Tips and Tricks for Beginners - Sun Haven Guide - IGN (2024)

If you're new to Sun Haven, you're probably wondering about the more basic ins and outs of the game to help give you the head start you need to run a successful farm. We've compiled some of our essential tips and tricks here to give you that extra beginner's boost.

We've got a rundown on a bit of everything in Sun Haven for you here, from settings you may not know about to interactions you may not have yet encountered. These should help you out as the mix of farming elements and RPG mechanics in Sun Haven is a bit different than what you may be used to in other similar wholesome games. If you're wondering what to do in your first week or after, read on below.

Don't skip dialogue, especially at the start

We've all been there. Gameplay awaits, but pesky dialogue is in the way. No matter how much you want to just get on with your game and play, we recommend you at least skim through any dialogue in Sun Haven because you may find that you've missed something important later on. This especially rings true during the first cutscene where you're riding the train to town and speaking to Lynn.

Your dialogue options here will determine which Keepsake you're given. If you choose to skip the beginning cutscene, you'll miss out on a unique item that can buff stats. From extra experience while farming to more money, there is a variety of Keepsakes to choose from for your starting one and which one you end up with can determine how easy the game initially is. Don't worry too much if you've already skipped this scene, though, since you can actually obtain the Keepsakes from vendors in-game. Instead, keep dialogue importance in mind for future encounters.

Stamina isn't a problem, but time could be

One of our favorite features in Sun Haven (or lack thereof) is a stamina system. You don't need to worry about passing out from exerting too much energy like you do in other farming games, but that doesn't mean that you can just do whatever you want. Instead of using stamina, Sun Haven makes use of its in-game clock to ensure you don't overexert yourself.

Be sure to always keep an eye on the time, as you'll need to get to bed before 11:00 PM to prevent passing out. Thankfully, you can adjust your settings to change how long each in-game day is, which can give you more (or less if you'd prefer) time to accomplish your tasks and fulfill quests. Days can last up to a real-life hour almost, or as little as 20 minutes.

Upgrade your speed to save time

Now that you know how important time is in Sun Haven, you may be wondering why your character is so slow in the beginning. If you take a look at your upgradable skills, you'll see that you can actually increase your speed. We'd recommend doing so, as other skills go up from completing tasks. For instance, your Exploration will increase naturally as you forage.

Once you spend your skill points to increase your movement speed, you'll also be able to use the double jump ability to go even faster and reach areas you may not have been able to before. There are areas outside of Sun Haven that require this function, and levels within the mine that do, too.

Check the town fountain daily

If you've explored Sun Haven thoroughly, then you've probably noticed the big dragon fountain right in front of the Town Hall. Its water glows orange, and the dragon itself has a reddish-orange gem around its neck. If you walk up to the fountain, an interaction prompt will come up telling you that you can "Touch the Water."

Do so. Do so every day. The dragon fountain gives you a permanent two percent mana buff, and it will give the buff time and time again. Sometimes you'll get it every other day, sometimes you'll get it once in a longer while. Make sure that you make the interaction a part of your daily town-traversing routine, though, so you never miss out on the extra mana.

Keep tabs on the museum

Just like in many other farming games, Sun Haven has a museum containing multiple bundles you'll need to fill. Once you've filled enough, you'll get loot as a reward. Make sure to always pick any seasonal plants you see, and forage for whatever you can as bundles contain items specific to certain seasons. I usually keep a few of each item in chests at my farm so that I can go back to the museum with them if I need to.

By checking in often, you can get a better idea of what you'll need and what you've already handed in before. There's nothing more annoying than forgetting to bring something to the museum and only realizing you have once it's too late, or alternatively, bringing too much on your person when unnecessary.

Foraging is a beginner's best friend

It's the beginning of the game, and you probably feel broke. Don't fret too much about it, since there's a simple way to make a bit of cash to help get you started with buying seeds and other tools to make better money. You can forage for fruit and other items to get money fast in the beginning, and by doing so, you'll also increase your Exploration skill.

There seems to be fruit literally everywhere, from apples to berries, and there are seashells all over the beach down south to collect for money, too. We'd recommend selling what you can, but keeping one or two of each item in case you need it for the museum or for a gift. If you need some more tips on earning gold, check out our guide on the best ways to make money in Sun Haven.

Invincibility is always an option

Our final tip is a pretty big one, and it'll help you if you're not used to the more RPG side of things in Sun Haven. For a more cozy, farming-focused experience, you can actually enable invincibility to ensure your character takes no damage. This means that any monsters (even bosses) you encounter can't hurt you, but it doesn't mean you'll one-shot them.

You'll still need to upgrade your skills to do things easily, and will also need to pay attention to things like time passing regardless of invincibility. The option makes combat way easier though, and it also turns the blended-genre game into a more chill one.