Day/Night Cycle
The day/night cycle in Wanderfolk divides each in-game day into four phases — dawn, day, dusk, and night — that control monster spawning, NPC schedules, and screen lighting. Monsters only appear between 9 PM and 5 AM outside of villages and lit areas, making light sources and timing critical to survival.
Time Phases
Each in-game day is divided into four phases:
| Phase | Hours | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 5:00 AM – 7:00 AM | 2 hours | Sky brightens, monsters despawn, NPCs wake up |
| Day | 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM | 11 hours | Full daylight, NPCs work and socialize |
| Dusk | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 3 hours | Sky darkens, NPCs return home, danger increases |
| Night | 9:00 PM – 5:00 AM | 8 hours | Full darkness, monsters spawn, most NPCs sleep |
The screen tint changes smoothly between phases — warm golden light at dawn, bright daylight, orange-amber at dusk, and deep blue-black at night. Season affects the color temperature: summer dusks are warmer, winter nights are colder and bluer.
Monster Spawning
Night is when the most dangerous creatures emerge:
- Monsters only spawn at night (9 PM – 5 AM) in the wilderness
- Monsters never spawn in villages or within the village safe zone
- Monsters never spawn near light sources — torches, windows, campfires, and lanterns create safe zones
- Monsters despawn at dawn — any surviving night creatures fade away when the sun rises
The four core night monsters are:
| Monster | HP | Damage | Speed | Aggro Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skeleton | 30 | 8 | 1.5 | 100px |
| Ghoul | 50 | 12 | 2.0 | 120px |
| Shadow Wolf | 40 | 15 | 3.0 | 150px |
| Wraith | 25 | 20 | 1.8 | 80px |
Shadow wolves are the fastest and most aggressive. Wraiths deal the most damage per hit but have the shortest detection range. See the full Monster Bestiary for all creature stats.
Light Sources
Light sources create safe zones where monsters won’t spawn. There are four types:
| Type | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Torch | Burns continuously, placed by players or at village perimeters |
| Window | Auto-toggles — lights up at dusk, goes dark at dawn |
| Campfire | Burns continuously, found at village gathering areas |
| Lantern | Carried light, illuminates the area around the bearer |
Strategic torch placement can create safe corridors between villages for nighttime travel. The game tracks illumination at every point — if a position is lit by any light source, monsters cannot spawn there.
NPC Schedules
NPCs change their behavior based on the time of day, moving between outdoor and indoor spaces as their schedule demands:
- Dawn — NPCs wake up and leave their homes to begin morning routines
- Day — NPCs work at their assigned roles (farming, smithing, shopkeeping) inside workshops and buildings, socializing during breaks
- Dusk — NPCs finish work, some head to the tavern for evening drinks and performances, others return home
- Night — Most NPCs sleep inside their homes. Barkeeps and guards remain active. Innkeepers tend the tavern
Some roles have special night behavior:
- Guards patrol the village perimeter at night
- Barkeeps serve drinks through the evening
- Warriors may train during dusk hours
Tips
- Always return to a village or lit area before 9 PM
- Carry torches for emergency light when exploring
- Use dusk (6–9 PM) for last-minute trading — shops are still open
- Dawn is the safest time to leave the village — monsters have just despawned and the full day lies ahead
Related Articles
- Monster Bestiary — full stats and behaviors for night-spawning monsters
- Weather & Seasons — how seasonal weather interacts with time phases
- Music & Songs — night wilderness tracks and time-based performance schedules
- Building Interiors — NPC schedules between indoor and outdoor spaces
- Bandits — night raids and alarm bell mechanics