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Updated on November 12, 2021, by Anastasia Maillot: Secret notes have not changed significantly in the game, even with the Ginger Island update of Stardew Valley. If anything, Ginger Island has become another location where players can expect to find the secret notes they can read after completing the Stardew Valley Winter Mystery quest.
Players who are missing a few of these notes and can’t seem to find any can now refer to the information included that shows which activities have the highest or lowest chances of yielding secret notes.
How To Complete The Winter Mystery Quest
As Stardew Valley players wander near the bus stop from the farm during winter, between 6 am and 4 pm, they might see a shadowy figure lurking around. Commonly referred to as Shadow Guy, he will get startled and run away, leaving some footprints in the snow. If players follow the footprints, they will lead to a bush near the community center. Interact with the bush, and the shadowy figure will pop out of it.
Shadow Guy will apologize as it turns out he is a bit of a thief, and he will give players a Magnifying Glass, and the Winter Mystery quest will complete. This is extremely useful, as it gives players the ability to find secret notes while they are doing the various tasks and chores required to progress the game. Notes can lead to interesting secrets or important pieces of information about other people in the town.
How To Find Secret Notes
Players can find secret notes while performing several different actions in the game. Secret notes can appear while dealing with weeds, killing monsters, chopping trees, fishing, finding artifacts, and harvesting stone or other resources. The notes will drop based on random loot tables, so the only way to get them is to do as much in the game as possible and not make the classic beginner’s mistake of not considering a job to be important. The more players do these tasks, the greater the chance of finding a note.
When a note drops, players can view it by clicking on the bag-shaped icon on the top row of their inventory, then the secret notes icon on the bottom left. Right-clicking on any of the notes will then allow players to read them.
Some of them will be simple pieces of information about the townsfolk, while others will contain clues to finding important items. It should be noted, the relevant items will not populate in the game unless players have found the secret note in their own game, and any related quests can only be completed upon reading a secret note.
Source: Stardew Valley Wiki
All Of The Secret Notes In Stardew Valley
Below are all the notes and their solutions in the game. Note that some notes simply hint at what gifts villagers prefer, and not actual puzzles with solutions.
Secret Note #1
It’s a page from Abigail’s Diary.
‘Things I love: the smell of carved pumpkin, keeping an amethyst under my pillow, chocolate cake, the thrill of spicy eel, and the comfort of Mom’s blackberry cobbler (I like to eat!)’
Secret Note #2
It’s Sam’s holiday shopping list.
Everyone’s favorites
Sebastian: Frozen Tear, Sashimi
Penny: Emerald, Poppy
Vincent: Grape, Cranberry Candy
Mom: Crispy Bass, Pancakes
Dad: Risotto, Roasted Hazelnuts
Me: Cactus, Maple Bar, Pizza
Secret Note #3
It’s written in Leah’s handwriting.
My idea of a perfect dinner would be salad, goat cheese, truffle, and wine. For dessert, I’d need a poppyseed muffin. Yum! If someone gave me one of those things, I’d melt.
Secret Note #4
It’s a note of Maru’s
Parts still needed for my greatest invention yet! Gold Bar, Iridium Bar, Battery Pack, Diamond, Strawberries.
Secret Note #5
It’s Penny’s handwriting:
I want to get everyone something they love!
Mom: Parsnip, Glazed Yams, NO BEER!
Jas: Fairy Rose, Plum Pudding
Vincent: Pink Cake, Grape
Mr. Mullner: Leek, Fried Mushroom
Granny Mullner: Beet, Tulip
Secret Note #6
Stardrop Saloon Special Orders
Mayor Lewis: Autumn’s Bounty
(Double order of high-fiber bread on the side)
Marnie: Pumpkin Pie
(extra whipped cream!)
Demetrius: Bean Hotpot
(Make it spicy)
Caroline: Fish Taco
(she wants triple the sauce! Better throw in a few extra napkins…)
Secret Note #7
It’s a page from someone’s diary…
…There are only a few ‘older’ bachelors in town, and none of them are perfect! Harvey is really anxious and weak, but I know he would make a loyal and devoted husband. He likes coffee and pickles.
Elliott is a bit foppish and melodramatic, but he does have a nice chin. He likes crab cakes and pomegranates.
Shane is messy and anti-social. But I think his gruff exterior is a defense mechanism, insulating his softness from the world. He likes Beer, Pizza, and Pepper Poppers.
Secret Note #8
To Haley and Emily
Hope you two are doing well! We’ve sent you your favorite gifts: Pink Cake and Sunflowers for Haley, Gemstones, and Wool for Emily!
-Love Mom and Dad
Secret Note #9
Alex’s Strength Training Diet! Complete Breakfast, Salmon Dinner (I’ve learned to love this food. I can feel the protein!)
Secret Note #10
Someone is
waiting for you
on level 100
in
the
skull cavern…
Solution: This note will give players the Cryptic Note quest. Players will need to reach level 100 of Skull Cavern. This will lead to a cutscene featuring Mr. Qi, who will give you the Iridium Snake Milk item.
Secret Note #11
This secret note is an image of a young Marnie with another character, surrounded by animals.
Secret Note #12
I’ve found some good things by looking in the garbage cans, on lucky days.
Sometimes you’ll find the ‘dish of the day’ behind the saloon… usually fresh!
For dessert, I’ll check the Mullners’ can for cookies.
For treasures, check the cans by the blacksmith and museum.
Secret Note #13
12 o’clock noon SHARP. Last day of the season. Check the bush above the playground.
Solution: To solve this note, interact with the bush above the playground at noon on the 28th day of any season. This will reward a Junimo Plush.
Secret Note #14
I hid something behind the community center.
Solution: If players go behind the community center with a pickaxe, they can find a Stone Junimo hidden near the roof.
Secret Note #15
Mermaid Show: 1-5-4-2-3
Solution: During the Night Market, go into the boat on the right to start the Mermaid Show. When the show is complete, click on the shells in the order given on the note to receive a Pearl.
Secret Note #16
A treasure map.
Solution: Go to a large boulder north of the railroad tracks and dig one space to the right to find a treasure chest.
Secret Note #17
A treasure map.
Solution: Go to the north of the Joja Mart near the river. Dig on the most northern tile on the right side to find a Strange Doll.
Secret Note #18
Another treasure map.
Solution: Visit the Calico Desert and use a hoe near the bench to find a yellow Strange Doll.
Secret Note #19
A picture of Willow Lane, showing some arrows.
Solution: Starting on the green square shown outside the house, walk as far as possible in each direction depicted by the arrows. When players hit an obstacle, they should start walking in the direction shown by the next arrow. Continue the cycle until it leads to a Solid Gold Lewis behind the Mayor’s house.
Secret Note #20
Another treasure map.
Solution: Copy the same movement style as the previous secret note, starting in the town square center. This leads to a truck, and speaking to the driver will allow players to exchange a Rabbit’s Foot for a Special Charm that increases luck.
Secret Note #21
An oddly drawn clue.
Solution: At precisely 12:40 at night, go to a large bush to the northwest of the bridge from Pelican Town to the beach. Marnie and Lewis will jump out of the bush. There is no item reward for this part.
Secret Note #22
Greetings,
Have you found my ‘secret’ in the dark tunnel?
I look forward to meeting you!
-Qi
Solution: Take a Battery Pack to the bus stop, then go west into the tunnel. Place the battery in the box on the wall in the middle of the tunnel to begin The Mysterious Qi quest.
Secret Note #23
If yoo can reed dis… come to seecrit wuds. Pleez bring may-pal serrup.
Solution: Adds the Strange Note quest to players’ journals. Go to the Secret Woods between 6 am and 7 pm. Bring Maple Syrup to trigger a cutscene featuring a bear. This will increase the sales price of Blackberries and Salmonberries.
Secret Note #24
It’s a page from M. Jasper’s Book.
The creatures, known by some as “Forest Sprites” or “Junimos,” are said to appear in abandoned buildings after they’ve “gone to seed”.
As a general rule when humans leave, nature begins to reclaim her territory, the Junimos will undoubtedly appear.
Folk wisdom holds that the Junimos display some kind of resonant affinity with gemstones that are placed inside their little huts…
Of course, all these claims come from dubious, unverified sources…As far as I know, even the mere existence of these creatures has never been proven!
Solution: Place a mineral, gem, or geode in a Jumino hut to alter the color of the Juminos that harvest crops.
Secret Note #25
I ‘borrowed’ a necklace from Mom, but lost it somewhere near the bath house.. She’s going to freak out if she notices it’s missing.
Solution: During Spring, Summer, or Fall, players can fish in the water outside the Spa to find an Ornate Necklace. Speaking with Caroline while carrying the Necklace will give 50 Friendship points while speaking to Abigail will give 100.
Stardew Valley is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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