I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of reading claims that AI is the future of the video games industry. It may be quick, but it lacks heart. Even when its technology has been quote-unquote “perfected”, it’ll never have the authentic passion that creators do. If you don’t believe me, look no further than Black Tabby Games’ Scarlet Hollow as indisputable proof.
Released into early access in June 2021, this hand-drawn horror experience quickly became an indie darling. Its exquisite attention to detail across all facets of its development has made it one of the greatest modern visual novels, and with two episodes yet to be released. AI, devoid of soul, could never produce such quality because it doesn’t understand or care that real artistry takes time.
A classic example of the tortoise and the hare
You may be wondering why I’m referring to Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare fable, or you may even be unfamiliar with its story. If so, allow me to briefly explain the crux of this parable.
A hare who always teases a tortoise for being slow is challenged to a race by said tortoise. Confident that they’ll win with ease, the hare naps, and in doing so, allows the tortoise to reach the finish line first. The lesson you learn from this varies, as each culture and generation puts its own spin on it, but in relation to AI versus Scarlet Hollow, it’s AI’s overconfidence that proves its undoing.
Even though AI doesn’t think or feel, it’s designed to be fast, and, in being fast, those who use it think it’s better.
But in being swift, it’s also hopelessly sloppy. Black Tabby Games isn’t, because its award-winning graphic novelist, Abby Howard, painstakingly draws every background and character sprite. Every. Single. One.
Passionate though Howard is, this is an arduous task; it yields much merit, but it’s still tiring, nonetheless. AI can’t match that level of dedication. Even when you have brand giants like Coca-Cola making AI-generated adverts, the result still lacks the finesse that comes from taking your time.
True art is human-made
Whether you wield a brush or code for a game, that human element is what brings your art to life. Man-made art is so hard to replicate because it has a certain fluidity that AI can’t mimic. It may come close, and maybe even one day it will replicate without a single mistake; however, I believe there would still be signs.
Take a look at any scene from Scarlet Hollow, and you’ll see pen strokes in every shadow; that’s done by a human hand. It has a texture that AI would sanitize. Similar to pixel art, there’s depth in the absence of perfection. That’s not to say that Scarlet Hollow lacks refinement – on the contrary, it’s exceptionally polished – but rather that the devs know when to leave well enough alone.
There’s a raw energy to Scarlet Hollow’s “traditionally inked” visuals that, when combined with its incredible audio and sprawling narrative, creates a rich, immersive tapestry. Much like the characters in the game, every aspect of its artwork has been guided by emotions, which is a wholly organic experience, not a synthetic one.
FAQs
Scarlet Hollow is available on PC via Steam and itch.io.
There are currently five episodes of Scarlet Hollow, with its final two episodes in development.
Scarlet Hollow’s episode 5 was only released in late February 2026, and with each episode usually taking one to two years to develop, we likely won’t get a new episode until 2027 at the earliest.
Scarlet Hollow isn’t scary, per se, but the mounting dread it elicits will leave you feeling on edge. If you long for hair-raising shenanigans, I recommend you check out these sci-fi horrors that’ll make you scared to close your eyes.
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