The Red Threads

by Astelius

Uncensored Windows Linux Mac
Versionv0.6.2
EngineRen'Py
Released2025-07-19
Updated2026-04-09
LanguageEnglish

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
fr45 2024-12-22
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 some inconsequential nonsense in the library - walk around the city in the same two locations with 50\50 of either feeling better or feeling worse - randomly "hang out" with 2 people (no significant information of who they are) which consists of a single render and a single line of text - take a look at your traveling bag with the same result every time And no, those ugly red blots around the screen are not really going anywhere. To sum it up - can't recommend.
MidnightKing 2024-01-05
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 it's really playing more into the horror elements than usual. The game opens with you essentially getting sexually assaulted by a heavily twisted/mutated(?) monster "girl." Now I'm into what I sometimes call true monster girls, where they actually look like monsters more or less. I think I gotta draw the line here though, given that this particular monster girl has teeth in her vagina that the game makes sure to tell you about. Yucky. That was probably the point though, in that it was supposed to make you uncomfortable rather than be sexy. This feels very true to that Lovecraftian aspect in that it already feels like there's all sorts of fucked up shit lurking in the shadows. Honestly not a ton more to say given how short this first version is, but it did its job in hooking me enough to come back. It creates enough intrigue for me to already start wondering and asking questions in a "man I wonder what happens next" kind of way. The writing feels competent which is always nice. Couldn't tell you much of anything about characters yet, just not enough there. My one complaint is that I kinda hate that sort of overlay on the sides of the screen. I think it's done to represent the MC's partial blindness and general trauma, but I'd much rather just have the screen as clear as possible. An option to turn it off would be great. I'd 100% say wait for more updates before playing. It's cool enough for a mini demo, but much too early to get anything really meaningful out of it. Still, going to keep an eye on it for now.
yoda12345 2024-01-04
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 out a 5 star on an intro but as dev continues I'd definitely be willing to increase this assessment if it is worthy of a 5-star. Currently some sex scenes but nothing major given how little content there is yet, but that's not really an issue as I assume the dev probably just wanted to put something in there. TLDR; Very, very good art style, definitely good horror so far, very early development-wise though.

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