Completing The Crimson Hunt on Hard difficulty unlocks the "I’m Used to the Pain!" achievement by demanding strict ammunition conservation, precise light management, and consistent enemy crowd control. In this third-person indie survival horror title developed by Farelas, players control the vampire hunter Victoria alongside the captive Eleanor across decaying Victorian mansion halls, flooded catacombs, and deadly ritual chambers.
Core Mechanics and Hard Mode Survival Strategies
Hard difficulty punishes reckless shooting and mistimed dodges.
- Conserve firearms ammunition: Bullets are scarce throughout the campaign. Rely on stealth takedowns and parries whenever facing lone ghouls rather than burning handgun rounds.
- Use the UV flashlight effectively: Monsters in the mansion are physiologically vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. Aiming the UV light directly at an enemy's head blinds and stuns them, opening a reliable window to attack with melee weapons or line up lethal critical shots. Stunning enemies ten times with this tool also works toward the "My Eyes, My Eyes!" achievement.
- Exploit co-op and companion tools: In solo play, Eleanor supports Victoria with distraction tools and crowbar interactions. In local split-screen co-op, both characters can equip any discovered weapon, allowing players to coordinate crossfire or assign one player to focus on light stuns while the other delivers heavy damage.
- Watch for known inventory glitches: Community players on the Steam forums have reported a bug where reloading a pistol can inadvertently wipe reserve ammunition. Keep a close eye on your ammo count before reloading and avoid reloading mid-animation.
Early Mansion Exploration and Puzzle Solutions
The opening chapter tasks Victoria with escorting Eleanor out of the mansion's upper residential wings while evading prowling vampires.
- Escape the initial wing: After Victoria meets Eleanor, examine doors carefully. The main exit is locked from the outside, requiring you to navigate deeper into the interior corridors.
- The beginning safe puzzle: You will encounter a locked safe early in the mansion that blocks access to vital supplies. The symbols marked directly on the safe serve as the visual hint. Input the code 5 1 7 to unlock it.
- Upper floor ambushes: Keep your UV light focused ahead in narrow hallways. Fast-moving ghouls charge in pairs; blind the leading creature first to prevent being cornered.
Navigating the Catacombs and Flooded Ruins
Progressing through the mansion leads to the catacombs, where exploration splits between Victoria and Eleanor due to Eleanor's inability to navigate deep water.
| Section | Key Objective | Survival Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Path Navigation | Victoria swims through submerged tunnels while Eleanor advances on upper walkways | Coordinate paths carefully so Eleanor can pull Victoria up |
| Catacomb Guardians | Defend narrow corridors against guardian ambushes | High-speed enemies leave minimal reaction time; dodge roll backward and counterattack |
During split sequences, communicate or time partner actions carefully.
The Sewer Escape and Giant Bat Boat Chase
After passing through Edmund Blackthornnene's torture chambers—where Victoria reveals the vampire lord's history of slaughtering her parents—the pair reaches an underground canal with a small boat.
- Steer through the canal: During the boat escape sequence, an enormous winged bat monstrosity pursues you through the caverns.
- Evade airborne strikes: Maintain forward boat momentum while dodging debris and banking away from sweeping dive attacks until reaching the drainage sewer entrance.
Boss Walkthrough: Defeating Edmund Blackthornnene
Although Eleanor reaches the sewer exit leading to safety, Victoria sends her ahead and returns to the heart of the estate to finish her personal vendetta against Edmund Blackthornnene.
Phase 1: Humanoid Dueling
Edmund taunts Victoria regarding her half-blood heritage and moves with high agility.
- Maintain mid-range distance: Do not engage in extended melee exchanges. Edmund parries basic swings and counters with rapid thrusts.
- Punish recovery animations: Wait for Edmund to lunge. Dodge laterally, then quickly shine the UV light or fire a concentrated burst into his chest and head while he recovers.
- Keep moving: Standing still allows Edmund to close the gap instantly with short-distance dashes.
Phase 2: Unleashed Vampire Form
After taking sufficient damage, Edmund declares his true power, becoming far more aggressive and erratic.
- Evade tracking strikes: Edmund teleports rapidly across the chamber. Track his reappearance sound cues and roll immediately to avoid his sweeping claw combos.
- Burst damage windows: When Edmund pauses to channel attacks, unleash your strongest reserved firearms. Aim steadily to interrupt his heavy strikes.
- Final confrontation: Sustain defensive positioning until Edmund collapses, concluding Victoria's hunt and triggering the closing story sequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Crimson Hunt feature online multiplayer co-op?
The Crimson Hunt officially supports local split-screen co-op on PC. Online co-op is not natively built into the game, though Steam players can play together remotely using Steam Remote Play Together.
What is the code for the early mansion safe?
The safe combination is 5 1 7, which corresponds to the symbol hints etched on the safe itself.
Can Eleanor use guns in co-op mode?
Yes. While the narrative portrays Eleanor starting with support tools like crowbars and torches, the developer confirmed that both player characters in co-op mode can equip any weapon found throughout the game without restrictions.
