There are three lines you see every time you open up Scarlet Hollow.
“You won’t be able to save everyone. You might not be able to save yourself. Welcome home.”
Those three lines remind you of the journey you’re about to embark on, the journey you’ve taken thus far, and how it’ll eventually end. People will die. You could die also. But despite the danger here I am, at the doorstep of my deceased Aunt’s Estate, ready to charge forward.
Currently being developed by Black Tabby Games, the studio that made one of my favorite games of 2023, Slay the Princess, Scarlet Hollow is another delicious and titillating venture into horror, the supernatural, and the unknown that has me craving for more.
Author's Note: With Scarlet Hollow being an episodic release, I'll be reviewing the game in its current state (Eps.1-4). When the full game releases in late 2026, I will release another review giving my final thoughts on it!
Disclosure: A review key was provided.
Related: Slay the Princess Review: A Twisted and Captivating Love Story
Scarlet Hollow: A Beautiful, Quaint Town (Filled with History and Secrets)
After the passing of your Aunt Pearlanne Scarlet, your cousin Tabitha buys your tickets out to Scarlet Hollow, North Carolina, to attend her funeral. Despite not knowing this side of the family, you go on your dangerous 26-hour journey that includes a deplorable stranger rambling on about his life to you, a sign of what’s to come.
Not many people live in this town if the lack of a bus that only arrives once a week and constant job postings begging for help in the mines weren’t dead giveaways. It doesn’t help that upon your arrival, Tabitha’s very closed-off and prefers to keep conversation at a minimal, making your nerves somehow worse.
But as you explore the town and take in its beautiful hand-drawn views while walking the long trails, you meet the townsfolk, and slowly, your defenses lower. So much so, you agree to go cryptid hunting with a friendly woman named Stella. As the two of you eat up snacks and have a chat about life, you hear something. Chilling whispers, voices speaking cryptic messages, and then you spot them: horrific creatures you’ve never seen before.
Death soon follows, and you learn that tragedy will consume the town if you and the residents don’t put a stop to it. So, to protect those you care for, including the only family you have left, you charge forward into the unknown, ready for whatever comes your way.
Scarlet Hollow’s story grips you as soon as that bus rolls into the Appalachian town. There’s an air of mystery about the town. What its history, how it operates, and that big question of why. Why do these monsters terrorize and murder the townsfolk? And why is it happening now, after your Aunt’s death and only after you’ve arrived?
The writing’s wonderfully done. Similar to Slay the Princess, there’s a perfect balance between the different tones it’s trying to carry all while remaining a grounded story. You have your light-hearted moments of banter sprinkled in, sentimental heart-to-hearts with characters, and, of course, the horror. Horror in Scarlet Hollow is masterfully paced and relies more on hair-rising tension than jumpscares.
The Residents: Friends, Foes, or Potential Lovers?
Scarlet Hollow is chock-full of intriguing and well-fleshed-out characters that serve beyond just a few plot points in any given episode. Tabitha, your distant cousin, acts rather cold and rude, but given the circumstances, it’s understandable. But with determination and genuine, continuous acts of kindness, she may open up to you and realize she isn’t alone.
Then there’s Kaneeka, a Black woman in the mostly white town who’s given up on her dreams to run the town’s only general store. If she leaves, the store would collapse and so too would the town. Or worst, the Scarlets will buy it from her family and own even more of the town. But what about her happiness?
Then there’s Wayne, your mysterious stalker wearing mining clothes and a cloth over his face. He says he’s the only one you can trust and that he’ll keep you safe. But why is he following you? What’s his connection to you? And more importantly, how does he know of the danger that lurks ahead?
Depending on how you act and who you choose to hang out with, your relationship can blossom into something more. As of right now, romance takes a backseat to what’s going on, but understandably so. And if you don’t want to smooch anyone but are afraid your choices could lead you down that path, no worries! Choices that’ll lead you towards a relationship are marked with (Flirt) and (Romance), so you know what to avoid.
It’s hard not to love most if not all of the cast. Including the ones I’ve already mentioned, my other personal favorites are Oscar, Gretchen the Pug, and Dustin the Opossum. If I had to choose which one had to live out of those six, I think I’d rather die myself. But knowing the developers, I may need to make that earth-shattering decision down the line…
You Are Your Biggest Asset-or Liability
At the heart of Scarlet Hollow’s gameplay is its trait system. At the start, you must select two out of the seven traits the game provides you.
- Powerful Build: Makes you physically strong, and your body can handle more than the average person’s. You’ll be able to fight, break objects, and intimidate people with your muscular physique.
- Mystical: You’re in tune with the supernatural and the dead, allowing you to get a better understanding of what’s happening in Scarlet Hollow way better than any book can.
- Talk to Animals: You can understand animals and talk to them. You’ll get unique dialogue and scenes, and you can even become friends with the furry creatures!
- Street Smart: You’re able to read people, and if they’re lying to you, you’ll know.
- Keen Eye: No stone is left unturned when you’re around. You pick up on small details that others would miss.
- Book Smart: You’re a reader and researcher, and you’re also rational. You have a wealth of knowledge at your disposal that you can use to help prove your point and dispel any doubt. Or you can use your brain to prove someone else wrong.
- Hot: People will find you attractive and, thus, more likable upon first meeting you. You’re also charismatic, allowing you to smooth things over with others more easily.
They’ll allow you to get additional dialogue choices and can improve your relationship with others. But most importantly, they’ll save you from horrible game-changing situations, essentially a “get out of jail free” card.
However, on Hardcore Mode, where you’re able to choose three traits, they won’t be able to circumvent these major sacrifices. So, while you’ll be able to explore more of the game’s scenes, you’ll also be forced to make the tougher decisions you otherwise could’ve avoided. In a story where lives and relationships are constantly on the line, I can see just how nerve-racking and dark a full Hardcore playthrough could get.
Choices, Choices, So Many Choices!
It’s normal for narrative-driven games to give players agency, but in Scarlet Hollow, your impact is particularly felt, even in small interactions. Choosing whether to talk or stay silent feels important. Do I risk asking Tabitha about her strained relationships with the younger townsfolk or the mine’s history, and if so, how much should I poke and prod until I move on? Or is it better just to stay silent? How often can I ask Stella about her fear of cars until I’ve crossed a line?
There are so many choices you can make and paths that you can go on each day that you can spend hundreds of hours trying to find all the different variations. And because of the game’s massive and continually expanding narrative, you won’t experience it all on your initial run.
At the time of writing, there are over 150 achievements for the game, and more will be added as more episodes continue to release. So whether you’re an achievement hunter or someone who wants to experience a few paths and see how your actions influence the story, your stay in Scarlet Hollow will be a long and fruitful one.
It’s All in the Details
It’s the small things that can help push a great game into a fantastic one. In the case of Scarlet Hollow, there’s the journal, which recaps all the major decisions you’ve made so far. Then there’s the subtle UI change where the leaves decorating the textbox shift from brown to crimson when you’re about to make a game-changing decision. Finally, there are the accessibility options. Some will wonder why visual novels need these in the first place because “it’s just reading.”
Those people fail to realize games like Scarlet Hollow have animations that could trigger migraines or seizures. Then there’s the font, which could be difficult to read for some players. So, to address these issues, there are various options to try and make the game a more comfortable experience for all.
Accessibility
The game also brings Ren’Py’s built-in accessibility menu (the game’s engine) to its game menu. This is something normally only accessible by a shortcut (Shift + A), which most players won’t know about. It’s a simple gesture, but it’s one that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
My only nitpick—and it’s a very small one—is the lack of a rollback. With how complex and choice-heavy Scarlet Hollow is, it makes sense that this feature is disabled; you don’t want players constantly rolling back when they don’t get an outcome they like.
But then again, there’s the autosave feature that saves at every choice option you get. So it begs the question, what is the purpose of disabling rollback?
I use rollback to review a single line of dialogue I may have missed due to a misclick. Because this feature’s disabled, I need to go to the dialogue history to see that one line of dialogue I missed. It’s a little tedious, but perhaps there can be a way to tweak the rollback to only allow the player to go up after a choice was made.
The Verdict So Far
Y’all, I’m hooked. Scarlet Hollow is a wonderfully crafted horror mystery visual novel that’ll put any one of its players into a tight chokehold and never let go. Long after my initial run, I wondered, “What could I have done differently? How would this scene have played out if I was closer with this person or I had chosen this trait instead?” When your players are obsessing over your game long after playing, you know you did well, and Black Tabby Games did phenomenally. I’m here for the long haul and whatever wild (and heartbreaking) ride the studio has planned for me.
Masterpiece
| Pros | Cons |
| Beautiful, incredibly detailed hand-drawn art | Lack of rollback, was a bit annoying needing to go back to history to review a single line of dialogue |
| Interesting and fun gameplay mechanics that want you to replay the game to see everything | |
| Every choice feels impactful | |
| Accessibility options (including bringing Ren’Py’s built-in functions to the forefront) | |
| Gretchen and Dustin |
Want more indie game and visual novel coverage? Stay tuned to Press SPACE to Jump!
