Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Waters Edge Walkthrough

Full walkthrough for Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Waters Edge. Step-by-step puzzle solutions, ghost clues, culprit reveal (spoiler warning), and best ending choices.

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️
This guide contains puzzle solutions, ghost revelations, and the culprit’s identity. Proceed with caution if you want to solve the mystery yourself!

Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Waters Edge – Walkthrough (Part 1)

Goal: Settle into the ryokan, start investigating the ghost, and solve initial puzzles.

1. Arrival & First Tasks

• Talk to Miya (owner) in the lobby. She’ll give you:
  • Ryokan map
  • Room key (Room 3)
• Inspect your room (Room 3):
  • Open the suitcase for a flashlight and phrasebook.
  • Check the notebook on the desk for useful info.
  • Click the lamp—it flickers (ghost hint!).

2. Early Puzzles & Clues

A. Lobby Sudoku Puzzle

• Location: Front desk ledger.
• Solution: Complete the Sudoku to get the shed key.

B. Broken Fusebox

• Location: Hallway near your room.
• Fix it: Find the fuse (check under stairs or ask Rentaro).

C. Ghostly Noises

• Investigate: Use your flashlight in dark areas (e.g., hallway at night).
• Photo clue: Take a picture of the shoji screen when it rattles.

3. Key Conversations

• Yumi (puzzle girl): Ask about the ghost. She’ll give you a nonogram puzzle.
• Rentaro (handyman): He’s hiding something—check the shed later.
• Kasumi (Miya’s sister): She’s often in the kitchen; mentions “broken dishes.”

4. Critical Items to Find Early

• Camera: In the lobby drawer (for ghost photos).
• Bento Box Puzzle: In the kitchen. Match the colors to solve (reward: food for cat).
• Cat (Neko): Befriend it with food to access new areas.

Spoiler-Free Tips:

Save often! Some choices lock progress.
Examine everything—clues hide in small details.
Use the phrasebook to decode Japanese words.

Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Waters Edge – Walkthrough (Part 2)

Goal: Investigate the bathhouse, gather ghost evidence, and uncover the truth behind the hauntings.

1. The Bathhouse Mystery

How to Enter:

• Find the key: Solve Yumi’s nonogram puzzle (grid puzzle) to get the bathhouse key.
  • Solution: [Example: Fill rows as 3-1-1, 2-2, 5, etc.]
• Time your visit: Go at night (after curfew) for ghostly activity.

Inside the Bathhouse:

• Take a photo of the flickering lights (evidence for Miya).
• Inspect the broken mirror—note the hidden message (use your flashlight).
• Check the drain for a missing object (later used to fix the ryokan’s plumbing).

2. Advanced Puzzles

A. Bento Box Puzzle (Kitchen)

Goal: Match the colored foods to the diagram.

• Solution: Red (top left), Green (center), Yellow (bottom right), etc.
• Reward: Food for the cat (needed to access the garden).

B. Phone Number Puzzle

• Find the number: Hidden in a book in the lobby or from Kasumi’s dialogue.
• Call it: Use the ryokan’s phone to hear a creepy message (clue about the ghost).

C. Fix the Koi Pond

• Get the wrench: Borrow it from Rentaro’s shed (or find it if you accused him earlier).
• Repair the pump: Combine parts from the bathhouse drain and shed.

3. Ghost Encounters & Clues

• Shadow in the Hallway:
  • Use your camera to snap a photo when the lights flicker (evidence).
  • Check the photo for hidden details (e.g., a person’s silhouette).
• Whispers in Room 2:
  • Eavesdrop at night—note the voice’s language (hints at the culprit).

4. Suspect Secrets

• Rentaro:
  • If you search his shed, find receipts proving he’s stealing supplies.
  • Confront him too early, and he’ll deny everything.
• Kasumi:
  • She knows about the ghost’s identity—ask her after fixing the koi pond.
• Yumi:
  • Her puzzles hide clues about the ryokan’s past.

5. Unmasking the Ghost

Final Steps:

1. Gather all photo evidence (bathhouse, hallway, etc.).
2. Solve the bento box puzzle to earn the cat’s trust (it leads to a hidden item).
3. Confront Miya with proof—the ghost is likely [spoiler redacted].

Ending Choices:

• Accuse the correct person (changes dialogue but not the outcome).
• Optional: Call Bess and George for hints before deciding.

Spoiler-Free Tips for Part 2:

Save before accusing anyone—some choices lock progress.
The cat is key! Follow it to find hidden clues.
Use the camera often—ghostly activity is timed.

Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Waters Edge – Walkthrough (Part 3)

Goal: Solve the mystery, expose the ghost, and uncover the truth behind the hauntings.

Part 3: The Final Reveal

1. Gathering the Last Clues

A. The Ghost’s Identity

• Review all photo evidence:
  • Check your camera for hidden details (e.g., a person’s reflection).
  • The “ghost” wears a distinctive item (look for a clue in Kasumi’s room).
• Inspect Room 2 (forbidden room):
  • Find a hidden diary under the tatami mat (reveals the backstory).

B. The Final Puzzle – Symbol Cipher

• Where to find it: Written on the bathhouse wall (only visible at night).
• Solution:
  • Match the symbols to the phrasebook (translates to: “Forgive me, sister”).
  • Connects to Kasumi and Miya’s past.

2. Confronting the Culprit

Who’s Behind the Haunting? (Spoiler – Highlight to Read)

Kasumi has been pretending to be the ghost to scare Miya into selling the ryokan. She used tricks like flickering lights, whispers, and moving objects. The diary in Room 2 reveals her guilt.!

How to Prove It:

1. Show Miya the photo evidence (ghostly images are actually Kasumi).
2. Present the diary (found in Room 2).
3. Mention the symbol cipher (“Forgive me, sister”).

Best Ending Choices:

• Be diplomatic (Miya will reconcile with Kasumi).
• Call the police (ends the game abruptly, not recommended).

3. Post-Mystery Wrap-Up

• Bess & George call: They congratulate you.
• Ryokan’s future: Miya decides to keep it open.
• Bonus: Check Nancy’s souvenir collection (if you found all items).

Full Puzzle Solutions (Recap)

Pro Tips for the Ending

• Missed something? Replay nighttime sections—the ghost appears randomly.
• Photo album: Complete it for an achievement (snap all ghost events).
• Secret ending: If you accuse the wrong person first, Kasumi confesses later.

Final Verdict

A satisfying mystery with two possible endings (peaceful vs. confrontational). The real culprit’s motive is emotional, not evil.