Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 similar games & best alternatives
Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1
2020
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Quick resume
The free-to-play first episode of a horror-mystery game with dark humor and hand-drawn art by Black Tabby Games. Note — we are retiring this store page. While the build here is still up-to-date, please download the DEMO from the main Scarlet Hollow store page. Thank you and have fun!
Global score
97/100
Genres
Adventure, Casual, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Visual Novel
Similar games
Pros
- Beautiful hand-drawn art and atmospheric music
- Engaging and branching narrative with meaningful choices
- Character customization with traits and pronouns
- Free first episode with high replayability
- Strong horror and suspense elements balanced with humor
Cons
- Short length of first episode
- Some minor dialogue or text glitches reported
- Limited interactivity typical of visual novels
- No multiplayer or cooperative features
- Some players found the horror elements intense or unsettling
Motivations
-
Autonomy
Game with the same Autonomy vibe
4"Players make meaningful choices that affect story outcomes and character relationships, allowing personal direction of the narrative."
Angel Wings
"Players can choose character traits and make meaningful dialogue and story decisions that affect outcomes."
-
Competence
Game with the same Competence vibe
2"Engages players in narrative decision-making and puzzle elements, providing some skill and challenge but mostly story-driven."
Tiny Bunny
"Engages players in narrative choices and roleplaying, with some skill in selecting traits and dialogue options."
-
Competition
Game with the same Competition vibe
-4"Focuses on personal story progression and individual choices without competitive or ranked elements."
Demonheart
"Focuses on personal story progression and individual choices without competitive elements."
-
Continuation
Game with the same Continuation vibe
4"Players report multiple playthroughs to explore different story branches and song variations, indicating strong desire to continue playing."
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
"Players report multiple playthroughs and strong desire to continue exploring story branches."
-
Cooperation
Game with the same Cooperation vibe
-5"Single-player visual novel experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."
Demonheart
"Single-player visual novel experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."
-
Creativity
Game with the same Creativity vibe
3"Players can customize character builds, personality traits, and influence story branches, allowing creative role-play."
Sacred Fire: A Role Playing Game
"Allows customization of player character traits and roleplaying styles affecting story and dialogue."
-
Domination
Game with the same Domination vibe
-5"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-driven."
Blood Code
"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-driven."
-
Escapism
Game with the same Escapism vibe
4"Players use the game to immerse themselves in a spooky, mysterious world, escaping real life through atmospheric storytelling and puzzles."
Nancy Drew®: Ghost of Thornton Hall
"Players use the game to immerse in a spooky fictional world, escaping real life through story and atmosphere."
-
Expectation
Game with the same Expectation vibe
-4"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not obligation or pressure."
Tomb Raider Game of the Year
"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not obligation or pressure."
-
Experimenting
Game with the same Experimenting vibe
4"Encourages trying different choices and exploring alternate story paths."
As Dusk Falls
"Encourages trying different traits and dialogue options to explore multiple story paths."
-
Exploration
Game with the same Exploration vibe
3"Players discover new story branches, secrets, and character backgrounds through choices."
Nurse Love Addiction
"Players discover new story branches, secrets, and character interactions through choices."
-
Expression
Game with the same Expression vibe
3"Customization of player pronouns and character identity allows self-expression within the narrative."
Dialtown: Phone Dating Sim
"Customization of player character traits and pronouns enables personal expression."
-
Fantasy
Game with the same Fantasy vibe
4"Engages players in a fictional horror narrative with supernatural and imaginative elements."
Amanda the Adventurer 3
"Engages players in a fictional horror narrative with supernatural and cryptid elements."
-
Fellowship
Game with the same Fellowship vibe
-4"Primarily a solo experience with limited social interaction beyond narrative character relationships."
God of War
"Primarily a solo experience with limited social interaction beyond narrative character relationships."
-
Growth
Game with the same Growth vibe
3"Players develop understanding of characters and story through choices and multiple playthroughs."
Demonheart
"Players learn about story, characters, and consequences of choices, developing understanding over multiple playthroughs."
-
Health
Game with the same Health vibe
-5"Sedentary gameplay typical of visual novels with no physical activity involved."
STEINS;GATE
"Sedentary gameplay typical of visual novels with no physical activity involved."
-
Idle
Game with the same Idle vibe
-4"Requires focused reading and decision-making; not a background or idle experience."
I Wani Hug that Gator!
"Requires focused reading and decision-making; not a background or idle experience."
-
Intimacy
Game with the same Intimacy vibe
2"Players form emotional connections with characters through dialogue and story, though interactions remain narrative-driven."
Pentiment
"Players form emotional connections with characters through story and dialogue, though interactions are scripted."
-
Leadership
Game with the same Leadership vibe
-5"No leadership or group management mechanics present."
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition Deluxe (2009)
"No leadership or group management mechanics present."
-
Progression
Game with the same Progression vibe
3"Progression through story advancement and unlocking new clues and dialogue options."
The Blackwell Legacy
"Progression through story chapters and unlocking new dialogue and story branches based on choices."
-
Relaxation
Game with the same Relaxation vibe
2"Atmospheric and immersive with moments of tension; overall balanced between relaxation and suspense."
Red Matter 2
"Atmospheric and immersive with moments of humor and tension release, but also sustained suspense."
-
Sensation
Game with the same Sensation vibe
3"Enjoyable art, sound design, and atmospheric music provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."
Death Howl
"Enjoyable art, music, and sound design provide sensory stimulation enhancing mood and atmosphere."
-
Status
Game with the same Status vibe
-5"No social status or recognition systems; focus is on personal narrative experience."
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
"No social status or recognition systems; focus is on personal narrative experience."
-
Story
Game with the same Story vibe
5"Strong narrative immersion with multiple branching plots, character development, and overarching mystery."
Amnesia™: Memories
"Strong narrative immersion with branching plots, character development, and mystery."
-
Strategy
Game with the same Strategy vibe
1"Some decision-making and puzzle elements, but mostly straightforward narrative choices."
Tiny Bunny
"Some planning in choosing traits and dialogue options, but mostly straightforward narrative choices."
-
Thrill
Game with the same Thrill vibe
3"Provides suspense and tension through horror elements and story developments."
Scarlet Hollow
"Creates suspense and tension through horror elements and story developments."
-
Value
Game with the same Value vibe
5"Free prologue with high replay value and positive player reception indicates good value."
Shogun Showdown: Prologue
"Free first episode with high replay value and positive player reception; good return on time invested."
-
Violence
Game with the same Violence vibe
-3"Game focuses on narrative and character interaction rather than combat or destruction."
Angels with Scaly Wings™ / 鱗羽の天使
"Focuses on narrative and character interaction rather than combat or destruction."
-
Survival
Game with the same Survival vibe
1"Some elements of avoiding failure or negative outcomes through choices, but no direct survival mechanics."
SIMULACRA 2
"Some elements of avoiding negative outcomes through choices, but no active survival mechanics."
Analysis
A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Intimacy, Survival, Violence, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fellowship.
How to use the graph
Similar games map
Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.
- Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
- Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
- Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
- Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.
Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.
Last update: 30/04/2026