Learn how to solve the Hidden Shrine Puzzle in Stardew Valley.
Stardew Valley has many mysterious places with puzzles or riddles that may go over some players’ heads. An example is the Hidden Shrine found in the rainforest of Ginger Island. The shrine is a tiny section of the island where you can find statues and a tricky riddle. It may seem tough to crack, but this guide will tell you how to solve the Hidden Shrine puzzle and acquire the reward.
The reward for solving the Hidden Shrine puzzle will benefit Stardew Valley completionists. Players keep returning to Ginger Island to complete all 130 Golden Walnuts. Golden Walnuts are a parrot currency to access Ginger Island’s unlockable areas. For those who wish to get more Golden Walnuts, you must locate the hidden puzzle within the shrine.
Finding the Hidden Shrine
Located east of Ginger Island is the rainforest. This is where you will initially go since this is the only accessible area at the start of your island tour. The eastern part of the island is where the hidden shrine is found. Walking further north of the rainforest, you can spot the stairs leading to Leo’s hut. From the stairs, head to your right until you reach the leaf wall covering the entrance to the hidden shrine.
Once you arrive at the hidden shrine, you will discover a giant bird shrine with four smaller statues. Across each statue are four pedestals with engravings of a mountain, a palm tree, an ocean wave, and an irregular shape. If you interact with the giant bird shrine, you will see the message: Begin your quest when dark clouds cry. To seek the fabled gem-birds four. Each day, one north, south, east, or west. Arrange their gifts upon my door.
Deciphering the Riddle
The riddle hints that you must find some items to solve the puzzle. The quest items consist of four “gem-birds,” or gems carried by birds. “When the dark clouds” means you can only encounter these birds when it rains. The line, “Each day, one north, south, east, or west,” indicates that you can discover exotic-looking birds on every side of the island on rainy days.
Locating the four Gems
As stated above, the four exotic birds can be found on rainy days when you go to the northern, eastern, southern, and western parts of Ginger Island. The exact spot where you can locate each bird is random and can differ for every save file. Additionally, only one exotic bird will spawn per rainy day.
To get the gems from a bird, you must walk towards it until it flies away and drops a gem. Aquamarine, Ruby, Emerald, and Topaz are the gemstones you can get from each bird. Note some playthroughs will also include the Amethyst gem in the mix.
After finding all four gemstones, place them on their corresponding pedestal. You will earn 5 Golden Walnuts if you successfully acquire all the gems.
And that is a wrap for today’s guide on solving the hidden shrine puzzle! More tricky puzzles with valuable rewards await discovery in Stardew Valley. We have gone through countless guides for solving them here on Player Assist, so check them out.
