Moonlight Peaks Beginner’s Guide

Welcome to Moonlight Peaks, the cozy vampire life-sim where you set out to prove to your father — Count Dracula himself — that the undead can live a life of compassion. You inherit a run-down estate in a town full of werewolves, witches, mermaids and stranger folk, and turn it into a home. This guide orients you to the core systems so your first nights go smoothly.

Pre-launch note: the game launches July 7, 2026. Exact figures (energy costs, mana, growth times, affinity thresholds) are not public yet, so this guide explains how each system works rather than quoting numbers. Our tools fill in verified values at launch.

You live by night

As a vampire you wake around dusk and sleep at dawn. Your night is bounded by energy: most actions cost some, and when you run out you head to bed. Planning a night around your energy budget is the central rhythm of the game — the Crop & Energy Day Planner exists exactly for this once costs are confirmed.

Magic costs mana

Separate from energy is mana, which powers spells. Early spells are quality-of-life: an automatic watering spell, and a spell that matures crops. Later you can even shapeshift into a bat to cross town quickly. Eating produce and fish restores mana. If you spend all your magic in one night, you wake to fully grown crops and a refilled magic pool — a deliberate, generous catch-up mechanic.

Grow cursed crops

A vampire’s sustenance is cursed food, so farming matters from night one. Staples like pumpkins and nightshade sit alongside magical plants such as mandrake and wolfsbane. Browse what’s known on the Crops page.

Brew potions

Learned from the local witches, brewing combines foraged and grown ingredients into potions — effects shown so far include a full night of unlimited energy and a temporary harvest boost. Plan combinations in the Potion Brewing Calculator.

Make friends — and fall in love

The town has 15 romanceable residents across seven families. Build affinity, learn each character’s gift preferences, and pursue a relationship. Track everyone in the Romance & Gift Planner.

Where to go next

Read the Potion Brewing Guide, the Romance Guide, and the Crops & Seasons Guide, or see the full Mechanics overview.