Scarlet Hollow raises the standard for what RPGs where choices matter should aim to achieve
Scarlet Hollow, a horror RPG by Black Tabby Games, has become a benchmark for narrative-driven games despite its unexpected origins. Developers Abby Howard and Tony Howard-Arias initially viewed the project as a warm-up before tackling a larger, still-unannounced game. Howard-Arias had previously worked in media and tech, recently closing a startup that built volunteer organizing software for nonprofits.
Five years after its first chapter launch, Scarlet Hollow has raised industry standards for how RPGs should approach meaningful player choice and storytelling. The game demonstrates that horror RPGs can deliver sophisticated narratives where decisions genuinely impact the story, establishing expectations for choice-driven games going forward. What started as a modest stepping stone has evolved into a title that influences how developers think about player agency and narrative design.