Game Modes
Peaceful Life Mode Explained
Learn how the safer game mode works, what happens to village rules, and which story differences still need verification.
Last verified July 29, 2026
Read Guide →Village in the Shade Guide, Wiki and Walkthrough
Explore Kagatsu Village with verified guides, character profiles, farming tips, village rules and release information.
Confirmed, preliminary and unconfirmed information is clearly labeled.
Village in the Shade at a Glance
Western Release
Fall 2026
Japan Release
July 30, 2026
Steam Release
July 29, 2026
Developer
Nippon Ichi Software
Western Publisher
NIS America
Genre
Farming Simulation
Players
Single Player
Platforms
PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2
Setting
Kagatsu Village
Japanese Title
Hono Gurashi no NiwaHono Gurashi no Niwa
Last Verified
July 28, 2026
Release dates, editions and language availability may vary by platform and region. Check the full release guide before purchasing.
Start Here
Start Your Life in Kagatsu Village
Village in the Shade combines peaceful farming and community life with a darker mystery hidden beneath Kagatsu Village. Use these starting guides to understand the game, choose how you want to play and check the most important release information.
More practical walkthroughs will be added after gameplay systems can be tested and verified.
Village in the Shade Beginner Guide
A practical first-days guide will be added after gameplay verification, covering daily priorities, saving, stamina, early money and common beginner mistakes.
Coming After Gameplay Verification
Peaceful Life Mode Explained
Learn how the safer mode works, what happens to the village rules, and which story, ending and horror differences still require verification.
Is Village in the Shade Scary?
Review the official horror warnings, nighttime dangers, mature themes and what Peaceful Life Mode may reduce.
Village in the Shade Release Date
Check the current Steam date, Japanese launch timing and the Western console release window.
About the Game
What Is Village in the Shade?
Village in the Shade is a single-player farming simulation developed by Nippon Ichi Software, the studio behind the Yomawari series. Known in Japan as Hono Gurashi no Niwa, the game takes place in Kagatsu, a secluded mountain village shaped by farming, changing seasons and traditions passed down through generations.
During the day, you can grow crops, raise livestock, fish, hunt, collect resources, decorate your home and build relationships with the villagers. Seasonal activities and the quiet routines of rural life give Kagatsu the appearance of a peaceful place to begin again.
But Kagatsu also follows a mysterious code. Warnings about strangers, leaving the village and going outside at night suggest that something darker exists beyond its ordinary daily life. Players can remain within the safer village routine or investigate the secrets hidden after dark.
Village in the Shade combines comforting rural life with an unsettling mystery, allowing players to decide how deeply they want to enter the shade.
Genre
Farming life with a darker mystery
Setting
A secluded Japanese mountain village
Play Style
Follow the rules or investigate after dark
Officially confirmed details are separated from rumors and unverified gameplay information.
Explore the Site
Explore Village in the Shade
This site is organized around the questions players are most likely to have before and after starting the game.
Guides
Find practical Village in the Shade guides covering farming, fishing, hunting, livestock, crafting, house upgrades, money making and everyday progression.
Characters and Villagers
Learn who lives in Kagatsu Village, where characters can be found and how their roles, schedules, relationships and personal stories connect to village life. Character information will only be added after it can be verified in the released game.
Kagatsu Village
Discover important locations, shops, seasonal events and useful services throughout Kagatsu. Future guides will include maps and schedules based on verified gameplay.
Game Modes
Compare Peaceful Life Mode with the standard experience and decide whether you want a relaxed farming game, the complete mystery, or both.
Village Rules and Nighttime
Understand the code followed by Kagatsu's residents, what the game tells you not to do, and why nighttime plays such an important role in the village.
Story, Secrets and Endings
Investigate the hidden history of Kagatsu through spoiler-free introductions, clearly marked story analysis and full ending explanations. Major story spoilers will always be labeled before they appear.
Daily Life
Farming and Daily Life in Village in the Shade
The peaceful side of Village in the Shade is built around the rhythm of rural life. Players are encouraged to work gradually, improve their surroundings and contribute to the community rather than rush through a fixed checklist.
Grow Crops
Cultivate the fields around your home and use your land as the foundation of your new life. Farming guides will cover crops, seasonal growth and efficient routines once verified.
Raise Animals
Livestock is a confirmed part of life in Kagatsu Village. Guides will explain how animals are obtained, cared for and integrated into the farm economy.
Fish and Hunt
The surrounding countryside offers activities beyond crop farming. Fishing and hunting let you explore the environment and collect resources.
Restore Your Home
Players begin with a neglected home and garden that can gradually be transformed. Furniture can be purchased in town, and objects can be crafted from gathered resources.
Join Village Events
Kagatsu changes through the seasons and includes traditional Japanese festivals and community activities documented once confirmed in the playable version.
Build Bonds With Villagers
Players can deepen their bonds with the people of Kagatsu. Romance, marriage and children should not be assumed until explicitly confirmed.
Read the Latest Gameplay Guides
Peaceful Life and Horror
A Peaceful Farming Game With Rules You Should Follow
Village in the Shade is designed around two experiences that exist in the same setting. During the day, Kagatsu appears to offer the kind of life associated with a cozy farming game working the fields, raising animals, improving your home and spending time with the local community.
At the same time, the village has a code. Official descriptions warn players not to talk to strangers, leave the village or go outside at night. Breaking the rules may expose a part of Kagatsu that remains hidden during ordinary daily life. That does not mean every player must engage with the horror content.
What Is Peaceful Life Mode?
Peaceful Life Mode can be selected at the beginning of the game. In this mode, players can enjoy life in Kagatsu without being able to break the village code. It is intended for players interested in farming and livestock, fishing and hunting, decorating their home, seasonal village life, traditional festivals, building bonds with villagers and exploring the countryside without triggering the rule-breaking route.
What Happens Outside Peaceful Life Mode?
The standard experience allows players to interact with the mystery behind Kagatsu Village. Official material suggests that those who break the code or investigate at night may discover disturbing events and hidden truths. Full consequences and progression will be documented only after direct gameplay verification.
Verified Information
Guides Built Around Verified Information
Village in the Shade has different release schedules and language support depending on region and platform. It is also a story-driven game where early promotional descriptions do not reveal every mechanic. To prevent rumors from being presented as facts, this site uses clear information labels.
Confirmed
Information published by Nippon Ichi Software, NIS America, official storefronts, or verified directly in the released game.
Preliminary
Information that appears in regional storefronts, prerelease material or early gameplay but may still change.
Unconfirmed
Common player questions or reported features that have not yet received sufficient official or gameplay confirmation.
Outdated
Information that was once accurate but has been changed by a patch, regional update or new announcement.
Important guides also display the following metadata so it's easy to tell whether an answer applies to the current version of the game:
Original publication dateMost recent updateLast verification dateApplicable game versionSupported platformsSpoiler levelSources / update notes
Latest Guides
Latest Village in the Shade Guides
Explore newly published and recently verified guides covering game modes, horror content, platforms and life in Kagatsu Village.
Horror Guide
Is Village in the Shade Scary?
See the official horror warnings, nighttime dangers, mature themes and what Peaceful Life Mode may reduce.
Last verified July 29, 2026
Read Guide →
PCPS5SwitchSwitch 2
Game Info
Village in the Shade Platforms
Compare the confirmed PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions, release timing and Steam Deck support.
Last verified July 29, 2026
Read Guide →More farming, character, village map and nighttime guides will be added after gameplay details can be tested and verified.
Characters
Meet the Characters of Village in the Shade
Meet the residents of Kagatsu Village, including its young village head, hunters, shopkeepers, workers and outsiders connected to the village's hidden mystery. Official profiles currently confirm 14 named characters.
R
Village LeadershipRin
Head of Kagatsu Village
The young head of Kagatsu Village, known for her strong sense of responsibility and strict attitude toward the village code.
Official ProfileRomance Not Confirmed
View Profile →K
HunterKomako
Hunter
A gentle but highly skilled hunter who is the first resident to meet the player near Kagatsu Village.
Official ProfileStory Hints
View Profile →T
Story CharacterTobari
Rebellious Villager
A distant young resident who openly dislikes Kagatsu Village and regularly breaks its mysterious code.
Official ProfilePossible Spoilers
View Profile →Character profiles use confirmed official information. Gift preferences, daily schedules, quests and romance details will be added only after gameplay verification.
Release Information
Village in the Shade Release Date and Platforms
The Japanese version of Hono Gurashi no Niwa is scheduled for July 30, 2026. The Steam store currently lists Village in the Shade for July 29, 2026, while NIS America lists the Western console release window as Fall 2026. Village in the Shade is officially listed as a single-player farming simulation.
Western Platforms
- PC via Steam
- PlayStation 5
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Switch 2
Console Text Languages
- English
- French
- Spanish
PC Text Languages
- English
- French
- Spanish
- Japanese
- Traditional Chinese
- Korean
Simplified Chinese is not currently listed as a supported language. Release timing and available editions may differ by platform and region.
FAQ
Village in the Shade FAQ
Verified answers to the most common questions about the game.
Village in the Shade is a single-player farming simulation set in Kagatsu, a traditional Japanese mountain village. Players can farm, raise animals, fish, hunt, decorate a home, attend village activities and build bonds with local residents. The village also has a mysterious code, and breaking its rules may reveal a darker side of the story.
It combines peaceful life-simulation gameplay with horror themes. The Steam content description includes cartoon blood and violence, horror themes and themes of suicide. Players who do not want to engage with the rule-breaking side of the game can choose Peaceful Life Mode.
Peaceful Life Mode is an official game option selected at the beginning of the game. It allows players to enjoy life in Kagatsu without being able to break the village code, reducing the risk of entering the horror-focused side of the experience.
The Japanese release is scheduled for July 30, 2026. Steam currently lists July 29, 2026, while NIS America lists the Western console release for Fall 2026. Dates may differ by region and platform.
The game is planned for PC through Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
No multiplayer mode has been announced. Official product information currently lists the game as a one-player experience.
The official description confirms that players can deepen their bonds with villagers. Romance and marriage mechanics have not yet been clearly confirmed in the currently available English product information.
Peaceful Life Mode is designed for players who want to enjoy village life without being able to break the code. The exact amount of story or unsettling content that remains in this mode will be documented after gameplay verification.
Yes. English text is listed for both the console and PC versions of the Western release.
Village in the Shade is promoted as a game from the makers of the Yomawari series. It is a separate game with its own setting and characters rather than a direct Yomawari sequel.
The Japanese title is Hono Gurashi no Niwa.
No. VillageInTheShade.com is an independent fan-made guide website. It is not operated by Nippon Ichi Software or NIS America.
Browse All Questions and Answers
Ready to Explore?
Ready to Explore Kagatsu Village?
Start with verified release information, learn how Peaceful Life Mode works, or explore the latest Village in the Shade guides as they become available.
Pages are updated as new official announcements and verified gameplay information become available.