Scarf is somewhat unpolished and very unoptimized (in particular, sections involving manipulating water caused the frame rate to plummet on my PC, which significantly exceeded the recommended system requirements). It also commits that cardinal game design sin of only having a single continuously overwritten autosave and not allowing you to return to the hub or restart the level if something breaks (nothing did on my playthrough, but I felt compelled to periodically backup the save folder just in case).

But if you can tolerate its rough edges, Scarf rewards you with pleasing art direction, forgiving puzzle-platforming and a melancholy tone. The climactic twist is so heavily foreshadowed that it's hard to believe it was ever intended to be a surprise; instead, it makes the diminutive hero's displays of joy and affection feel decidedly bittersweet. The story also doesn't overstay its welcome; these days I'm increasingly appreciative of games that say all they have to in the span of one sitting.