Image via NIS America, Inc.
The horror farming sim Village in the Shade is finally available in English, with spot-on timing for spooky season. Its gorgeous graphics might feel like stepping into a beautiful painting at first, but soon you realize that something much darker lurks in the background. The game isn’t for the faint of heart, but it does offer plenty of cozy grind in between nightly horrors. As such, it’s kind of perfect for cozy gamers looking for a little something different.
Village in the Shade might be scary in terms of vibes, but it does have a pretty robust tutorial. For the most part, the game walks you through its mechanics clearly and effectively. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few tips and tricks that are helpful to know as you work your way through the story. So if you’re looking for a little help with Village in the Shade, our walkthrough hub is here to break down the basics and serve as a helpful hub to more in-depth breakdowns of mechanics like fishing, cooking, etc.
Table of Contents
- Village in the Shade Basic Details: Price, Platforms, & Age Rating
- All Village in the Shade Guides
- How Scary Is Village in the Shade? Game Mode Options, Explained
- Can You Customize Your Character?
- How to Increase Friendship with Villagers
- Does Village in the Shade Have Romance?
- How to Upgrade Your Bag Space
- Best Ways to Earn Money Early On in Village in the Shade
Village in the Shade Basic Details: Price, Platforms, & Age Rating
Village in the Shade is a hand-painted farming and life sim with a scary twist. By day, you’ll farm, explore the village, and build up your relationships with the local community. But there’s a reason the village rules insist you be inside by 11 pm. Soon, you’ll uncover the darker side to this small town, complete with scary monsters that lurk in the night.
- Price: $49.99
- Platforms: PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch/Switch 2, and PS5
- Rating: T for Teen (Blood, Language, Violence, Alcohol/Tobacco Use); PEGI 12
Though Village in the Shade has been out in Japan for a while now, the English-language version just launched in the U.S. on October 27th, inviting a new region of players to its haunted home.
All Village in the Shade Guides
For more detailed breakdowns of core mechanics and tips for how to progress, check out our full list of Village in the Shade guides below:
Our guide work for Village in the Shade is currently in progress. Check back soon for more!
How Scary Is Village in the Shade? Game Mode Options, Explained
Village in the Shade has a generally ominous tone to it from the start, using its musical score and sound effects to unsettle the player. It features dark themes, including harm to animals and people, as well as monsters and some jump scares related to running around in the dark.
If you want the farming sim without the scares, Village in the Shade offers a more sandbox-style “Village in the Sunshine” mode. Because the story relies so heavily on the scary stuff, this is a much more pared-back version of the game. Keep in mind that you can’t change this setting once you start the game, so choose wisely.
Can You Customize Your Character?
Yes, you can change your character’s appearance in Village in the Shade. When you first boot up the game, you’ll get to design your avatar, including hair color and style and outfit. The initial options are pretty limited, but you’ll be able to get more unique clothing down the line.
Once you get into the game, you can purchase new outfits from Chinana, who sets up near the General Store on certain days. To change your clothes, you’ll need to build and use a vanity. Then, you can mix up your look by interacting with the vanity whenever you like.
How to Increase Friendship with Villagers
When you first come to Kagatsu, you’ll notice that the villagers won’t talk to you. Not to worry, that won’t last forever. To first unlock conversations with the locals, you need to finish growing and harvest your first turnips. Once you do this, you’ll become a true member of the village.
From here, you can talk to each character more normally. As the story progresses, you’ll unlock the town request board, where you can complete 3 requests per week. Each villager’s likes and dislikes will also display in your journal, so you can gift them items they will like to increase your friendship more quickly.
Does Village in the Shade Have Romance?
No, there is no romance in Village in the Shade. Your character is a child, and the game focuses much more on the mystery of what’s happening in the village and your own origins. That said, you can increase your friendship with the locals and get to know their stories better as you do.
How to Upgrade Your Bag Space
To hold more items, you’ll need to purchase bag upgrades. These are available in the General Store. There are two available bag upgrades, and each one adds another row of storage (10 more item slots).
- Large Bag (Upgrade #1): 1,000 Yen
- Very Large Bag (Upgrade #2): 7,000 Yen
With your bag fully upgraded, you can carry up to 30 items.
Best Ways to Earn Money Early On in Village in the Shade
Selling crops will give you a decent yield, but there are faster ways to earn money early on in Village in the Shade. In addition to shipping crops, catch and ship fish daily to earn money more quickly. You can also ship forageables for a little spare cash if you’re short.
But by and large, the fastest way to get money is by completing bulletin board requests. These are available at the end of the path that leads from your house into the village, after one of the villagers explains it to you for the first time.
Most villagers will pay you 1,000 Yen for their requests – far more than the value of the items they ask for in most cases. So, be sure to accept and complete missions each week to earn Yen far more quickly than shipping crops, fish, and foraged items alone.
You will also earn some yen for completing secret missions, such as harvesting a certain number of crops, breaking rocks, foraging, etc. So, you should get some cash in the mailbox each day in early game as long as you’re doing daily tasks with some regularity.
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