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Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity

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

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Quick resume

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!

Global score

93/100

Genres

Action, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Platform, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • 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

    Cons

    • 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

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

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

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • 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.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

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

    • Competence
      3

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

    • Competition
      -4

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

    • Continuation
      2

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

    • Cooperation
      -5

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

    • Creativity
      2

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

    • Domination
      -5

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

    • Escapism
      4

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

    • Expectation
      -4

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

    • Experimenting
      2

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

    • Exploration
      1

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

    • Expression
      1

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

    • Fantasy
      5

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

    • Fellowship
      -5

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

    • Growth
      3

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

    • Health
      -5

      "Standard sedentary gaming experience without physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -3

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

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship-building features."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management mechanics present."

    • Progression
      4

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

    • Relaxation
      2

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

    • Sensation
      3

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

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story
      3

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

    • Strategy
      2

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

    • Thrill
      3

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

    • Value
      3

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

    • Violence
      4

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

    • Survival
      1

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

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026