Scarlet Hollow

I'm on my fourth playthrough and still making new discoveries and choices I didn't know were possible. I can't believe it took this many playthroughs to discover Stella's animation. Sometimes there are a ton of choices that seem the same, like they should end up following the same branch, but that's not always the case. Sometimes a subtlety in the wording you choose can open up whole scenes you haven't seen. I really thought my fourth playthrough would be my last but I keep wanting to go back and play just one more time. Its a great game and its fun to replay. My only gripe is that the dialogue in the chapter 2 mines is way too long, and doesn't really offer a lot of outcomes as far as I can tell for replayability. Its the one chapter I try to just get through to get to the later chapters where there are more options and different things to do. So if you find yourself feeling bleh about chapter 2 give it a chance, it gets better. This game has also had an impact on my life in a way I didn't expect, in my first playthrough, in the first chapter, one of the characters did something that pissed me off. The fact that the first chapter was able to illicit that kind of emotion quickly is a testament to the character and story development that is done so well. But in my fourth playthrough i learned more about that character's history and it all made more sense, and understood the character. And man, that scene, it was something else. It was horror done right. Not super bloody, not the typical gore. It wasn't necessary. It was done SO WELL. It just shocked me so hard I felt like I was in the characters place. I've been thinking about it all day, because it felt like stepping into their trauma....in a good way? Its hard to explain. You never know what kind of pain people are carrying. The game hits in a way that feels deep. And it puts you in very difficult situations to make choices where you really don't know what the outcome will be. I also was interested to learn more about the people who made this game and read some online articles. I can't remember the exact wording, but in one article the creators said they wanted to make something where there weren't necessarily good or bad choices and the characters were complex in a way where it would require effort to understand them. Its easy to put the characters in a box at first until they surprise you. It's kind of given me a different outlook on life and how I judge people. So if the creators were wondering if people get it, just wanted to say I can't be the only one. Since playing this I've had an itch for more that I can't scratch. I've bought a few other games just to feel disappointed. It makes me want to get into making a visual novel of my own.

Only up to epispde 5 but it's so replayable. Amazing worth of content. Characters vary from okay, to good, to amazing (mostly good). Audio and art are amazing and your choices really really matter. It locks you to certain decisions that are important in each episode but they are really affected by the choices you make. I cant wait for more but in the meantime Ill keep trying to have cousin bonding time with ice cream.

10/10

There's just so much to do and the game isn't even complete yet (as of writing this it's up to chapter 5). I came here from Slay the princess and though at first it does feel a little railroad-y when no matter what you choose you end up in the same place for different reasons, the more I think about it, it makes a lot of sense lore-wise. I find myself coming back with different traits to see what happens. I think Slay the princess might be slightly better, but both games are fantastic.

Peak choice-based game. The character writing are exceptionally good: they are complex, lovable with their own flaw. The story are creepy in a lot of different way, the more you think the more you sink in. There plotline is intricate with a lot of foreshadowing, which ties tightly with the game's main idea of choice and sacrifice. 11/10. plz play this. It's a shame that you can't romance the town, including Dustin the best boy.

As of this review, the final 2 chapters aren't out yet, but I can confidently say that this is one of the greatest games I've ever played! I didn't know much about this game going into it at first, and I'm so happy I went in blind. Whenever I think I know where the story's going, there's always one or two pieces of it hiding in plain sight that fully bring it together, sometimes they're in the same episode, or multiple episodes apart. I love the characters in this game, and the fact that the game makes them so likable from the most obvious to the most subtle of details and expressions on their faces, makes some moments either wholesome or absolutely shocking. I haven't had a game make me feel this genuinely surprised in a while. I can't wait for the final chapters to release!

I've already done two runs through chapter 5 and am on tenterhooks for the full release. The writing is excellently paced, the characters all have unique voices, and the sheer variety of outcomes is breathtaking. Now if only I can keep myself from being the goodest boi to see more of them >_>