Scarlet Hollow Episode 5 Raises the Stakes

Screenshot: Scarlet Hollow

I just arrived in Scarlet Hollow. I know some of you have been trapped in this town for years, waiting patiently for every drop of content since 2020. I, however, am spoiled. I binged the first four episodes in a couple of days. But that luxury has a cost: hitting the wall of Episode 5’s split release has been excruciating.

After absolutely loving the majority of the first four acts, I found myself strangely underwhelmed by the start of Episode 5—until the cards were finally put on the table.

Screenshot: Scarlet Hollow

Coming into Episode 5, everything felt almost too safe. I knew there was going to be a rug pull at some point—especially since the narrative stakes are finally being clarified—but I didn’t expect the emotional gut punch that followed. I know veteran players might have seen it coming (or listened to Wayne’s ominous warnings), but I was genuinely shocked by the time the first part of Episode 5 concluded.

Developer Black Tabby Games promised that the first half of Episode 5 would be roughly as long as the entirety of Episode 4. I’m not sure if that holds up in practice, because my two playthroughs went by lightning fast. Maybe it’s my fault for devouring the story so voraciously, or maybe certain Trait choices speed things up, but the thought of having to wait another week to see what happens next is agonizing. (Again, apologies to those of you who have been in it for the long haul!)

Screenshot: Scarlet Hollow

If you’re not familiar with Scarlet Hollow, it is the work of the husband-and-wife dev team at Black Tabby Games (Abby Howard and Tony Howard-Arias). While many gamers know them from their massive breakout hit Slay the Princess, Scarlet Hollow is actually their debut project, which they have been releasing episodically since 2020. Unlike in Slay the Princess, where your choices can change the literal reality of the story, the central mystery in Scarlet Hollow is constant. Your choices change what is revealed, when, and by whom. There is an ominous warning at the start that you can’t save everyone—you can’t even save yourself—and that promise is finally paying off with higher stakes in Episode 5.

I’m absolutely into Scarlet Hollow, even if the writing does skew a little YA at times—mostly in the banter and relationship dynamics. However, it anchors that lightness with a complicated and deep narrative full of interesting characters that are a treat to interact with. It also uses excellent sound design to really drive home the horror and panic of key scenes. For a visual novel, it feels remarkably dynamic and real.

Screenshot: Scarlet Hollow

There are light RPG elements, too; the Trait system changes what your character is able to do, sometimes to a significant degree. Traits like Talks to Animals (one of my favorites) and Mystic open up lore and information you can’t get otherwise. Part of the charm is playing through multiple times to see the story from those different angles.

Episodes 6 and 7 are being worked on as a single unit. That means once this cliffhanger resolves, I won’t have to wait mid-story again until the finale drops. I just hope I don’t have to wait five years for that to happen.