The Red Threads is a horror dating sim by Astelius, built in Ren'Py with animated 3D CG visuals. You play as someone left half blind and homeless after a freak accident, forced to return to Darwood, the small isolated hometown you once fled. The town is no longer what you remember, and you must try to rebuild your life while resisting madness and the schemes of creatures beyond human understanding. Romance is part of its adult content.
The current build is v0.6.2, released July 19, 2025, and development continues. It runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac in English, with no censorship. The latest changelog adds a phone system meant to provide information in a more natural way. It includes six apps, such as a contacts list with limited character profiles and scene hints, a gallery of unlockable wallpapers, a web browser, a banking app for checking funds, and an inventory app.
Developer's description
After a freak accident leaves you half blind and homeless,
you are left with no choice but to return to the hometown you fled.
However, the small, isolated, town of your childhood, Darwood, is not as you remember.
Can you remain sane as you try desperately to rebuild what you've lost?
Or will you fall to madness under the machinations of creatures beyond your comprehension?
v0.6.2
New system: The phone
Intended as an immersion friendly source of information, the phone currently features six apps.
A contacts list filled with those you have reached a certain threshold with. Each character has a profile with a small amount of information about them as well as a hint as to their next scene. Currently this only features Freya and an individual from your past.
A gallery. A small collection of images that can be unlocked by exploring the world. Each image can then be set as the phone's wallpaper. Currently only has two pictures to find.
A web browser. I’ll add search options over time that allow you to learn more about the world or assist in certain character routes.
A banking app. An immersion friendly way of checking your current money balance.
An inventory app. This lets you see what trinkets you have found.
A social media app. Echoes suggested the phone would benefit from a system to skip ahead in time. So this is my interpretation of that system. You can open the social media app and select how long you want to scroll in order to skip to a set time of day at the cost of some sanity.
Bug fixes:
- The doll visit scenes now do not repeat. This time for sure.
- Fixed a crash surrounding certain fonts.
v0.5.2
New location:
- Freya’s bedroom:
- Freya’s room opens at last!
- A few different items to interact with. Most of which lead to new dialogue options with Freya.
- A couple items that are set for expansion later on.
Scenes:
-A bad ending scene for Freya. Should you make a choice that severs the thread of romance between you and Freya, the doll will summon you to the doll house.
Bug fixes:
- Fixed crash when interacting with poster in common grounds.
- Fixed a crash when interacting with tentacle breach in library archives.
- Fixed an issue where font changes were causing the game to crash.
- Fixed more tentacle breach crashes.
- Fixed incorrect backing image appearing on certain nodes in library archives.
- Fixed an issue where the new Freya conversation system bent spacetime when saying never mind.
- Fixed an issue where the same book could be taken from the library archives infinitely.
- Fixed an issue where the second doll scene would repeat indefinitely.
v0.4
New location:
- The Doll-house:
- A much improved environment that the doll resides in.
- A few different items to interact with. Most of which lead to new dialogue options with the doll.
- Foundations set for the gallery.
Scenes:
- Remake of meeting the doll for the first time during the prologue.
- New accompanying animation
- Remake of the first zero sanity dream during chapter 1.
- Allows you to decide the title the doll uses to refer to you.
- A new scene with Freya.
- Spend some time with her during the evening.
- A couple new locations to explore in the city on certain evenings
Bug fixes:
- Fixed a bug that caused the game to crash while in the library archives
- Fixed an image not appearing while spending time with Freya in the apartment during the evening.
v0.3
Mechanics:
- The library archives.
A warping maze of backrooms home to all manner of oddities. Do try not to get lost.
- A donation bowl with one item available to find and donate.
I’m sure they will reward you for your efforts.
Scenes:
- One scene with the librarian.
What is she up to in the archives?
- One scene with some of the archives inhabitants.
The loot hunger can not be sated.
- One odd little book.
You’d have to half mad to read such a book
- Two events when lost in library.
Some corridors are tighter than others.
p.s. The archives won’t always open their doors for you. If they refuse you, try another day.
v0.2
Mechanics:
Added point and click navigation of the bedroom, apartment, shop, and library.
Added basic sanity system, currently affects some scenes and access to visiting the doll.
Added time of day and day of week structure with variable images and activities.
Main scenes:
Added a new scene with the doll, occurs when players sanity hits zero for first time.
Added an encounter when player explores city in evening.
Added introduction to Miskatonic library, scene varies depending on sanity level when going to library for first time.
Added simple hang out with Vivian in the coffee shop if player met her during prologue.
Added simple hang out with Pippa in the coffee shop after player meets her.
Pippa introduction if she wasn't met in prologue.
Mini scenes:
Repeatable hang out with Freya when she is relaxing in shop or apartment.
Repeatable reading in apartment, shop, and library
Small scene when knocking of Freya's door if she is in her room.
Repeatable watch movie with Pippa and Freya. (Minor change depending on player sanity level)
Repeatable explore city (Very bare bones)
v0.1
Initial Release
Player reviews
Player rating4.0 / 5 · 3 ratings
Written reviews3 · avg 3.3★
Positive (4–5★)67%
Latest review2024-12-22
What players say
Mixed early reception: strong art and horror atmosphere, but limited mechanics make it feel unfinished.
5★0
4★2
3★0
2★1
1★0
Players like
Strong Lovecraftian horror atmosphere
Excellent art and character style
Interesting story and background details
Common complaints
Unclear whether it is a game or story
Limited repetitive interactions and sparse information
Ugly red screen effects
Best for players who like Lovecraftian adult dating sims with strong horror art.
Summarised from 3 written player reviews.
fr452024-12-22★★★★★
Unsure if there is supposed to be a game or a story here somewhere. So far you can: - either take or not take pills that may or may not do something - drink or not drink coffee - read…
MidnightKing2024-01-05★★★★★
Review for v0.1 As the dev has stated, it's an "adult visual novel dating sim with Lovecraftian horror aspects." Surprisingly I've played a few different AVNs with similar concepts, but I think where this stands out so far is that…
yoda123452024-01-04★★★★★
Excellent art/character style, story seems interesting and I'd definitely say game feels "compressed" (not in a bad sense) - lot of little background details that I assume the dev is intending to make use of. I'm not willing to put…