GET YOUR BEARINGS
About Nightshade/百花百狼
Nightshade/百花百狼 is a romance visual novel set in Japan just after the Sengoku Period. The narrative follows Enju, a Kōga clan trainee, as she embarks on her first mission and becomes entangled in a dark conspiracy. The game blends historical facts—such as the Tenshō Iga war of 1593—with fictional romance between ninjas from the rival Iga and Kōga clans. Players experience multiple routes, each leading to distinct endings that alter the final movie and music.
Developed by Red Entertainment and LANTERN ROOMS in partnership with D3P Otomebu, the title features full voice work from well‑known Japanese actors and original theme songs. It is a single‑player adventure available on Windows via Steam, supporting achievements, trading cards, and family sharing.
01 / THE GUIDE
Story and Historical Setting
The plot unfolds in 1593‑1610, after the Tenshō Iga war decimated the Iga ninja clan and forced the survivors into the Kōga clan. The Sengoku Period ends with Japan’s unification, providing a backdrop of lingering clan rivalries. Enju, daughter of Kōga head Kandō Ueno, trains to become a full‑fledged ninja before receiving her first mission, which draws her into a larger conspiracy.
While the storyline is fictional, it incorporates factual characters and events from the era, offering a blend of romance and historical intrigue. This setting allows players to explore the tension between loyalty to clan and personal affection, a core theme throughout the visual novel.
- Consider reading a brief summary of the Tenshō Iga war to appreciate the historical stakes.
- Pay attention to dialogue that references clan politics; it often foreshadows later plot twists.
02 / THE GUIDE
Characters and Voice Cast
The protagonist Enju is silent, as the specification states the heroine has no voice sound. All other main characters are fully voiced by notable Japanese actors, including Wataru Hatano as Gekkamaru and Hiro Shimono as Kuroyuki. The cast also features Kohsuke Toriumi, Kenjiro Tsuda, Hikaru Midorikawa, Saori Hayami, Megumi Han, and Kouki Miyata among others.
The extensive voice cast adds depth to each character’s personality, making the romance routes feel distinct. Because the heroine is unvoiced, players may project their own interpretation onto her responses, a common design choice in visual novels.
- Listen for each actor’s signature style; it can help identify characters during quick reads.
- Re‑watch scenes with voice acting enabled to catch subtle emotional cues.

03 / THE GUIDE
Endings and Route Structure
Nightshade offers five main characters, each with two possible endings—one true and one bad—depending on the player’s choices. The route taken determines which ending movie and music play, providing a clear visual and auditory distinction between outcomes.
Because each character has a dual ending, replayability centers on exploring alternative decision points. The game does not mention any additional hidden routes or secret endings beyond the ten described outcomes.
- Save before major decision points to compare how different choices affect the ending.
- Track choices that influence loyalty versus romance; they often dictate the true versus bad ending.
04 / THE GUIDE
Audio and Theme Songs
The opening theme is "Gekka no Uta ha Kage yorimo Kuroku" performed by MIKOTO. Two ending themes are provided: "Taezaru Hana" for the true ending and "Aoi Sange" for the bad ending, both also by MIKOTO. These tracks play in accordance with the ending achieved.
All dialogue (except the silent heroine) is fully voiced, and the ending music changes according to the final outcome of the player's choices. The game’s audio design reinforces the historical‑romantic atmosphere.
- Listen for the shift from the opening theme to the ending theme as an indicator of route completion.
- Adjust in‑game volume to ensure voice lines remain clear over background music.
05 / THE GUIDE
Platform Availability and Steam Features
Nightshade is released on Windows via Steam and supports single‑player gameplay. The Steam client provides achievements, trading cards, and family sharing, as listed among the game's Steam features.
No mention is made of macOS or Linux support, and the game does not list additional multiplayer or online components. All documented features are tied to the Windows version on Steam.
- Check the Steam achievement list to see which story milestones are tracked.
- Use family sharing if you want another household member to experience the game without purchasing a second copy.





COMMUNITY
Player discussion