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1 There’s something deeply unsettling about small towns. Maybe it’s how everyone knows your business, or perhaps it’s the sense that you might never leave once you’ve arrived. Scarlet Hollow, developed and published by Black Tabby Games, leans into that creeping dread with a masterful blend of mystery, horror, and pitch, black humour. Best known for Slay the Princess, the indie duo behind Black Tabby Games have crafted another narrative-driven gem where your choices matter, your relationships evolve, and no one is getting out unscathed. With four episodes currently available (out of seven planned) on Steam, Scarlet Hollow is already shaping up to be one of the most immersive experiences in gaming.
Scarlet might be Hollow but this game is full of greatness
What are you most excited about in Scarlet Hollow? Do you like the art style, or are you looking forward to seeing a favourite character? Please drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts!
Gameplay
Before stepping off the bus into Scarlet Hollow, the game lets you customise your protagonist. You’ll choose your name, the city you’re from, and your pronouns (he/him, she/her, or they/them). Then, you’ll pick two unique traits that shape your interactions with the world. Want to talk to animals and uncover their unsettling secrets? Be hot and effortlessly charming? Or rely on sheer brute strength to handle obstacles? With 21 distinct builds, each playthrough offers new ways to navigate the horrors of Scarlet Hollow.
Once you’ve customised your character it’s story time. You arrive in the remote Appalachian town of Scarlet Hollow for a simple reason: your estranged aunt has passed away, and your long-lost cousin, Tabitha, is handling the funeral. Sounds straightforward enough, right? Wrong. The town is a mess. The local coal mine is collapsing, strange creatures are lurking in the woods, and the residents are acting… off. Your family’s decrepit estate isn’t much better, and Tabitha—your only living relative—welcomes you with all the warmth of a broken radiator in a blizzard. You’re in for a ride from the moment you step off that bus. Each day introduces new horrors, mysteries, and ways to get yourself (or others) maimed. But with Scarlet Hollow’s deep role-playing mechanics and its richly branching story, how you handle these horrors is entirely up to you.
Decisions That (Actually) Matter
If you’ve ever played a narrative-driven game and felt like your choices didn’t change anything, prepare to be pleasantly traumatised. Scarlet Hollow doesn’t just promise branching paths—it delivers.
Your choices influence relationships, alter key story beats, and even change how you experience horror. What you know, and what you don’t, can be the difference between life and death. These decisions carry over. Events in Episode 1 ripple into later chapters, leading to vastly different outcomes. Scarlet Hollow excels at crafting a living, breathing world, full of characters who feel like real people rather than stock horror archetypes.
Sure, unsettling creatures and paranormal horrors plague the town, but there are human residents too. There’s Stella, a cryptid-obsessed YouTuber and her lovable dog Gretchen (who I took way too many screenshots of), too, with more bravery than sense: Avery, the heart of the local diner and one of the game’s romance options. And then there’s your cousin, Tabitha—a woman who seems determined to keep you at arm’s length, even as the world crumbles around her. These relationships evolve dynamically, depending on your choices.
Graphics & Audio
Scarlet Hollow doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares unlike many horror games. Instead, it thrives on dread, tension, and disturbingly beautiful imagery.
Each background is painstakingly hand-drawn by Ignatz-winning graphic novelist Abby Howard, bringing an eerie, lived-in quality to the world. Characters don’t just change expressions—they shift within the environment, reacting to the lighting, mood, and unfolding terror in real-time. Small details, a shadow where there shouldn’t be one, an extra figure in a reflection, create an unease that lingers long after you’ve closed the game.
The sound design only amplifies this. Every rustling leaf, distant scream, and uneasy silence pulls you deeper into Scarlet Hollow’s oppressive atmosphere. It’s horror that seeps into your bones, staying with you long after you’ve logged off.
If you need voice acting games however, you might be disappointed. Scarlet Hollow is a text-heavy experience. But given the sheer quality of the writing, it’s a small price to pay. The Devs have shared that the reason for no voice acting is due to the project’s scope. Which is understandable for an indie studio.
Longevity
Whilst it is in early access, one of Scarlet Hollow’s biggest strengths is its replayability. With 21 unique character builds, a heavily branching narrative, and relationships that evolve based on your choices, no two playthroughs are the same. Whether you’re experimenting with different traits, uncovering hidden storylines, or trying (and likely failing) to save everyone, there’s always something new to discover. Plus, with three more episodes still in development, released as free updates, the story is far from over.
Final Thoughts
If you loved Slay the Princess, Scarlet Hollow should be at the top of your must-play list! Black Tabby Games have already proven their talent for crafting deeply unsettling, choice-driven narratives, and with four episodes available now, we can’t wait to see how the rest of this eerie tale unfolds.
With its razor-sharp writing, rich character interactions, and genuinely unnerving atmosphere, Scarlet Hollow is an indie horror masterpiece in the making. The game rewards careful exploration, encourages replayability, and delivers a narrative that sticks with you—whether you want it to or not. Scarlet Hollow is a must-play if you’re a fan of horror, mystery, or just exceptionally well-crafted storytelling.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this preview.
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