The Crimson Hunt is available on Steam as a third-person survival horror title developed and published by solo creator Farelas, officially launched on October 6, 2026. The game retails at a base price of $11.99, with an introductory 20% launch discount setting the initial purchase price at $9.59. Drawing inspiration from classic survival horror franchises like early Resident Evil entries, the game puts players in control of vampire hunter Victoria alongside an escaped captive named Eleanor inside an isolated gothic mansion.
The Crimson Hunt Steam Store Overview
The game is distributed digitally on Windows PC via Steam under App ID 4485020. There is only one edition available for purchase; no deluxe packages, season passes, or paid downloadable content tiers are currently offered. Alongside the base game, Valve's storefront hosts a standalone free demo under a separate App ID.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Steam App ID | 4485020 |
| Free Demo App ID | 4662870 |
| Developer & Publisher | Farelas |
| Release Date | October 6, 2026 |
| Base Price | $11.99 USD |
| Launch Promotion | $9.59 USD (20% discount through October 20) |
| Engine | Unity |
| Available Modes | Single-player, Shared/Split-Screen Co-op |
| Steam Features | Achievements (19), Remote Play Together, Family Sharing, Full Controller Support |
| Overall Review Rating | Positive (82% positive across 29 user reviews) |
According to developer updates on the Steam Community hub, the 20% introductory discount was applied as an apology to players after the initial launch build experienced brief certification delays on Steam's backend.
Gameplay and Cooperative Modes
The Crimson Hunt combines third-person shooting, environmental exploration, and resource management. Players navigate the decaying corridors of a Victorian sanctuary infested with vampires and deformed ghouls, commanded by an elder vampire named Edmund.
Key mechanical features include:
- Resource and Inventory Management: Players manage limited inventory slots, pick up ammunition, collect healing syringes, and utilize grandfather clocks as save points alongside storage chests.
- Arsenal and Tools: Combat involves melee kicks, parrying, and stealth takedowns, alongside weapons including pistols (such as a Colt Model 1911 pattern and a compact handgun), a crossbow, a pump-action shotgun, and a flare gun.
- Environmental Puzzles: Progress requires finding keys (such as the Library Key and Studio Key), operating lever setups, rearranging lion-head alignments, and cracking safe codes (such as the early-game code 5-1-7).
- Ultraviolet Mechanics: Light plays a defensive role, using UV flashlights to blind and stagger vampiric creatures before delivering follow-up attacks.
- Co-op Structure: The game features full-campaign local shared/split-screen cooperative play. Online multiplayer is not natively supported through dedicated servers, but players can run online cooperative sessions via Steam Remote Play Together or third-party screen-sharing applications.
In co-op or single-player companion play, the secondary character (Eleanor) is not restricted to a purely passive role. The developer clarified that while Eleanor possesses unique defensive tools like the UV light, she can equip any firearm in the game. However, player testing demonstrates that she draws from shared reserve ammunition to fire her equipped weapons.
PC System Requirements
The game runs on 64-bit Windows operating systems using DirectX 12. Below are the official system requirements listed on the Steam product page:
| Hardware Component | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Intel Core i7-10510 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 580 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti / AMD Radeon RX 5700 |
| DirectX Version | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Available Storage | 20 GB available space | 20 GB available space |
Performance and Post-Launch Updates
Early Steam player reviews and video playthroughs highlight strong voice acting (featuring Sarah Bella Joyce as Victoria and Cat Pepin as Eleanor), atmospheric lighting, and retro-inspired boss encounters as highlights for an indie production priced under ten dollars.
However, players on launch day reported performance inconsistencies, notably frame drops and stutters during the opening chapter and mansion interior when running at native 4K resolutions. The game currently lacks native upscaling options such as NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR.
The developer pushed an initial hotfix on October 7 addressing early technical bugs. Documented patch notes confirm:
- Improvements to general performance and scene transition loading times.
- A fix for an issue where Windows flagged the executable as "not responding" during heavy loading sequences.
- Adjusted clues for the early mansion safe puzzle to improve riddle clarity.
Additional character outfits were intentionally delayed past the initial release window to avoid introducing further programming issues, with the developer confirming that alternative costumes will arrive in a future content update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Crimson Hunt support online matchmaking on Steam?
The game does not include native online multiplayer or dedicated matchmaking servers. Cooperative play is designed as a local split-screen experience. Players wanting to play over the internet must use Steam Remote Play Together or desktop streaming software.
Is there a demo available on Steam?
Yes. A standalone free demo is available on the Steam store under App ID 4662870, allowing players to test controls, puzzle pacing, and hardware performance before purchasing the full release.
How long does it take to beat The Crimson Hunt?
Player reviews indicate a standard first playthrough takes roughly 2.5 to 3.5 hours to finish the three narrative chapters.
Does the game use generative AI?
According to the official Steam store disclosure, AI was solely utilized during development for a few static visual assets, including the store cover art, due to budget and timeline constraints. The developer stated on the community hub that narrative writing, script dialogue, and voice acting were fully produced and performed by human contributors.
