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Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 similar games & best alternatives

Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 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

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    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."

      Capsule for Angel Wings Angel Wings

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    • 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."

      Capsule for Tiny Bunny 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."

      Capsule for Demonheart 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."

      Capsule for Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical 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."

      Capsule for Demonheart 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."

      Capsule for Sacred Fire: A Role Playing Game 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."

      Capsule for Blood Code 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."

      Capsule for Nancy Drew®: Ghost of Thornton Hall 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."

      Capsule for Tomb Raider Game of the Year 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."

      Capsule for As Dusk Falls 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."

      Capsule for Nurse Love Addiction 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."

      Capsule for Dialtown: Phone Dating Sim 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."

      Capsule for Amanda the Adventurer 3 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."

      Capsule for God of War 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."

      Capsule for Demonheart Demonheart

      "Players learn about story, characters, and consequences of choices, developing understanding over multiple playthroughs."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

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      "Sedentary gameplay typical of visual novels with no physical activity involved."

      Capsule for STEINS;GATE 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."

      Capsule for I Wani Hug that Gator! 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."

      Capsule for Pentiment 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."

      Capsule for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition Deluxe (2009) 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."

      Capsule for The Blackwell Legacy 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."

      Capsule for Red Matter 2 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."

      Capsule for Death Howl 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."

      Capsule for Life is Strange: Before the Storm 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."

      Capsule for Amnesia™: Memories 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."

      Capsule for Tiny Bunny 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."

      Capsule for Scarlet Hollow 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."

      Capsule for Shogun Showdown: Prologue 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."

      Capsule for Angels with Scaly Wings™ / 鱗羽の天使 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."

      Capsule for SIMULACRA 2 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