Farming games don’t usually come with a list of rules about staying indoors after dark, but Village in the Shade does. Nippon Ichi Software America (NIS America) has announced that the cosy farming sim, which is set in a traditional Japanese mountain village and comes from the creators of the Yomawari series, is now available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and PC.
The game takes place in Kagatsu, a village with hand-painted visuals and plenty of secrets. Day-to-day life covers the usual farming routine of planting crops, along with customising a homestead and getting to know the locals. Players can also spend their time relaxing by the brook, taking a walk through town or watching the cherry blossoms with their neighbours. There are, however, a few rules that come with living in Kagatsu: don’t talk to strangers, don’t leave the village and don’t go out at night. Players who want to dig into the truth about the village can do so at their own risk, while those who stick to the rules will avoid seeing a side of Kagatsu they may not want to.
For players who would rather avoid the horror side altogether, the game includes a “Village in the Sunshine” mode. In this mode the rules cannot be broken, leaving only the quieter countryside life of farming, hunting, fishing and other activities at the player’s own pace.
Making the house feel like home is also part of the experience. Furniture can be bought in town to decorate the interior, and fences and other items can be crafted from resources gathered around the farm. Traditional Japanese festivals and activities, such as the summer festival and cherry blossom viewing, also offer opportunities to get closer to the villagers.
