[Guide] Nicole: Darren's Route
This guide features both text-based instructions as well as a custom visual guide for players to reference quickly while playing the game. Read on after the break for more!
Text Guide:
There are two endings for Darren; the Normal and Special endings. Unlocking the Special Ending should also unlock the Normal Ending, however some players have reported encountering bugs that may affect this. The following information has been fact-checked to the best of our abilities by playing the game, cross-referencing other guides, looking at player feedback, and examining the game’s internal code. (If you notice any errors, please reach out!) Either way, this guide hopes to reveal how to get both endings without having to do too much backtracking through the game in case bugs are encountered.
When grinding for Darren’s route, we recommend also raising Kurt’s stats, since the two routes have some dialogue overlaps and it’ll save you time if you’re looking to get all of the unlockable content and achievements.
Darren’s associated stat is: Amity.
Buying all of the gift items listed below will provide the following stat changes:
-$292
+100 Amity
+60 AffectionChoosing the dialogue options listed below should grant you the following affection ranges:
+60 Affection (Darren)
+0-10 (Kurt) Taken together, you should have 120 Affection with Darren and 100 Amity via gifting and dialogue choices. The rest depends on grinding and RNG.
For the Normal Ending, you’ll want Darren’s affection to be more than 98%, and you’ll want your Amity stat to be less than 900. You also will have to make sure to not raise your mystery clues over 999.
For the Special ending, you’ll want Darren’s affection to be at 100%, and Nicole’s Amity stat to be over 900. However, before you raise the Amity stat over 900, you’ll need to make sure Nicole has 999 mystery clues before the end of November (though some players report early December works as well.)
You’ll want to balance raising your stats, as going all in on Affection or the primary stat before clues can cause the bad end to trigger (despite how counterintuitive it seems!) The same goes for maxing out clues before the primary stat hits 900. I would recommend focusing on clues initially, up until about 300. To make life a bit easier, consider raising one of the other stats just enough to make gathering clues easier, but hold off on raising further it until you’ve amassed a good chunk of clues.
Stat-raising Guide:
To raise Amity, do the following activities when they are available:
Socialize with People (Campus, Cafeteria)
Movie Night (Movie Theater)
Go Dance (Disco Pub)
To Gather Clues, do the following activities when they are available:
Ask about the disappearances (Campus)
Observe People (Public Park)
Look for suspicious behavior (Disco Pub)
Search through old newspapers (Library)
Check the Customers (Convenience Store)
Examine Night Activities (Movie Theater)
Jobs become available for Nicole on Day 36 (Monday, October 7th). The best job suited for Amity stat-raising is being a Park Volunteer.
Gift Guide:
On day 47 (Friday October 18), Gifts become available. These are items that Nicole can buy for herself or for her suitors, using the money she makes from her part-time job. (Note: Despite the confusing wording on the game’s description, there is no in-game store that uses real money or relies on in-app purchases for in-game items.)
The best Gifts for Darren are as follows:
“How to Make Friends” a stat-raising book: $75, +100 Amity
USB Laptop Charm: $35, +20 Affection
Antique Quill: $40, +12 Affection
Booklight: $32, +8 Affection
Fuzzy Socks: $10, +4 Affection
Pocketwatch: $100, +16 Affection
Visual Novel Choices:
Try to act naturally (+5 Darren)
I want to know him better. (+5 Darren)
Definitely not what I was expecting. (+10 Darren)
It’s definitely historical fiction. (+5 Darren)
Mint ice-cream looks so good right now (+5 Darren, +5 Kurt)
Show him with Darren. (+5 Darren, +5 Kurt)
Alternative: Make Darren show him. (+5 Darren only)
That’s pretty silly. (+5 Darren)
Be civil. (+5 Darren)
After him! (+5 Darren)
Suggest to call an attendant to help search. (+5 Darren)
Don’t help him. (+5 Darren)
Gallery:
Achieving both endings for Darren should unlock the following in-game Gallery images:
Achievements:
Achieving both endings for Darren should unlock the following Steam Achievements:
Visual Guide:
I’ve done my best to make this visual guide compatible for mobile and desktop users alike. You should be able to zoom in and make out all of the text, but please let me know if there are any issues and I’ll try to fix it. Thank you!
