The Crimson Hunt is an indie survival horror game developed and published by Farelas, blending classic inventory-driven exploration with cooperative mechanics. Playing as the dhampir hunter Victoria alongside the rescued captive Eleanor, you must navigate an ancient estate, bypass trap-laden catacombs, and confront the master vampire Edmund Blackthornnene.
This walkthrough covers essential puzzle solutions, weapon locations, navigation routes, and boss encounter strategies across all three chapters.
Core Mechanics and Survival Basics
Before exploring the mansion corridors, keep these fundamental mechanics in mind:
- Saving and Storage: You record your game progress at Grandfather Clocks. Item storage boxes function similarly to classic survival horror storage chests, allowing you to deposit excess ammo, syringes, and quest items.
- UV Flashlight Mechanic: Vampires and deformed ghouls are vulnerable to UV radiation. Aiming the UV beam directly at an enemy's head blinds and weakens them, leaving them open to a melee follow-up or headshots.
- Companion Ammo Consumption: In single-player mode, Eleanor can equip weapons like the flare gun or shotgun if you transfer them to her inventory. However, she consumes actual ammunition from her slots rather than having infinite ammo. Monitor her reserves so she does not expend your rarest shells on standard enemies.
- Defense System: Actions such as sprinting, dodging (Space bar), and melee strikes consume stamina. While you can block and parry incoming blows, dodging is often more reliable against grab attacks and area strikes.
Chapter 1: The Victorian Mansion
Meeting Eleanor and Reaching the Main Hall
- The game opens with Victoria arriving inside the estate to locate the kidnapped woman. Progress through the opening corridor until you find Eleanor hiding in a bedroom.
- After the cutscene, exit the room. The exterior door is barred from the outside, requiring you to find a path deeper into the residence.
- Advance down the hall to trigger your first standard vampire encounter. Toss the UV light to Eleanor, illuminate the creature's skull to stagger it, and dispatch it using your melee attack or pistol.
- Pick up the Library Key.
The Library and Studio Gear Puzzle
- Head to the ground-floor locked double doors and unlock the Library using your key.
- Inside, read the notes on the desk and collect pistol ammunition, healing syringes, and the Cutting Pliers.
- Return to the main corridor and use the Cutting Pliers on the chained doorway. Enter the newly unlocked chamber to obtain the Studio Key.
- Ascend to the upper wing to unlock the Studio. A cutscene triggers where Eleanor pauses to look at an unfinished painting.
- Search the studio shelves to pick up the Gear Mechanism.
- Return to the puzzle console near the library wing to place the Gear:
- Rotate the circular mechanisms to form complete pathways between the connector points.
- Align the suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades) along the matching circular traces until the power circuit locks into place.
- Solving the puzzle opens the lock to the West Wing.
West Wing Fireplace and the Statue Head
- Enter the West Wing corridor. Beware of crawler enemies and proximity landmines that emit distinct crying sounds.
- Locate the armory room to acquire the Sawed-off Shotgun and additional shells.
- Open the adjacent wardrobe to recover the Statue Head.
- Carry the Statue Head back to the central parlor fireplace. Insert the head onto the missing mantelpiece socket.
- The roaring fireplace will extinguish, revealing a crawlspace. Crawl through the chimney tunnel with Eleanor to descend into the subterranean church.
Chapter 2: The Catacombs and Dungeon
The Three-Lever Alignment Puzzle
- Drop into the lower church dungeon. Work with Eleanor to interact with synchronized switches to raise iron portcullises.
- Boost Eleanor up to inaccessible ledges so she can unbar doors from the reverse side.
- Advance until you encounter a console overlooking a flooded drainage basin with three stone lever pillars:
- Inspect the stone carvings showing animal faces (lion, cherub, griffin).
- Manipulate the three levers until the symbols on the rotating central column match the corresponding markings on the lower pool floor.
- Once aligned, the drainage floor gives way, dropping Victoria into the flooded catacombs.
Flooded Catacombs and Knight Guardians
- While Eleanor waits above due to her fear of water, swim through the submerged passage. Surface periodically to replenish Victoria's breath gauge.
- Climb out at the opposite drainage point and extend a hand to help Eleanor across the gap.
- Enter the tomb chamber lined with stone knight effigies. Align the wall glyphs to open the exit:
- Match the griffin, lion, and cherub wall tablets to their respective pedestals.
- Activating the exit causes three stone Knight Guardians to animate.
- Combat Strategy: Knight Guardians possess heavy armor. Use the shotgun or precise crossbow headshots to knock off their helmets. Once their heads are exposed, aim for the weak spot or bait their sword swings, dodge behind them, and strike their backs.
The Vampire Golem Encounter
- Progress into the torture chambers. Pick up the Compact Pistol and rifle ammunition along the way.
- Edmund Blackthornnene speaks from the shadows, mocking Victoria's hybrid lineage. Shortly after, a massive Vampire Golem blocks the corridor.
- Boss Strategy:
- The Golem has three glowing crystalline weak points on its front joints and one large core on its back.
- Keep your distance to avoid its ground-slam shockwaves.
- Shoot out the front weak points using the pistol or crossbow.
- When the creature staggers, sprint behind it or command Eleanor to fire a flare to turn it around, then destroy the back core with shotgun blasts.
Chapter 3: Subterranean River and Edmund Blackthornnene
The Water Tunnel and Boat Escape
- After defeating the Golem, drop through the floor grates to reach the underground river wharf.
- Pull the tandem wall levers alongside Eleanor to lower the river dam gates.
- Board the motorized wooden boat. A giant mutated bat creature drops from the cavern ceiling to pursue you.
- Boat Chase Controls:
- Steer left and right to avoid jutting rock formations. Touching any obstacle inflicts vehicle and player damage.
- Maintain forward momentum while Eleanor fires defensively at the giant bat.
- Continue navigating through the narrow cavern until a collapsing rock formation crushes the pursuer.
The Decision
At the sewer drainage pipes, Eleanor urges Victoria to flee into the forest together. Victoria refuses, revealing that Edmund was the vampire who slaughtered her mother and altered her bloodline. Eleanor escapes into the sewer system while Victoria heads back toward the church sanctuary for the final showdown.
Final Boss Guide: Edmund Blackthornnene
The final duel against Edmund takes place within the ruined cathedral hall and consists of two distinct phases.
| Phase | Enemy Attack Patterns | Recommended Player Counter |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Melee Duel | Rapier lunges, instant rear teleportation, vertical overhead slashes. | Equip melee/parry or dodge to avoid damage. |
| Phase 2: Ascended Vampire | Flying blood projectiles, minion ghoul summons, sweeping claw strikes. | Switch to firearms. Eliminate summoned ghouls quickly with the shotgun, dodge incoming projectiles, and shoot Edmund when he hovers to cast spells. |
Combat Walkthrough
- Phase 1 Tactics: Edmund engages in a close-quarters sword duel. Do not spam wild attacks, as your stamina will deplete. Parry his attacks or dodge them until a cutscene triggers.
- Phase 2 Tactics: Eleanor returns to assist by throwing incendiaries. Edmund transforms, gaining increased speed and ranged abilities. When he teleports across the arena to channel projectiles, run laterally. When he summons ghouls from the floor, use wide shotgun sweeps to clear them out before refocusing fire on Edmund.
- Once Edmund's health is depleted, trigger the finishing prompt to drive a stake through his chest.
Ending
Edmund collapses, warning Victoria that other purebloods will seek vengeance. Victoria finds Eleanor mortally wounded from the battle. To prevent Eleanor from succumbing to her injuries—and to avoid repeating the tragedy of her mother's death—Victoria bites Eleanor, turning her into a vampire to preserve her life.
Puzzle Quick Reference Table
Use this summary for the major mechanical obstacles found throughout the walkthrough:
| Location | Puzzle Objective | Required Items | Solution Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Mansion | Library Access | Library Key | Defeat the initial corridor ghoul to loot the key. |
| Ground Floor Hall | Chained Door | Cutting Pliers | Found on the library writing desk; snip the chain links. |
| Upper Studio Wing | Power Grid | Gear Mechanism | Retrieve the gear from the studio; connect matching card suits on the console. |
| Parlor Fireplace | Secret Crawlspace | Statue Head | Found inside the West Wing wardrobe; place it on the mantelpiece. |
| Catacombs Basin | Drainage Pool | None | Rotate three stone levers to align the animal emblems with the pool floor. |
| Knight Tomb | Exit Portcullis | Griffin/Lion Tablets | Place corresponding stone tablets beneath the guardian statues. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you play The Crimson Hunt entirely in single-player?
Yes. When playing solo, Eleanor is controlled by an AI companion who follows your lead, holds light sources, assists with cooperative lever puzzles, and shoots equipped weapons if supplied with ammunition.
Does the game feature local or online co-op?
The game natively features local split-screen co-op for two players on PC. It does not have built-in online matchmaking, though PC players can utilize features like Steam Remote Play Together or third-party screen-sharing tools to play remotely.
What should I do if Eleanor runs out of ammunition?
If Eleanor runs out of ammo for the shotgun or flare gun, access the inventory menu and swap her weapon back to the standard UV flashlight. This ensures she can still stun incoming enemies without wasting empty firing animations.
How do you perform a stealth takedown?
Crouch and slowly approach an unaware enemy from behind until a contextual interaction prompt appears. Press the interact button to perform an instant takedown without alerting nearby creatures or spending ammunition.
