Scarlet Hollow
Episodic visual novel with branching traits and horror elements.
Scarlet Hollow is an episodic visual novel developed and published by Black Tabby Games, an independent studio founded by married couple Abby Howard and Tony Howard-Arias. The game entered early access on June 11, 2021, for Linux, MacOS, and Microsoft Windows systems, and as of 2025, four episodes have been released out of a planned seven. It is noted for its hand-drawn art, RPG elements, and a trait system that influences dialogue and story paths.
- Episodes released (as of 2025)
- 4 out of 7 planned
Quick Facts
- Title
- Scarlet Hollow
- Developer
- Black Tabby Games
- Engine
- Ren'Py
- Platforms
- Linux / MacOS / Microsoft Windows
- Genre
- Visual novel, Role-playing game
- Modes
- Single-player
- Programmer
- Tony Howard-Arias
- Artist
- Abby Howard
- Composer
- Brandon Boone
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Scarlet Hollow is set in the small town of Scarlet Hollow, North Carolina, supported by coal mines owned by the once-affluent Scarlet family. The protagonist, invited to the funeral of their estranged Aunt Pearlanne by her daughter Tabitha, encounters a cast of residents including cryptozoology YouTuber Stella, the veiled supernatural man Sam Wayne, and others. The story unfolds over four released days, each involving choices that affect character relationships and outcomes, such as the fate of animals, townsfolk, and the protagonist's own family secrets.
Reader's Guide
Scarlet Hollow is significant as a crowdfunded indie visual novel that successfully used a second game, Slay the Princess (released in 2023), to fund its remaining development. Its trait system—allowing players to choose two of seven traits (or three in Hardcore Mode)—and a hidden five-variable personality system (open/closed, agreeable/adversarial, insightful/dull, bold/passive, reliable/unreliable) provide replayability and narrative depth. The game's episodic structure, with updates expanding existing chapters in March 2025 and Episode 5 releasing on February 13, 2026, reflects a deliberate, community-supported development cycle. Its legacy includes recognition from outlets such as PC Gamer, GamesRadar+, and Kotaku, which named early access versions among the best games of 2021 and 2022.
Did You Know?
- The game's development studio, Black Tabby Games, consists solely of married couple Abby Howard and Tony Howard-Arias.
- A Hardcore Mode, unlockable as a New Game+ option, allows picking three traits but cuts out certain story paths those traits would normally grant.
- Episode 1 was released as a demo in 2020, with Episode 2 releasing the following year.
- The game's influences include Life Is Strange, Twin Peaks, and Gravity Falls.
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