Set Difficulty	2/10
Approximate time to master	2-5 hours (depends if and how quickly you read the story)
Minimum number of playthroughs needed	1 full playthrough and two partial runs if you save properly, 3-4 if not (If VMU app get separate achievements, 4 playthroughs)
Number of missable achievements	Technically none, but multiple playthroughs and specific choices are needed for many achievements

Nakoruru: The Gift She Gave Me is a visual novel (VN) game based in an alternate universe version of the Samurai Shodown arcade fighter series, centered on the titular Nakoruru and a few other slightly Muppet Babies-esque versions of some fan favorite characters and their lives outside the fate of the world "Shodowns" - or at least to start. I'm admittedly not terribly knowledgable of the source material. To be perfectly blunt, I found the story painfully slow and full of anime slice of life cliches for the vast majority of the game, only somewhat picking up toward the end. The only break from the text are a small handful of minigames, which are anything from passable (Sword Training) to painfully boring and barely a game (lyric typing).

So why write a guide for this? Well the main reason is the huge fan effort on the English translation. It was an extensive undertaking, fully translating all 12,000+ lines of dialogue, quiz mini games, and even four unlockable VMU apps into English. Exploring the game just to see the effort put into it was fun in my opinion. Despite all this effort done translating the game, I found very little information about the game anywhere else. While not a terribly lengthy or choice-heavy VN, it does have a handful of unlockables. Some I could not find any documentation or guide on. A couple features I still cannot find a way to unlock (but thankfully are not included in the achievement set as of writing). The lack of modern VN features (like a flow chart, easy chapter select, and other navigation QoL bonuses) makes it even hard to redo and explore old choices. To save some frustration for future players, I decided to write up my findings on how to master the set and even earn a few bonus unlockables.

Being a visual novel, gameplay is pretty straightforward. You will mostly be reading through dialogue, making occassional choices and playing a few "minigames" here and there. The biggest "challenge" is having to ensure you're making the correct choices the whole way through, as some scenes are locked unless you make the correct prerequisite choices earlier on. I'll include helpful notes on where to save to minimize how many playthroughs you need as best as possible. Also, don't forget to use Y on repeated playthrough to get through repeated dialogue/scenes quicker.

Just play through the story and make sure to make choices based on the Manari "path" you want to complete first. I say "path" but in reality, it's more of an extra scene and bit of dialogue near the end rather than a full on change to the ending. This will net you all the progression achievements as well as the Unlock All Songs achievement.

I also included in the below where to make saves, which can save some time to clean up various achievements later on.

You can opt to do Rimururu's path first if you prefer. I'm simply listing the order I did things in.

Manari Path

Chapter 1

• Ask about Building
• Ask Manari
• SAVE 1
• Pop Quiz (Get Perfect Score)
• Music Verse 1 (no mistakes)
• Clean (Choices/order shouldn't matter)

Chapter 2

• SAVE 2
• Help Rimururu
• Music Verse 2 (no mistakes)
• SAVE 3
• Clean Mamahaha's Perch
• Bear Encounter (choice doesn't matter)
• Sword minigame (get a perfect score)
• SAVE 4
• Go Straight Home

Chapter 3

• SAVE 5
• Go Out for a Walk
• Go on Ahead
• Music Verse 3 (no mistakes)
• SAVE 6
• Fishing Minigame (get "Nice Haul" by missing none or only a few fish)
• SAVE 7
• Stay and Apologize

Chapter 4

• Sword Training 2 (keep playing until you score high enough - you'll know you succeeded when you don't get the option to retry)
• SAVE 8
• Sages Quiz 2 (Score enough to pass - you'll know you succeeded when you see a scene featuring a photo from the past)
• SAVE 9
• Call out to Her (Manari) (Choice may not matter)
• I'm rooting for you (Choice may not matter)
• Lyrics minigame 1
• SAVE 10
• Manari

Chapter 5

• SAVE 11
• Someone Else, then Manari
• Lyrics 2 Minigame
• SAVE 12
• Spend time with Manari
• Yes, a Little
• Lyrics 3 minigame

Chapter 6 - no choices in chapter

Chapter 7

• SAVE 13
• Bear Attack - run away, retry, then stay and fight
• Stay with Manari

Chapter 8/Finale

• SAVE 14
• Talk to Manari
• Finish the Song
• Final Song Minigame
• Final Lyric Minigame
• SAVE 15

If you followed the previous guide, reload Save 11 and make the following choices to unlock Rera's VMU app and an alternate ending for the game.

Rera Path

SAVE 11 START Chapter 5

• Someone Else, then Rera
• Lyrics 2 Minigame
• Spend time with Rera
• Rera is Right

You'll be running through this for a few extra scenes and to unlock Rimururu's VMU (currently not covered in the achievement set). If you did Manari first and saved appropriately, you can save time and skip the first few chapters. Again, you can do Manari or Rimururu path first or second, but this guide is assuming you did Rimururu second.

Rimururu Path

LOAD SAVE 5 Chapter 3

• Hurry and Clean
• Go on Ahead
• Music Verse 3 (no mistakes)
• Fishing Minigame (get "Nice Haul" by missing none or only a few fish)
• Run Away with Rimururu

Chapter 4

• Sword Training 2 (score doesn't matter, can quit after first attempt)
• Sages Quiz 2 (Score doesn't matter)
• Call out to Her (Manari) (Choice may not matter)
• I'm rooting for you (Choice may not matter)
• Lyrics minigame 1
• Rimururu

Chapter 5

• Rimururu
• Lyrics 2 Minigame
• Spend time with Rimururu
• I'm scared but okay
• She's the Boss
• Yes, a Little
• Lyrics 3 minigame

Chapter 6 - no choices in chapter

Chapter 7

• Bear Attack - stay and fight
• Follow after Yantamu

Chapter 8/Finale

• Talk to Yantamu
• Chase after Nakoruru
• Last choices are pass/fail and force you to retry on a wrong choice (pick every choice that mentions Nakoruru
• Final music minigames

This would be the step where you obtain Nakoruru's VMU app...but unfortunately, a legit way to unlock this app has not been discovered as of this guide's release. Fortunately, it is not featured in the set as of this guide's release either. If a way is discovered and the set is revised to include it, I'll update the guide appropriately.

If you follow the guides above, you may not need this step. This is where you can find any remaining CG artworks and miscellaneous achievements. If you are, search out the achievements you're missing below to find what is missing and load the appropriate save to knock it out quick. After unlocking any achievement, be sure to save somewhere to keep it in the art gallery!

These will all be unlocked when you get to the first time you complete the story (not the shortened alternate Rera ending) and are impossible to miss. As such, I will not be covering them any further.

An Early Meeting (2)
Clean up the house in time for Nakoruru's arrival.

Making Music (3)
Learn the tune that Nakoruru hummed.

A Sign of Things to Come (2)
Complete chapter 1.

Making Music Again (3)
Learn the second verse of the tune Nakoruru hummed.

In the Nick of Time (1)
Mikoto is saved by a stange woman.

A Warm Smile on a Cold Night (1)
Complete chapter 2.

Making Music Another Time (3)
Learn the third verse of the tune Nakoruru hummed.

Maybe It Was a Bit Much (1)
Learn some new things about Nakoruru while everyone plays with her hair.

A Burden Shared (1)
Nakoruru smiles again.

The Sounds of Spring and Nature (1)
Spring has come and with it the end of chapter 3.

Blind Trust (1)
Complete a second training session with Rera.

A Song by the Waterfalls (1)
Hear Manari sing.

Learning the Words (3)
Learn the lyrics to the song that Nakoruru hums.

Clothing From the Past (1)
The girls try on some cute clothes they found.

Happy Times Upon Them (1)
Have some fun after a hard day's work and complete chapter 4.

Time Spent Well (1)
Nakoruru and Yantamu spend some time together while Nakoruru performs a ritual.

Caught! (1)
Nakoruru discovers where Mikato has been going off to.

Catching the Fog (2)
Assist Nakoruru by catching the fog spirit.

Lucky in Love (1)
See Manari's clumsiness grant a wonderful reward.

A Love Triangle? (1)
Learn about the traditions of Itokayna.

Secretly Piecing it Together (4)
Learn more of the words to the song Nakoruru sings and then complete chapter 5.

No More Stage Fright (1)
Manari overcomes her fear and sings for others.

A Lovely Dance (1)
During Nakoruru's dance, a confession is made.

Winter is Coming (1)
Talk to both Manari and Nakoruru after the festival and complete chapter 6.

A Sign of Bad Things to Come (1)
Safely escape the forest to the safety of the village and tell Nakoruru about what happened.

The Perfect Timing (10)
Survive the Bear Shodown.

Where the Evil Truly Lies (1)
Learn the truth of Rera and the evil coming to Kamui Kotan.

Sad Farewells (1)
See Nakoruru off, completing chapter 7.

A Fatal Error (1)
A stubborn demon is hard to defeat.

The True Song (5)
Learn the final set of lyrics to the song Nakoruru hummed.

The Happiness Mikato Found (5)
See the peace that has been brought to Kamui Kotan.

Songkeeper of Kamui Kotan (10)
Unlock all music in the extras menu.

This is a completionist/future content part of this guide, as none of these VMU app unlocks (with the exception of Rera) are currently covered in the set. Also, it is currently unknown how to unlock the Nakoruru app legitemately. Please contact the set creator if you have any information how to do so. If achievements for any of these are made, I will update the guide accordingly.

Currently unknown...

---

To unlock Manari's VMU app, you need to make all (or at least most) options related to Manari. These are typically pretty clear, but a few choices may be a little unclear (ex. Chapter 2 "Go On Ahead"). You can refer this guide or the one from earlier to unlock.

Manari VMU Unlock Full Guide

Chapter 1

• Ask about Building
• Ask Manari
• SAVE 1
• Pop Quiz (Get Perfect Score)
• Music Verse 1 (no mistakes)
• Clean (Choices/order shouldn't matter)

Chapter 2

• SAVE 2
• Help Rimururu
• Music Verse 2 (no mistakes)
• SAVE 3
• Clean Mamahaha's Perch
• Bear Encounter (choice doesn't matter)
• Sword minigame (get a perfect score)
• SAVE 4
• Go Straight Home

Chapter 3

• SAVE 5
• Go Out for a Walk
• Go on Ahead
• Music Verse 3 (no mistakes)
• SAVE 6
• Fishing Minigame (get "Nice Haul" by missing none or only a few fish)
• SAVE 7
• Stay and Apologize

Chapter 4

• Sword Training 2 (keep playing until you score high enough - you'll know you succeeded when you don't get the option to retry)
• SAVE 8
• Sages Quiz 2 (Score enough to pass - you'll know you succeeded when you see a scene featuring a photo from the past)
• SAVE 9
• Call out to Her (Manari) (Choice may not matter)
• I'm rooting for you (Choice may not matter)
• Lyrics minigame 1
• SAVE 10
• Manari

Chapter 5

• SAVE 11
• Someone Else, then Manari
• Lyrics 2 Minigame
• SAVE 12
• Spend time with Manari
• Yes, a Little
• Lyrics 3 minigame

Chapter 6 - no choices in chapter

Chapter 7

• SAVE 13
• Bear Attack - run away, retry, then stay and fight
• Stay with Manari

Chapter 8/Finale

• SAVE 14
• Talk to Manari
• Finish the Song
• Final Song Minigame
• Final Lyric Minigame
• SAVE 15

---

This is similar to Manari, except you need to make the Rimururu choices throughout the game as well as avoiding some Manari options. If you followed the guide for what saves to make, you can get a head start and skip the first two chapters.

Rimururu VMU Unlock Guide

LOAD SAVE 5 Chapter 3

• Hurry and Clean
• Go on Ahead
• Music Verse 3 (no mistakes)
• Fishing Minigame (get "Nice Haul" by missing none or only a few fish)
• Run Away with Rimururu

Chapter 4

• Sword Training 2 (score doesn't matter, can quit after first attempt)
• Sages Quiz 2 (Score doesn't matter)
• Call out to Her (Manari) (Choice may not matter)
• I'm rooting for you (Choice may not matter)
• Lyrics minigame 1
• Rimururu

Chapter 5

• Rimururu
• Lyrics 2 Minigame
• Spend time with Rimururu
• I'm scared but okay
• She's the Boss
• Yes, a Little
• Lyrics 3 minigame

Chapter 6 - no choices in chapter

Chapter 7

• Bear Attack - stay and fight
• Follow after Yantamu

Chapter 8/Finale

• Talk to Yantamu
• Chase after Nakoruru
• Last choices are pass/fail and force you to retry on a wrong choice (pick every choice that mentions Nakoruru
• Final music minigames

---

Flowers Make Poor Armor (1)
Spend some free time with Rera.

Another Path (5)
Decide to leave with Rera.

The only VMU currently covered in the set (technically by two achievements). To unlock this VMU and the alternate ending attached, you need to complete both sword training minigames in Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 without ending them early. if Rera asks you if you want to try again, do so. When you don't get the option to try again, you've done enough. You should also unlock a special scene/CG after the second training minigame if you scored enough. If you followed my guide, your prior save should already have done this.

Then in Chapter 5, choose that you like Rera, then choose to spend time with Rera (this will unlock "Flowers Make Poor Armor" - if it doesn't and you get a much shorter scene, you won't be on track for the ending). You'll see some additional scenes and your next choice should be "Nakoruru is Right" or "Rera is Right." Answer "Rera is right" and the ending will start and the VMU will unlock after.

Rera Path

SAVE 11 START Chapter 5

• Someone Else, then Rera
• Lyrics 2 Minigame
• Spend time with Rera
• Rera is Right

This is organized by chapter. I also listed a save by most sections - if you followed the earlier portion of this guide, you should be able to reload the same save slots to jump right to the neccessary options.

Be sure to save after getting each of these to ensure your extras artwork gallery updates (it can be the same slot you overwrite every time).

Learning About Buildings From an Expert (1)
Look at the building, learn what it is and see Manari.

The Pro Fisher (1)
Ask about the cloth, learn more about it and meet Yantamu.

This is the very first choice in the game. You will probably have the cloth achievement after the first two playthroughs.

Passed the Quiz (5)
Successfully return to Nakoruru with the haha.

Food Connoisseur (5)
On normal minigame level, Pass the Pop Quiz minigame with a perfect score.

Entry Denied (2)
Fail the Pop Quiz minigame and be forced to return to Nakoruru without the haha.

This minigame is a little tricky if you're not very well-versed in Japanese culture. Thankfully, the translation team provided an answer key!

Be sure to fail once too to get the scene and unlock the achievement for that as well.

Making Great Music (5)
Learn the tune that Nakoruru hummed without any mistakes or having to listen to it again.

The pattern is fairly simple and plays through. Make a backup save if your worried about making a mistake.

The pattern is as follows. Forgive my weird naming convention of the pattern, but it should make sense. Leftmost - bottom middle 2 - top middle - one left of rightmost - leftmost

Making Great Music Again (5)
Learn the second verse of the tune Nakoruru hummed without any mistakes or having to listen to it again.

3 top middle - rightmost - 2 top middle - left of top middle

A Capable Guardian (1)
Learn the hard way how overprotective Mamahaha is.

Choose "Mamahaha's Perch"

A Look into the Past (1)
Learn the story of how Nakoruru was allowed to touch Chichi-ushi.

Choose "Wall Holding Sword"

Natural Talent (5)
Complete any Sword Training minigame with 0 failures.

You can do this either now or in Chapter 5, but chapter 2 is slightly easier. Simply go wherever the wolf isn't (left or right). For the second training game, you either need to move to where Rera is (if she appears) or to the empty space (if she doesn't). Not a whole lot of strategy involved and it will probably take a few tries to ace, but it's nothing outragously difficult.

A Small Detour (1)
See an incredible sight with Nakoruru.

Choose "Take the Detour." This will also lead into the next achievement...

A Warm and Happy Family (1)
Share a warm moment with Nakoruru.

After taking the detour, choose "Together."

Spirit Messenger (1)
Nakoruru delivers a message from the spirits.

The Littlest Sister (1)
Enjoy a bath with Rimururu.

Choose "Go Straight Home." This should lead to the next scene achievement automatically, no choice present.

Chirp Chirp (1)
Hear about the breath of spring from Nakoruru and Manari.

Choose "Hurry up and Clean"

It's Manari Shaped! (1)
Discover a strange snow sculpture.

Choose "Go on Ahead"

Making Great Music Another Time (5)
Learn the third verse of the tune Nakoruru hummed without any mistakes or having to listen to it again.

The pattern is: 4 rightmost - right of middle - 2 top middle

Not a Bad Haul (3)
Complete the fishing minigame with at least 1 fish caught.

Nice Haul! (5)
Catch enough fish to satisfy Yantamu and get him to tell about when he and Nakoruru went fishing.

This is a very easy "game." Just wait for the lure to dip entirely under the water and hit "A." You have a lengthy window to hit A and there's no time limit for each attempt. If you miss no more than once (or maybe twice), you will get the Nice Haul achievement. Don't worry about the size of the fish you reel in - that appears entirely random and doesn't affect your "haul."

A Bear-y Bad Joke (1)
Fall victim to a prank.

Choose "Run Away with Rimururu"

Playing to the Tune of the Sages (5)
On the second or third pop quiz, score high enough to get to hear the story.  Note: Only the second pop quiz gives a CG unlock.

Once again, the translation team's answer key is vital. No need to perfect this quiz - a pass is good enough.

A Nearly Complete Song (3)
Learn some more of the lyrics to Nakoruru's song.

This minigame may only trigger if you are doing a Manari route. Choose "Manari" to spend time with. Another minigame light on the "game" part will trigger. Just type the same lyrics above using the keyboard below.

Even a Broken Clock Bakes Once (1)
Spend some free time with Manari.

Pick Manari (again, if you trigger the minigame first) and you'll trigger a short baking scene with Manari with no additional choices.

Sewing and Children (1)
Spend some free time with Nakoruru.

Pick Nakoruru to spend time with, then choose to carry the package and to help with sewing.

A Great but Scary Day (1)
Spend some free time with Rimururu.

Pick Rinmiruru to spend time with, then pick "I'm scared but ok" and finally "She's the boss"

Friends of the Forest (1)
Sunbathe with the forest animals.

Choose "Yes a little"

The Dangerous Forest (1)
Made the decision of a coward leading to a terrible end.

Choose to run away from the bear attack. You'll "die" and be forced to reload from the same scene a few text boxes before the choice.

I'll quickly cover how to pass this minigame/QTE here, since it's a little weird on the timing. You want to hit A as soon as the screen sharpens. Again, the timing in finicky and it felt like it would decide if you passed or failed randomly, but it doesn't take terribly long and you only need to time it once to pass.

A Broken Dream (1)
Observe Yantamu's attempt to stop Nakoruru from leaving.

Choose "Follow Yantamu"

The Power of Music (1)
Learn from the chief what the true power of the song is.

Choose "stay with Manari"

A Song of Hope (1)
Attempt to figure out the rest of the song with Manari before departing to find Nakoruru.

Choose to Finish the Song.

The Art of Kamui Kotan (10)
Unlock all pictures in the gallery.

This triggered for me at the end of my third playthrough (counting the Rera ending as a play). If you followed the guide, you should unlock this without any problems. If not, go through your gallery and see what scenes are missing. Note that the second picture on page 4 of the gallery will always be missing but is not required for this achievement. If you found a way to make this photo unlock legit, let me know!

Hopefully you found this guide helpful! If you have any questions, found any errors or figured out how to unlock the final VMU app or gallery photo, please let me know so I can update this guide!