Virtual Villagers 3: The Secret City:

Click links to the right for VV1, VV2, VV4 and VV5.
See below for Tips, Strategies, and Cheats for VV3.
Be sure to add your tricks, tips, and discoveries.

The Secret City

Tips

Use the keyboard for changing screens:
M = map
D = details
C = collections
P = puzzles
T = technology
Space = pause
esc = main menu

Change the settings under 'OPTIONS' on the main menu to 'EASY', at least until you get the hang of the game. I also like the speed set at 'x2' so that projects will be completed faster. You need to do this for every game if you are playing more than 1 game at a time.

If you want time to go faster, quit the game and increase the time on your computer by 2 hours. Start the game again and 2 years have gone by. Don't jump more than 2 hours into the future at a time as your villagers may run out of food and starve. You can then buy technology or get a new project underway and jump 2 years into the future again and again and.... If you adjust the time on your computer past midnight be sure to increase the date by 1 as well. Otherwise you will accidentally jump into the past, which often has grave side effects for the villagers. You can push the space bar to pause the game before you reset the computer's time back to the correct time and that will save your villagers. I have played VV3 from start to finish in just one day by this method.

To get lots of food at the start of the game: before you start the game, advance the date on your computer by 1 day. Start the game and complete puzzle #2 beehive (see below). Quit the game and change the date on your computer's clock back to the correct day then start the game again. You will have 3000 honey and 1000 fruit.

Click on a project to see what percent completed it is.

Puzzles are not solved in order.

Don't finish building the hut at the beginning of the game.

When looking for a chief, try the kids first. That is one thing they can do besides pick up collectibles.

When the population is large and you are having a hard time finding a chief with all the kids running around, press the space bar to pause the game. Then put all the kids or adults on the circle in front of the robe. Once you get everyone, or at least many, on the circle press the space bar again and they will all try on the robe.

When you want a baby don't let them walk back to the hut. Keep an eye on the population count and keep trying until you see the population size increase.

Always use a child to heal anyone who is sick. That is the only skill a child can be taught and when they reach 14 years old they will heal the sick on their own even if you are not around. The sick hang out around the center of the map before the hospital is built. If a villager sneezes when you pick them up then they are sick and must be cured or else.

Keep an eye out for mushrooms, especially at the beginning of the game. Only children can pick up the mushrooms and they may desperately be needed for food in the future.

Pause the game if you will not be playing again for a long time.

To get to a different part of the map quickly, push the number keys. You can also pick up a villager then press a number key to transport the villager to another part of the map.
1 = bottom left, 2 = bottom middle, 3 = bottom right
4 = middle left, 5 = middle middle, 6 = middle right
7 = top left, 8 = top middle, 9 = top right

Don't start all building projects until the statue is done. Save at least one to make adept builders in the future in case your chief or the current builders die.

Make sure not all your farmers are old.

Click on a tombstone to read it.

Click the roster of the dead to see the list of all who have died.

You can change the villagers' names under details.

Before population 15 and again before 35 a new hut foundation appears. The hut must be built before the population can grow over 15 or 35. Change all preferences off of parenting until the hut is complete.

When you hear the bells look for mushrooms or collectibles.

Drop the chief on the circle in the amphitheater and watch the magic show.

Drop the chief on the food bin once a day.

Drop the chief at the top of the ramp to point out collectibles for the children to find, level 3 leadership required.

When the chief and villagers stop the statue project, which happens often, drop the chief on the lecture circle in the amphitheater and then on the statue or lower part of the ramp. As the villagers come to attend the lecture, drop them on the statue or lower ramp as well.

Try to choose a master builder for chief when you are ready to start the statue project. The statue will be finished quickly.

Click the mask at the bottom for more tips.

Strategies

First session of playing the game:

Drop a villager on the seed and wait for it to be planted.

Drop the children on the circle near the robe. If one of them becomes chief then drop the chief on the food bin to make magic food. This can be done only once in 24 hours.

Finish puzzle #2 beehive (see below).

Set 1 villager's preference to farming and get them started on the beehive and set 3 other villager's preference to science and start them on the research. Stay with them until they become trainees.

Quit and advance the clock if you want to keep playing (see tips above).

Second session of playing:

As soon as you have enough points, purchase the level 2 restoration. Change 3 villager's preference to building and get them started on the lower of the 2 hut foundations. You can do this in the reverse order, start 3 villagers on the lower hut first then as soon as they become adept, change their preferences to science and get them started researching.

Next session of playing:

Keep monitoring their progress closely. This first part of the game crucial to the survival of the villagers.

Next you need to finish puzzle #6 the lift (see below). As soon as the builders are adept, immediately put the builders repairing the lift.

Wait for the rain. You may want to get in the habit of keeping someone standing on the lift while you look around for mushrooms. Keep checking to see if the villager is still standing on the lift as they will soon get board and walk away. Plant the seed after it rains.

Next Session of playing:

Drop a villager on the lift and wait for the rain. After the rain, plant the third seed. You may want to keep using the time trick explained under tips above until this step is finished.

Start building your population slowly by setting 1 or 2 women's preferences to parenting and stay with them until they become trainees.

Future sessions of playing:

Keep building your population and points. You will need to finish that first hut to get the population over 15 and later another hut to get the population over 35.

Finish puzzle #3 the alchemy lab (see below).

Purchase level 2 alchemy and level 2 faction, either faction. You can click the "?" on the factions, as well as any technology, to decide which faction you want.

Finish puzzle #11 banishing the sharks (see below).

After this I usually keep purchasing technologies until everything has been purchased and there is no need for scientists anymore.

Once this is done and your population is at 35 or higher, put many or all villagers' preference to building and get them started on puzzle #8 the ancient bath (see below). Don't start all building projects as you may need to train more builders in the future in order to get puzzle #9 the statue (see below) completed.

Once the bath is completed, start on the statue.

Puzzle #1: First Chief

Requirements: None
Action: Drop any non-nursing villagers on the circle in front of the robe and they will try on the robe. It is possible that the robe will not fit any of the villagers. In that case wait until the population grows and try again. The chief will be chief for life so you will need to do this each time the chief dies. This is not necessarily the first puzzle that should be solved. At the beginning of the game if the robe doesn't fit the children then I will not try the adults. The adults are desperately needed doing other projects.
Description: "The robe fits! The chosen one has been found. Your tribal chief does not actually work, but when set to a task, others nearby are more effective. The chief also has other powers, yet to be discovered."

Puzzle #2: Beehive

Requirements: None
Action: Drop a villager on the woodpile by the beehive. Drop another villager on the dry grass near the waterfall. After they carry the wood and grass to the fire pit, drop a villager on the fire pit to light the fire. Then drop a villager on the burned out torches near the beehive and wait for him/her to light the touch and carry it back to the beehive.
Description: "Your villagers have cleverly calmed the bees with smoke, so now they will be enjoying delicious honey!"

Puzzle #3: Alchemist's Lab

Requirements: Adept or Master Scientist
Action: Drop an adept or master scientist on the 5 randomly scattered objects around the map. There are 3 pots, a spear, and a bowl. Use all your adept scientists if you have more than one. Wait for them to carry the objects to the alchemy lab.
Description: "Recovering all the scattered pieces, your villagers appear to have restored what was once some kind of alchemy lab. By finding hidden herbs, they can now start creating interesting and potent potions!"

Puzzle #4: Roster of the Dead

Requirements: None
Action: Drop villagers on the vine-covered object in the lower right (number 3) of the map. They will carry the vines away. Set your villager's preference to building for this project. This puzzle will take some time so don't wait for it to be completed. When finished, click the stone for the roster.
Description: "Hidden behind vines and growth, your villagers have found a great plaque for recording the lives of those who have passed on."

Puzzle #5: Weather Dancing

Requirements: Chief, 3 Adept Farmers, Level 2 Leadership
Action: Start the fire. Drop the chief on the fire. If it says, "Leading a dance poorly" then you have not yet met the requirements for this puzzle. If it says, "Doing a weather dance" then drop 3 adept or master farmers on the fire to dance with the chief and it will start raining.
Description: "With your chief leading, your villagers have discovered that they can influence the weather."

Puzzle #6: The Lift

Requirements: 3 Adept Builders, Level 2 Restoration
Action: Drop 3 adept builders on the lift. They must all be working on the lift at the same time and they will fix the lift and complete this puzzle. This puzzle is a key to your villager's future survival. Get this done as soon as possible before the dry season begins. As soon as it starts to rain, put a villager on the lift and the bucket will fill with water and raise your villager to reach a seed in the tree. Plant the seed. You will need to do this a second time to plant the third tree.
Description: "Your villagers have succeeded in setting upright an ancient lift from the precursors of this city. It is clearly designed to let them reach the tree high above on the cliff."

Puzzle #7: Rubble

Requirements: Level 2 Restoration
Action: Drop villagers on the rubble on the bottom middle (number 2) of the map. Set the villager's preferences to building. They will pick up a rock and carry it away. This puzzle will also take some time so you cannot wait for it to be completed. I save this puzzle until after the statue is finished just in case the statue was not able to be finished before the chief or builders die. This puzzle is a good way to make many more trainee builders for the statue project. Once completed, drop a villager in the hole to see the underground room. Notice the pictures on the walls. They are the key herbs for solving another puzzle, one for each faction.
Description: "By digging and clearing, your builders have found a collapsed building and a concealed room. It seems to be an archiving room and, hopefully will shed some light on the history of this mysterious island."

Puzzle #8: The Ancient Bath

Requirements: Puzzle #3, Master Builder
Action: Drop a master builder on the chalkboard in the alchemy lab and he/she will draw the plans for the ancient bath. You can draw the plans as soon as you have a master builder even though you are not ready to start the bath project. After the plans are done, drop villagers on the bath on the lower left (number 1) of the map and they will start carrying rocks away. Set the villager's preferences to building. This is the only area that the stone tablet collectibles will appear but only until the project is complete. This puzzle will take some time so you can't wait for its completion.
Description: "Your villagers have repaired an ancient bath, and the clean rains have filled it! What a wonderful place to meet, swim, and stay clean and fit!"

Puzzle #9: The Statue

Requirements: Puzzle #8, Chief, 1 Master Builder, Level 3 Restoration, Level 3 Leadership
Action: Drop a master builder on the chalkboard in the alchemy lab to draw the plans for the statue. Drop a master builder half way up the ramp where it says, "Sees a good place to anchor the statue". When the scaffolding is finished drop the chief on the statue or the ramp to direct the work. Drop all trainee or higher builders on the statue or ramp to push the statue. This will take some time and needs to be monitored often because if a villager dies or gets sick then the chief will stop directing the work and all the builders will walk away. Click the statue to see how much longer it will take if the work continues uninterrupted and with that current number of pushers.
Description: "This tremendous statue was too beautiful to leave broken, and your builders know no task too great. It appears to be in honor of a princess..."

Puzzle #10: The Orchard

Requirements: Puzzle #6, Level 2 Restoration
Action: As soon as it starts to rain, put a villager on the lift and the bucket will fill with water and raise your villager to reach a seed in the tree. You may want to push the space bar to pause the game when the rain starts while you look for and transport a villager to the lift. Plant the seed that falls out of the tree. You will need to do this a second time to plant the third tree. Click the planted seed or young tree to see how much longer it will take for it to produce fruit. When all 3 trees are producing, this puzzle will be complete.
Description: "It must have been many years since the orchard has thrived and prospered on this part of the island. It will produce much food for the tribe."

Puzzle #11: Banishing the Sharks

Requirements: Puzzle #3, Level 2 Faction, Level 2 Alchemy
Action: Once you purchase either level 2 faction, a new herb will appear just left of the alchemy lab. If you choose the NATURE faction then make a brew in the alchemy lab from 2 Black Orchid and 1 Pitcher Plant. If you choose the MAGIC faction then make a brew in the alchemy lab from 2 Rose and 1 Berry. Then have a villager drink the potion. He/she will carry a vial to the ocean and this puzzle will be solved. You do need to wait for this puzzle to be completed and using a child to drink the potion will be faster. There are pictures of these potions, in case you forget, in the underground room from puzzle #7. Once this puzzle is complete, you will have enough food to support a maximum population, as long as you have enough farmers, so now let the population grow as quickly as possible.
Description: "With a masterful mix of herbs, and the skill of your great alchemists, a way has been found to deal with the sharks, so that they will no longer bother your villagers. Let the fishing begin!"

Puzzle #12: Aromatherapy

Requirements: Puzzle #8, Level 3 Medicine, Master Doctor
Action: Drop a master doctor in the bath and he/she will fill the bowls around the bath. When this is done, drop a master doctor on the lit fire and wait for the doctor to carry a torch to the bath and light all the burners in the bowls.
Description: "Your villagers have mastered aromatherapy, which reduces the chance of disease."

Puzzle #13: The Ash Key

Requirements: Puzzle #3
Action: After you have lit the fire and let it burn out 3 times, a shinny gem will appear in the fire pit. It will be too hot to pick up so drop many villagers on the waterfall. They will carry a bowl of water to the fire pit. Children work best for this since they run and you will need to carry many bowls to the fire pit. Keep doing this until you drop a villager on the waterfall and they drink the water instead of carry the bowl. Then drop a villager, even a child, on the gem and wait for him/her to carry it to the door.
Description: "Your villagers have found one of the keys to the strange door amid the ashes of the fire."

Puzzle #14: The Hanging Key

Requirements: Puzzle #3
Action: Make a potion with Cactus, Rose, Lotus. If you forget, a picture of these herbs is on the wall of the cliff below the pink diamond on the middle right (number 6) of the map. Have an adult villager drink the potion and it will say, "Your villager feels light and springy!". Drop that villager below the pink diamond slightly to the right and he/she will jump to get the key. Wait for the villager to carry the key to the door.
Description: "Your villagers have found one of the keys to the strange door at the end of the cliff path."

Puzzle #15: The Clam Key

Requirements: Puzzle #9, Level 3 Restoration, Master builder, Master Scientist, Chief
Action: Once the statue is in place a pearl will appear to the right of the amphitheater. Drop a master builder on the pearl. He/she will carry it to the waterfall. When the master builder is done with the pearl, drop a master scientist on the pearl and he/she will carry it to the science lab. Once the master scientist is done with it, drop the chief on the pearl. The chief will carry the pearl to the giant clam and exchange it with the key. Wait for the chief to carry the key to the door.
Description: "Your villagers have found one of the keys to the strange door in the big clam in the ocean."

Puzzle #16: The Sun Dial

Requirements: Everything
Action: When the hidden room is open, drop a villager on the green circle in the room and the circle will move. When a beam of light shines in the room, move the circle to the light, which will be the furthest to the left that the circle can go. After a while 2 ghosts will appear to the right of the green circle. Drop a villager on the circle to find the secret of the city. Sometimes I have trouble getting the game to register this puzzle being completed. If this happens, max out your population then put a villager on the circle again when the ghosts are present.
Description: "Using the strange machine in the hidden antechamber, your villagers have somehow enabled communication with some of the original inhabitants of this part of the island! This is a great achievement, and your tribe stands in awe and wonder!"