Choose Oxenfree
Choose Oxenfree if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 6,745 Steam reviews back the pick.
Oxenfree vs Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1
Oxenfree and Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 both land in Indie, Adventure on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam. Oxenfree (2016) is 4 years older than Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 (2020). Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 scores higher on Steam reviews (97.1% positive) than Oxenfree (92% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1
Choose Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 if you want a RPG and Casual experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 97.1% positive across 624 reviews.
Both Oxenfree and Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 sit in Indie and Adventure on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Oxenfree |  Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2020 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure, RPG, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 92% positive (6,745 reviews) | 97.1% positive (624 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Night School Studio | Black Tabby Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Oxenfree (2016) is 4 years older than Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 (2020).
- Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 scores higher on Steam reviews (97.1% positive) than Oxenfree (92% positive).
- Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 is free; Oxenfree is paid (9.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Oxenfree is Deck Verified, Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 is Deck Playable.
Oxenfree vs Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 — FAQ
- Which is better, Oxenfree or Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1?
- On Steam reviews Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 scores higher (97.1% positive) than Oxenfree (92% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Oxenfree or Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 first?
- If you want chronology, Oxenfree (2016) came out before Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 (2020). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Oxenfree and Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Is Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 free?
- Yes — Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 is a free-to-play Steam title. Oxenfree is paid (9.99 USD).