Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity similar games & best alternatives

Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch • 2018

Should you play it?

The world of Touhou comes alive in this beautiful action RPG (featuring “bullet hell” elements, of course!). Infamous vampire Remilia Scarlet and her dutiful maid, Sakuya, set off to chase rumors of a massive monster, all while sending baddies flying with fluid action and signature skills!

What works
  • Engaging boss fights with bullet hell elements
  • Two distinct playable characters with unique playstyles
  • Good soundtrack and touhou-themed story
  • Accessible difficulty with optional bullet hell mode
  • Smooth combat and satisfying gameplay flow
Things to keep in mind
  • Repetitive level design and enemy variety
  • Some clunky controls and camera issues
  • Grinding required for full completion
  • Limited exploration and customization depth
  • Occasional bugs and technical hiccups

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Aggelos

  • ITORAH

  • Nefarious

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Violence, Fantasy.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players can choose different characters with unique skills and customize equipment, allowing personal playstyle and strategic decisions."

    Capsule for Attack on Titan / A.O.T. Wings of Freedom Attack on Titan / A.O.T. Wings of Freedom

    "Players choose between two characters with unique playstyles and can customize equipment and skills, allowing personal control over gameplay."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Game offers skill-based combat and boss fights with pattern recognition; some players find it challenging especially on harder difficulties."

    Capsule for Momodora III Momodora III

    "Game offers skill-based combat with boss fights requiring pattern recognition and dodging, though overall difficulty is moderate and can be adjusted."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Single-player focused with no multiplayer or leaderboards; players engage at their own pace without direct comparison to others."

    Capsule for The Last Caretaker The Last Caretaker

    "Single-player focused with no multiplayer or leaderboards; players engage at their own pace without direct comparison to others."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players report moderate engagement with some grind and repetition; some enjoy long sessions but others find replayability limited after campaign."

    Capsule for Transport INC Transport INC

    "Some players report replayability due to different characters and post-game content, but grind and repetition may reduce long-term engagement."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    Capsule for Gunman Clive Gunman Clive

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players can customize weapons and gear, and use different combat styles, but overall gameplay follows established hack-and-slash RPG conventions."

    Capsule for The Baconing The Baconing

    "Players can customize skills and equipment loadouts, but gameplay follows established hack-and-slash and bullet hell conventions."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No social or competitive dominance features; interactions are individual and equal."

    Capsule for Pixel Puzzles 2: Birds Pixel Puzzles 2: Birds

    "No social or competitive dominance features; interactions are individual and balanced."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game for stress relief, distraction, and immersion in a fantasy bullet hell world with rich lore and music."

    Capsule for Touhou Juuouen 〜 Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost. Touhou Juuouen 〜 Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost.

    "Provides a fantasy world with bullet hell and RPG elements, offering distraction and immersion from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and fandom, not out of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Holoidle Holoidle

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and fandom interest, not out of obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Players can experiment with different characters, combos, and outfit combinations, though core gameplay is repetitive."

    Capsule for SENRAN KAGURA SHINOVI VERSUS SENRAN KAGURA SHINOVI VERSUS

    "Players experiment with different characters, skills, and equipment combinations, though core gameplay remains consistent."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    1

    "Some exploration of different worlds and bosses, but levels are described as somewhat repetitive and linear."

    Capsule for Weird RPG Weird RPG

    "Game features multiple stages and some exploration, but level design is linear with some repetition."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    1

    "Character customization exists but is limited to skill and equipment choices; no deep avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Game of Thrones Game of Thrones

    "Limited character customization through equipment and skill choices, but no deep avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Set in the imaginative Touhou universe with fantasy characters, magic, and supernatural elements."

    Capsule for Touhou: Lost Branch of Legend Touhou: Lost Branch of Legend

    "Set in the Touhou universe with vampires, magic, and bullet hell fantasy elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community gameplay; experience is solitary."

    Capsule for Andy's Apple Farm Andy's Apple Farm

    "No social or community gameplay; experience is solitary."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Leveling system and unlocking content provide learning and progression opportunities."

    Capsule for Move or Die Move or Die

    "Leveling system and skill unlocks provide learning and progression opportunities."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Standard sedentary gaming experience without physical activity elements."

    Capsule for Afterimage Afterimage

    "Standard sedentary gaming experience without physical activity elements."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires active engagement and focus; not designed for background or idle play."

    Capsule for Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

    "Requires active engagement and focus; not designed for background or idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship-building features."

    Capsule for Black Myth: Wukong Black Myth: Wukong

    "No social or emotional relationship-building features."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management mechanics present."

    Capsule for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition Deluxe (2009) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition Deluxe (2009)

    "No leadership or group management mechanics present."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players collect items, level up characters, and unlock new skills and equipment."

    Capsule for Fortune Summoners Fortune Summoners

    "Players collect equipment, level up, and unlock skills to advance through the game."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "The game balances challenge and flow, though some players find it easy or repetitive, providing moderate relaxation."

    Capsule for Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues

    "Gameplay balances challenge and flow, with some players finding it relaxing though others note repetition."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable visual effects, bullet hell patterns, and music provide stimulating sensory experience."

    Capsule for 永远消失的幻想乡 ~ The Disappearing of Gensokyo 永远消失的幻想乡 ~ The Disappearing of Gensokyo

    "Visual effects, music, and bullet hell patterns provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems."

    Capsule for Alan Wake Alan Wake

    "No social recognition or status systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Storyline is simple and predictable but provides context and humor; some players find it engaging."

    Capsule for King's Bounty: Warriors of the North King's Bounty: Warriors of the North

    "Storyline is present and appreciated by fans, though it is simple and typical of the Touhou universe."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    2

    "Boss fights require pattern recognition and timing; some planning needed but gameplay is mostly straightforward."

    Capsule for DuckTales: Remastered DuckTales: Remastered

    "Combat and boss fights require pattern recognition and tactical skill, but overall gameplay is straightforward."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Bullet hell combat and boss fights provide moments of tension and excitement."

    Capsule for Minishoot' Adventures Minishoot' Adventures

    "Bullet hell boss fights and dodging provide moments of tension and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Generally considered worth the price, especially on sale, with substantial content."

    Capsule for Mortal Kombat 11 Mortal Kombat 11

    "Generally considered worth the price, especially on sale, with good content for cost."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat-focused gameplay with melee and ranged attacks against enemies and bosses."

    Capsule for Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider

    "Combat-focused gameplay with melee and ranged attacks, defeating enemies and bosses."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    1

    "Players must avoid damage and manage health, but death penalties are light and forgiving."

    Capsule for Constance Constance

    "Players must avoid damage and manage resources, but death penalties are light and forgiving."

Last update: 01/06/2026