Scarlet Deer Inn

Scarlet Deer Inn is a visually enchanting horror fairy tale, elevated by its embroidered characters, hand-painted backgrounds, Slavic folklore, memorable heroine, and beautiful folk soundtrack. Its repetitive underground sections, frustrating chase sequences, underused titular inn, and high price for a roughly three-hour experience keep it from fully living up to its promise.

At first glance, the Scarlet Deer Inn may seem deceptive, but ultimately it offers a raw and unforgettable experience. Attu Games have woven a piece of their heart into every stitch, a heart that beats just as wildly in the sun-drenched village as it does in the darkest underground passages. Eliška’s relentless struggle to save her family shows that the greatest courage is often born of sheer desperation. An uncompromising darkness pulls the strings of fate, but it is worth descending into its jaws. The ballad has faded, the torch has gone out, yet the restlessness in the soul remains.

If you enjoy folklore infused with horror elements and a rural atmosphere, there's no reason to hesitate. Scarlet Dear Inn could also appeal to fans of narrative-driven adventure games, although they may be expecting an even stronger emphasis on the story.

Like a ghostly tale told around a campfire, there are few satisfying answers to make players feel they’ve definitively concluded the experience. However, as in the grimmest of stories, the ending enables the game’s fearsome mysteries to fester in my imagination to live on longer than Scarlet Deer Inn's short runtime.