Scarlet Hollow

The systems of Scarlet Hollow work in an incredibly cooperative tandem to fulfil the title's emotional and narrative intents as a work, and is excellent at defying limitations that come with its medium as visual novel in service of a narrative that is compelling in both its writing and its engagement with broader adult themes of compromise, mental health, loss, and rural decay.

The game manages to do a lot with a little as a visual novel, relying largely on its trait mechanics and varying choices to provide play and replayability — even as the title is still in early access and is two episodes off from completion — in the sheer variety of different interactions that can be achieved.

The soundtrack also deserves mention, it is beautiful and adds to all the scenes so well and it is as good as slay the princess soundtrack.

Scarlet Hollow draws from organic writing and an inviting, lived-in art style to create a compelling and undiagnosed atmosphere littered with player choice as its driving spear in engaging with its setting's woes.

This game also has a lot of illustrations, they go out of their way to show so many hand drawn locations and character reactions that often change from click to click, they really put in maximum effort.