NPC Map Locations Review

NPC Map Locations draws villager positions onto the game map as you open it.

The effect on a normal playthrough is disproportionate. The most common reason to open the wiki mid-game is finding a villager before their shop closes, and that lookup disappears almost entirely.

Verdict

The single highest-value quality-of-life mod after the framework layer: it removes the where-is-this-villager tax without changing balance. Install it on the host and on every farmhand who wants the map.

Full review updated 2026-11-02 · about 4 minute read.

Six-criteria score

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 10 and weighted into the total: the six weights add up to 100%. The total decides the tier, and every number below can be recomputed from the published subscores.

Criterion	Weight	Score	Weighted contribution
Content value	20%	8 / 10	1.6
Compatibility and dependencies	20%	9 / 10	1.8
Maintenance and freshness	20%	9 / 10	1.8
Save and multiplayer safety	15%	7 / 10	1.1
Performance	15%	7 / 10	1.1
Ease of use	10%	10 / 10	1.0
Weighted total	100%	8.3 / 10	Tier A

Dependencies

Compatibility status: Compatible. One of the most endorsed mods on Nexus, last updated April 2026.

Dependency	Type	Source
SMAPI	Loader	Nexus Requirements

Pros and cons

Pros

Shows every villager on the map in real time.
No balance impact; it only exposes information the game already has.
Updated April 2026 and still one of the most endorsed mods on Nexus.

Cons

Farmhands need their own copy to see the map.
It can feel like it removes part of the exploration learning curve.

Best for

Anyone who has ever chased a villager across the map before their shop closed.

Skip if

You deliberately enjoy learning schedules by heart, or you play a heavily UI-minimal setup.