7 episodes released, leading to a long wait for completion.
- Some players may find the pacing slow at the beginning.
- Limited voice acting, which may detract from the experience for some players.
- story841 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Scarlet Hollow" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and meaningful player choices that significantly impact the plot. Reviewers highlight the game's intricate branching paths, immersive atmosphere, and the blend of horror and humor, making it a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. While some express frustration over the story being unfinished, the overall consensus is that the writing, art, and depth of the story create a captivating and replayable visual novel.
“Incredibly engrossing game - excellent plot and dialogue, interesting characters, and choices that really feel like waltzing on razor blades at times.”
“The story is intriguing and amazing, and the characters are fun to get to know.”
“The story is gripping and fascinating, with an amazing atmosphere, and because of the way the relationship system works, all your choices change the story in subtle and meaningful ways.”
“Overall, the story feels juvenile and boring.”
“But man, the story is boring and slow for a long time.”
“I know it has the early access tag, but I still can't recommend a story-based game while the story is completely up in the air so long after its launch.”
- graphics194 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning, hand-drawn art style that enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Reviewers highlight the unique and beautiful visuals, which effectively complement the engaging narrative and character depth, creating an immersive experience. The attention to detail in the artwork, combined with a captivating soundtrack, contributes to a haunting yet charming aesthetic that resonates with players.
“The artwork is beautiful, the characters have depth and mystery, the story is super layered, and there are so many different options and outcomes for gameplay!”
“The art style is haunting and lovely.”
“The artwork is absolutely breathtaking, which I think makes the scary parts even better.”
“I appreciated the artwork and suspense, but was left really wanting more.”
“My own laptop has issues with the cut-scenes due to my own out of date graphics driver.”
“It is simple in terms of graphics and gameplay, but that allows ample room for a high quality story.”
- music160 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the experience. Composed by Brandon Boone, the soundtrack is described as haunting, beautiful, and perfectly fitting for the game's tone, effectively complementing the stunning artwork and engaging narrative. Players have noted that the music not only sets the mood but also deepens the connection to the characters and story, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The characters and environment have so much life, and the music and sounds really set the mood.”
“The art is phenomenal, and the music is so fitting to the tone at all times.”
“The music is atmospheric and immersive, and the art rewards attention to detail.”
“The music is more ambiance in a sense, but it lends to the story and vibe perfectly.”
“The characters are serviceable, the art is intentionally subdued to emphasize the spooky elements, with the highlight being the ghost world, clearly influenced by Madoka, and the music is alright.”
“Music, there are tracks that melt my ears.”
- replayability146 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its intricate trait system and branching narrative paths that significantly alter the story and character interactions based on player choices. Many players report multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes and character traits, highlighting the game's engaging story and dynamic writing. Overall, it is considered one of the most replayable visual novels available, with a wealth of content and choices that encourage repeated exploration.
“I loved every minute of it so far, the vibes, horror, and stitched together community of the game is obscenely good; it has great replayability based on the personality traits alone.”
“The traits you get to choose make the game replayable and enjoyable pretty much ad infinitum, and (I can't express this enough) your choices actually really matter.”
“The branching narrative is truly impressive; there is so much replayability with all of the traits.”
“The outcome of things can be extremely different, so the game has huge replay value.”
“Its trait system and extensive branching choices provide massive replayability, yet I'm horrifically conflicted as to whether I *should* replay it - I worry it will cheapen the impact of the choices I've made thus far, reducing immersion and emotional weight; but that remains to be seen.”
“The nuances and detail that go into the different story pathways gives this so much replay value.”
- atmosphere112 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Scarlet Hollow" is widely praised for its stunning art, immersive sound design, and a perfect blend of cozy and creepy elements that enhance the storytelling experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine tension and emotional depth through its atmospheric visuals and music, creating a captivating environment that draws players into its rich narrative and character interactions. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both beautifully crafted and effectively unsettling, making it a standout feature that elevates the entire experience.
“When you combine it with everything else that makes this game great, it coalesces into one of the most atmospheric games I've ever played.”
“The atmosphere of the horror is amazing, and I can't remember the last time I was actually scared by a visual novel.”
“The writing is excellent, and the creators have done a masterful job of creating an atmosphere from the narrative and visual that really sets the player on edge with a sense of real unease from the moment you start the game.”
“The writing and general atmosphere keeps you tense while also tricking you into letting your guard down, allowing horror to resurge and scare you when you least expect it.”
“The setting also really captures the atmosphere of a small town in coal country, and is both beautiful and unsettling.”
“The dialogue balances seriously spooky stuff and humor so well, it never gets too comedic to reduce the uneasy atmosphere but neither does it stay deadly serious to the point of being a slog.”
- humor99 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and ability to balance dark themes with lighthearted moments, creating a unique blend of comedy and horror. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, engaging character interactions, and the incorporation of humor into various gameplay elements, which enhances replayability and emotional depth. Overall, the humor is described as both endearing and unsettling, effectively humanizing characters and breaking tension without undermining the game's eerie atmosphere.
“The game is cute, witty, hilarious, endearing, and at times very unsettling and spooky in all the best ways.”
“Even though the plot can have heavy themes, I found myself laughing most of the time because some interactions are hilarious.”
“The dialogue balances seriously spooky stuff and humor so well; it never gets too comedic to reduce the uneasy atmosphere, but neither does it stay deadly serious to the point of being a slog.”
- gameplay63 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel is characterized by a simple yet engaging choice-based system that emphasizes player decisions, particularly through an innovative traits mechanic that enhances replayability and personalizes the experience. While the mechanics may not be groundbreaking, they effectively support a rich narrative and immersive character interactions, making each playthrough feel fresh and impactful. The game excels in combining beautiful art, compelling storytelling, and meaningful choices, though it may not appeal to those seeking traditional gameplay or extensive exploration.
“The traits mechanic is an amazing addition that really opens up the amount of possibilities that there are in replays in a way that gets me, a person notorious for making the same decisions because I usually default to doing what is 'right', to continuously replay the game with new trait combinations just to experience the core story itself in a different light.”
“The gameplay feature of the traits really makes for each new take on a chapter to be super interesting.”
“Beautiful art, compelling characters, and engaging gameplay.”
“If you’re looking for traditional gameplay or open-world exploration, this might not be the game for you.”
“The gameplay is fairly simple, like most visual novels.”
“It doesn't do anything innovative with the mechanics, but for a visual novel, it's almost impossible to do something different with the mechanics.”
- emotional31 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised for its ability to create deep connections between players and characters through a captivating, heartfelt story that balances horror and warmth. Players appreciate the immersive narrative, well-written characters, and impactful choices that evoke genuine feelings, making the experience both haunting and beautiful. The unique art style and poignant soundtrack further enhance the emotional depth, resulting in a game that resonates on multiple levels and encourages replayability while maintaining its emotional weight.
“By showing you that your every action matters, truly matters, the game does exceptionally well in building a special connection with you, a connection that will only be strengthened by live, palpable, lovable, goofy, mysterious, and sometimes even terrifying characters; a sweet, touching, at times ruthlessly raw, at times horrifying story; a unique, atmospheric art style that brings the world of Scarlet Hollow to life; and a poignant, fitting, captivating soundtrack that intensifies the bittersweet, the scary, the beautiful, and the ugly.”
“The characters are incredibly well-written and deeply, fundamentally human in a way that gets you invested in the story and makes the difficult choices you have to make all the more heartbreaking.”
“All of the heartfelt, cute, and/or funny elements make the genuinely creepy horror moments hit even harder because you start to genuinely care about these characters and the fate of Scarlet Hollow.”
- character development19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and organic progression, with players noting that characters become more relatable and personable as the story unfolds. The intricate character designs and customization options effectively reflect their personalities and social standings, enhancing immersion in the narrative. Overall, the combination of strong writing, natural dialogue, and meaningful player choices contributes to a compelling and engaging character development experience.
“The depth of the writing, the imagination, the beautiful art style, and the character development are just mind-blowingly good.”
“To the devs' credit though, I stuck with the game after episode 1 despite gently cringing at some of the early character introductions, and I'm very glad I did; the character development kicks into gear pretty much immediately thereafter and they end up feeling a lot more organic and personable -- really the highlight of the story -- which solidifies both my immersion in the setting and the consequence of the narrative.”
“Dialogue has become more natural, character development has blossomed, music and sound effects have been changed in order to really set the mood; I seriously cannot rave enough.”
“Your choices really matter, not only for the plot but also for character development and relationships.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it feels like a second job or life is necessary to keep up with the demands.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has drawn criticism for its misleading advertising, which heavily emphasizes horror elements that are only minimally present in the game, leading to user dissatisfaction.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on features that should be part of the base game.”
“I was disappointed to find that the game is heavily gated behind paywalls, making it difficult to progress without spending real money.”
“The in-game purchases are overpriced and offer minimal value, which detracts from the overall experience.”
