Making Towns in Wayward Shadows Feel Alive
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been pouring a ton of work into the towns of Wayward Shadows, and I’m excited to share the latest updates. Motels and pawn shops are now (almost) fully functional, and there are brand-new ways to scrape together some cash on the side. Here’s a rundown of what’s new and improved.
Pawn Shops: Gear Up for the Hunt
If you want any hope of taking down a werewolf or vampire, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Every town in Wayward Shadows now has a pawn shop stocked with a rotating selection of weapons and armor. The big news? It actually works now. I’ve overhauled the inventory generation algorithm, and it’s a lot better now. What you’ll find on offer in the shops now depends on factors like the difficulty of your current case, how many days you’ve survived in your run, and a few other things.
Plus, I’ve added improved tooltips, clearer feedback when buying or selling, and a bunch of polish to make the experience smoother. Your next monster-slaying upgrade is waiting—assuming you’ve got the cash.
Motels: Rest Up or Burn Out
The energy/rest system has also gotten a major tune-up. I’ve rebalanced energy regeneration during sleep, and it feels way better now. Fork over some cash to rent a room, and can sleep to get rid of those “Tired” or “Exhausted” debuffs. That’s right—along with the motel overhaul, I’ve introduced new debuffs that hit your hunters when you push them too long without a break. The hunter's energy level is now an important stat to keep your eye on.
Hustles: High Risk, High Reward
What’s a hustle, you ask?
Monster hunting doesn’t exactly pay the bills, so sometimes you’ve got to get creative to keep the cash flowing. That’s where “Hustles” come in—special actions you can take at certain locations to score some quick cash. These are high-risk, high-reward moves, though. Cheat at the pool table, hack an ATM, or swipe a tip jar, and you might walk away richer… or you might attract the wrong kind of attention and get your butt handed to you if you’re caught.
It’s all about weighing the odds. You can play it safe, or roll the dice to stay cash flow positive.
Bringing Towns to Life
With pawn shops, motels, and hustles now in the mix—alongside all the other locations you can explore—towns in Wayward Shadows feel so much more dynamic. They’re not just a backdrop for your cases anymore; they’re living, breathing hubs where every choice matters. Whether you’re bartering for a new blade, catching some sleep, or risking it all on a shady gig, there’s always something to do.
As always, thanks for reading and following along with the development of Wayward Shadows. I’m hammering away at a playable demo as fast as I can, but it’s not quite ready yet. Stick with me—I can’t wait for you to dive in and explore the game for yourself!