The Infinite Village

Welcome to "The Infinite Village," a comprehensive guide to maximizing your replayability and uncovering every secret Resident Evil Village has to offer beyond the initial credits. This section, nestled within our broader "Side Quests & Activities" chapter, delves into the game's New Game+ mode, the elusive Mercenaries mode, and the various ways to extend your horrifying adventure. Whether you're aiming for that coveted S-rank, hunting down every last collectible, or simply want to experience the story with a fresh perspective and overpowered weaponry, you've come to the right place.

Here, we'll break down the benefits of New Game+, offering strategies for carrying over your progress effectively and tackling higher difficulties. We'll also provide an in-depth look at The Mercenaries, detailing stage layouts, enemy types, and optimal loadouts to achieve top scores. Prepare to master the art of survival, unlock every achievement, and truly become the ultimate survivor of the village. From understanding weapon upgrades to exploiting enemy weaknesses, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to conquer every challenge thrown your way.

New Game+ Explained

After completing Resident Evil Village for the first time on any difficulty, you unlock the option to start a "New Game+" from the main menu. This mode allows you to carry over a sificant portion of your progress, making subsequent playthroughs both easier and more rewarding. When starting a New Game+, you retain:

Weapons and Upgrades: All weapons, their upgrades, and custom parts you've acquired will be in your inventory from the very beginning. This includes special weapons like the Grenade Launcher or Magnum.
Lei: Your accumulated Lei (the in-game currency) carries over, allowing you to purchase powerful upgrades or new weapons from the Duke much earlier.
Crafting Recipes and Resources: All crafting recipes you've learned and any crafting resources (Gunpowder, Chem Fluid, etc.) will be available.
Duke's Inventory: The Duke's inventory will reflect what you had unlocked in your previous playthrough, including any special weapons or upgrades you hadn't purchased yet.
Challenge Points (CP): Any CP earned from challenges are retained and can be spent in the Extra Content Shop.

However, key items, story progress, and map exploration are reset. New Game+ is ideal for tackling higher difficulties like "Village of Shadows," completing missed challenges, or simply enjoying the story again with a sificant power advantage. Consider selling any unnecessary items before starting a New Game+ to maximize your Lei carry-over.

The Mercenaries Mode

The Mercenaries mode is an arcade-style, time-attack challenge unlocked after completing the main story. It tasks players with clearing waves of enemies within a strict time limit across various stages, earning points for kills, combos, and remaining time. Achieving high scores unlocks new stages, weapons, and abilities. Each stage has a unique layout and enemy composition, requiring different strategies.

Stage Selection: Start with "The Village" and unlock subsequent stages like "The Castle" and "The Factory" by achieving a B-rank or higher.
Loadout Customization: Before each run, you can choose a starting weapon, abilities, and items. Experiment with different combinations to find what suits your playstyle and the specific stage.
Abilities: Throughout the stage, you'll find blue orbs that grant temporary abilities (e.g., increased damage, faster reload, health regeneration). Prioritize picking these up strategically.
Time Bonuses: Look for yellow time orbs to extend your timer. These are crucial for achieving higher scores.
Combo System: Maintain a kill combo to multiply your score. Don't let too much time pass between kills.
Enemy Prioritization: Learn which enemies pose the biggest threat and prioritize their elimination. Lycans, Moroaică, and Soldat units can quickly overwhelm you.

Mastering The Mercenaries requires practice, memorization of enemy spawns, and efficient use of your chosen loadout. Aim for headshots and exploit environmental hazards to maximize your score.