There is a long-standing, beautiful tradition within the Touhou Project fan community of taking ZUN’s iconic cast of characters and dropping them into completely different genres. Over the years, we’ve seen everything from Touhou-themed kart racers to deckbuilding card games and roguelike dungeon crawlers. Yet, few adaptations feel quite as natural and polished as Touhou Scarlet Curiosity (developed by the talented indie circle Ankake Spa and brought to consoles via XSEED Games / Phoenixx). I recently spent a couple of long, quiet nights curled up on the couch with my Nintendo Switch, running through the colorful lands of Gensokyo as Remilia Scarlet and Sakuya Izayoi. It was a nostalgic trip that reminded me of classic early-2000s action RPGs like the Ys series, blended with the frantic energy of a traditional bullet hell.
The setup for the adventure is wonderfully lighthearted and fits the universe perfectly. Remilia Scarlet, the head vampire of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, is bored out of her mind. When she spots a newspaper story about a mysterious giant monster causing havoc in Gensokyo, she sets out to track it down, accompanied by her faithful, knife-throwing maid Sakuya. Depending on who you choose at the start, the gameplay style shifts significantly. Remilia relies on fast, floaty movement, sweeping claw combos, and magical blood spells that can decimate groups of foes. Sakuya, on the other hand, plays as a technical, ground-based fighter who uses time-manipulation to pause threats, teleport, and throw infinite waves of daggers. The dialogue is full of cute, fan-pleasing banter, and seeing these two interact with other classic characters like Cirno or Reimu is a constant treat.
What makes Scarlet Curiosity particularly stand out is how beautifully it portrays Gensokyo. Every location—from the sun-dappled paths of the Misty Lake to the dark, towering trees of the Bamboo Forest of the Lost—feels vibrant and alive. The Switch port handles the colorful, painterly aesthetics very well, giving the grass, ancient stone ruins, and foliage a soft, fairy-tale watercolor look. It is a relaxing game to explore, with light platforming elements that keep the level progression engaging without ever becoming frustrating.
For those who love action RPGs but have always been intimidated by Touhou’s traditional, screen-filling bullet hell difficulty, this game serves as an exceptionally cozy and accessible gateway. Combat feels fluid and satisfying. As you defeat foes and level up, you unlock a vast array of unique active skills. The system lets you equip up to three skills at once, allowing for fun experimentation. You can easily chain together Sakuya’s time-slow bubble with a massive circle of daggers, or use Remilia’s blood spears to pin enemies before diving in for a final impact.
Where the game truly achieves greatness, though, is in its boss fights. These encounters translate ZUN’s danmaku roots into a 3D isometric space. Bosses don’t just attack you directly; they summon massive, glowing geometric patterns of projectiles. The camera angles tilt slightly to give you a better view, forcing you to double-jump, dash, and squeeze through tight corridors of neon bullets. Dodging these hazards in real-time while waiting for the perfect window to strike is exhilarating. It’s all accompanied by a phenomenal, high-energy soundtrack filled with rock and electronic arrangements of classic Touhou themes that will keep you bobbing your head as you fight.
However, the experience is not without its minor flaws. The biggest drawback lies in the repetitiveness of the standard enemies. While the boss battles are highly creative and memorable, the regular monsters scattered throughout the stages can feel incredibly copy-pasted. You will find yourself hacking through the same generic fairies, crows, and sunflowers in almost every dungeon. They rarely present a threat and end up feeling more like simple speed bumps than actual combat challenges.
Even with the repetitive common enemies, Touhou Scarlet Curiosity is a highly entertaining and polished indie love letter. The combination of wonderful boss encounters, a stellar soundtrack, and the genuine charm of Remilia and Sakuya makes it a fantastic addition to any Switch library. It’s a cozy, fast-paced adventure that gets a warm recommendation from my end.
My Rating: 4 / 5 Stars (★★★★☆)