Red Bow: Strange Dream | PC Review

December 23, 2025 Alyssa White

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of reviewing Stranga Games’ Ashina: The Red Witch. I immediately fell head over heels for it while playing. It piqued my curiosity in the back catalogue of Stranga Games, but I never had the opportunity to dive in. Until now, that is. Red Bow: Strange Dream is a remake of their title Red Bow, and it’s a short and sweet delight. I’m happy I was able to dive into the cozy yet dark world it created, and I was held captive for the hour it took me to complete my playthrough.

Where Am I?

You play as Roh, a girl who starts her day off normally. She hops out of bed and heads downstairs to greet her mother. Except her mom isn’t home. You’re then tasked with finding the key to unlock your front door. Once you find it and head outdoors, it becomes clear things aren’t normal at all. Roh finds herself on a strange road with a monster at the end of it. After speaking to said entity, you guide Roh to a cabin in the woods. There, you meet Mogah, a person who offers to take you home. Yes, please! Joke’s on you, though. “Home” is a base for three different portals with their own distinct vibes and characters. You’ll have to bounce between these areas to find items that you need to progress.

Saving People, Hunting Items

Gameplay is simple in Red Bow: Strange Dreams. As previously mentioned, you make your way between areas finding items in a point-and-click fashion. Once you make your discoveries, you’re tasked with bringing them to whoever needs them. Once you give the item to its owner, you find out their backstory and progress further in the story. That’s all you do.

It was refreshing to play a simple game that didn’t have a ton of mechanics. Some players may find it lacking, but it was what I needed. It allows you to really sink your teeth into the dark stories these people/creatures have to tell while also feeling strangely cozy. As mentioned, there are some disturbing tales, so you may want to check trigger warnings to be on the safe side. I felt like they were handled with care and they made me feel closer to these characters and more immersed in the world Roh finds herself in.

Cozy Vibes

I adored the graphical style and soundtrack of Red Bow: Strange Dream. The pixellated visuals are charming, while the score is soothing. I felt like I was wrapped in a warm blanket while playing due to the graphics and music. It was evident that it was created with a lot of love and care. They also help to lighten the heaviness of the narrative.

The only things I found fault with were a couple of typos in the dialogue and achievements not unlocking. The typos weren’t a big deal, but I’m not sure why none of the Steam achievements popped for me after I completed the tasks they were tied to. It may just be a bug or because I played on Steam Deck, but it was a bit of a bummer. It didn’t detract from the actual gameplay, though.

The Final Verdict

Red Bow: Strange Dream is a cozy yet dark little gem. I found myself captivated by the stories of the creatures and people that inhabited each world. I also wanted to help Roh find her mother and the way back home. It’s a short and sweet game that is simple to play. This won’t appeal to everyone, but it felt oddly comforting to me. Stranga Games put a lot of care into their games, and it’s evident.

To hear me talk more about Red Bow: Strange Dream, be sure to listen to the December 23rd, 2025 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.

This review is based on a PC copy of Red Bow; Strange Dream provided by Grab the Games for coverage purposes. As of this writing, it is exclusive to that platform.