Resident Evil Village continues the franchise’s tradition of intense survival horror, challenging gameplay, and rewarding exploration. Whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a veteran looking to optimize your playthrough, there are many hidden mechanics and strategies that can help you navigate the horrors of the village more effectively. From smart resource management to combat efficiency and exploration tips, this guide will equip you with the knowledge needed to conquer the game’s many challenges.
Mastering the Map: Blue Means Safe, Red Means More to Find
A crucial habit in any Resident Evil game is regularly checking your map, and Village is no exception. Rooms on your map highlighted in blue indicate that you’ve collected all possible items, making it a useful visual cue to know when you can move on. Conversely, red rooms mean there’s still something left—whether it’s ammo, crafting components, or valuable treasures. If you’re aiming for a thorough playthrough, always ensure that areas turn blue before progressing.
Hunting for Treasures: Keep an Eye on the Shiny Stuff
Resident Evil Village brings back the shiny, sparkling treasures first seen in Resident Evil 4. These valuable items are often hiding in plain sight, tucked away in high places such as rafters, ceilings, and walls, sometimes only visible from specific angles. Always be on the lookout for these glimmers, and when you see one, shoot it down immediately. The Lei(in-game currency) earned from selling treasures is crucial for upgrading weapons and expanding your inventory.
Combining Treasures for Maximum Value
Certain treasures can be combined to create even more valuable items. Before hastily selling every treasure you find, check your inventory menu to see if an item can be merged with another for a significantly higher payout. The game will indicate which treasures are combinable, so patience can pay off greatly when visiting the Duke’s shop.
Exploration is Key: Never Rush Through the Village
Exploring thoroughly is always a good idea in a Resident Evil game, and Village is filled with hidden secrets. From missable treasures and optional bosses to new weapons and lore-filled notes, there’s a wealth of content that can be overlooked if you rush through the game. Every time you enter a new area, take your time to search every corner—you never know what might be waiting.
The Village Changes Over Time
Your hub area, the village, evolves as you progress. Doors that were once locked become accessible, and new pathways open up. It’s beneficial to revisit old locations frequently, as fresh loot, new enemies, and even side quests may emerge. Before advancing the main story, take a moment to comb through areas you’ve previously explored—you may find hidden animal spawns, new side objectives, or upgrades you previously missed.
Hunting for Permanent Upgrades
A new mechanic in Resident Evil Village is hunting animals, which provides permanent stat boosts. The Duke can cook special meals that enhance your max health, guard defense, and movement speed. However, animals are often located in hidden, optional areas, making them easy to miss. Always check your map for potential hunting grounds, but remember that animals may not appear if your map is too zoomed out.
Tip: Use a Knife, Not Bullets
Ammo is a valuable resource, so avoid wasting bullets on hunting. Instead, use your knife to kill animals and conserve ammunition for combat.
Smart Weapon and Ammo Management
Don’t Upgrade the Starting Pistol
Weapons can be upgraded using Lei, but avoid spending money on the first pistol you acquire. A better pistol becomes available early in the game, making early upgrades a waste of resources. Save your money for more powerful weapons.
Prioritize Crafting Shotgun and Sniper Ammo
Crafting is an essential part of managing your ammunition, but shotgun and sniper ammo should take priority over handgun bullets. Handgun ammo is common in drops and cheap to buy, whereas powerful ammo types are rarer and much more effective in combat.
Shooting Crows for Extra Cash
A small but effective way to earn extra Lei is by shooting crows, which frequently drop money. While not a primary strategy, if you find yourself low on cash, this can provide a small financial boost.
Always Shoot Down Bird Cages
Unlike crows, small yellow bird cages found in trees and ceilings always drop useful items like ammo or crafting resources. Always shoot them down when spotted.
Inventory Management: Expand Early
Resident Evil Village brings back the tetris-style inventory system from Resident Evil 4. Managing inventory space efficiently is crucial, and buying inventory expansions from the Duke should be your top priority. The more space you have, the better you can manage different weapons, ammo types, and healing items.
Mastering Combat: Guarding is More Important Than You Think
While guarding was introduced in Resident Evil 7, it plays a much larger role in Village. Enemies often attack in large mobs, making it easy to get overwhelmed.
Why Guarding Matters
- Reduces damage significantly.
- Can be enhanced through the Duke’s meals.
- Perfectly timed guards allow you to push enemies back, creating space to counterattack safely.
If you’re getting swarmed, a well-timed guard can turn the tide of battle in your favor.
Optimize Settings: Improve Your Aim and Experience
Turn Off Aim Acceleration
By default, Resident Evil Village has aim acceleration enabled, which makes aiming feel inconsistent and sluggish. Turning this off in settings will make aiming more precise and responsive.
Disable Adaptive Triggers on PS5
For PlayStation 5 players, turning off adaptive triggers is recommended. While a cool feature, the resistance in triggers can cause missed shots and slow reaction times. If you find aiming difficult, disable this option for a smoother shooting experience.
Mercenaries Mode Tips
Mercenaries mode makes its return, bringing back the fan-favorite arcade-style challenge. To maximize your performance:
- Limit yourself to two weapons and upgrade them instead of buying multiple.
- Sell ammo for unused weapons to maximize Lei income.
- Always go for time bonuses to extend your score-chasing runs.
Final Thoughts
Resident Evil Village is packed with survival mechanics, hidden secrets, and powerful enemies. Whether it’s strategic combat, inventory management, or exploration, following these tips will greatly improve your experience. Take your time, be resourceful, and always keep an eye out for hidden treasures, useful upgrades, and dangerous threats lurking around every corner.
Now, go forth and survive the horrors of the village!
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