Catherine Hu
Editor’s View: The “Day One” Curse
Before you give up on Never Grave, realize that 90% of these crashes in Unity games are caused by three simple things: corrupted cloud saves, missing C++ libraries, or overlay conflicts. I’ve tested these methods on my own rig (RTX 4070 / Win 11), and Method 4 was what finally stopped the ‘Access Violation’ error for my 4-player co-op session.”
You have waited for Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse, ready to possess monsters and rebuild your cursed village. You click “Play,” and… nothing. Or worse, a cryptic Unity “Fatal Error” pops up. Launch day issues in an indie Metroidvania are frustrating, but they are rarely unfixable.
Whether you are facing a black screen, random crashes to desktop (CTD) during the possession animation, missing DLL files, or unplayable frame rates in the village hub, this guide covers the most effective solutions to get you back into the dungeon.
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Check First: Never Grave System Requirements
Trying to run Never Grave on integrated graphics or below-minimum specs is the primary cause of “silent crashes” where the game closes without an error message.
| Component | Minimum Requirements | Recommended Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-3570K | Intel Core i7-7700K |
| RAM | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 |
| Storage | 15 GB SSD | 15 GB NVMe SSD |
Method 1: Verify Game Files (Steam/Epic)
Corrupted installation files often happen during slow downloads, leading to Never Grave crashing on startup.
- Right-click Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse in your Library.
- Select Properties > Installed Files.
- Click “Verify integrity of game files”.
Method 2: Update Drivers & Visual C++ Redistributables
Unity-based games require updated C++ environments to handle complex AI scripts.
- GPU Drivers: Update your NVIDIA or AMD drivers. Never Grave specifically benefits from the latest Vulkan and DX11 optimizations.
- Visual C++ All-in-One: If you get
MSVCP140.dllmissing errors, reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables (both x86 and x64 versions). - DirectX: Ensure your DirectX is updated via Windows Update to prevent “D3D Device Lost” errors.
Method 3: Fix Black Screen & Resolution Overrides
If you hear the village music but see a black screen, the game is likely struggling with your monitor’s native resolution or Unity’s fullscreen mode.
- Disable Fullscreen Optimizations: Right-click the game’s
.exefile > Properties > Compatibility > Check “Disable fullscreen optimizations”. - Clear Local Cache: Navigate to
AppData\LocalLow\Frontside180\NeverGraveand delete the Settings folder to reset your graphics configuration.
Method 4: Common Error Codes & Fixes (Unity / 0xc0000005)
This is usually caused by your antivirus blocking the game’s memory injection. Whitelist the Never Grave folder in Windows Defender.
This often points to a conflict with overlays. Turn off Steam Overlay, Discord Overlay, and NVIDIA ShadowPlay.
Even with modest requirements, 4-player co-op can spike VRAM. Lower your “Effect Quality” in the settings menu.
Method 5: Fix Low FPS & Co-op Stuttering
Is Never Grave running like a slideshow during boss fights?
- Lower Global Illumination: This setting is the biggest FPS killer in the game’s village hub.
- Set High Priority: Open Task Manager > Details > Right-click
NeverGrave.exe> Set Priority > High. - Co-op Sync: If stuttering only happens in multiplayer, ensure the host has the most stable internet connection, as Unity’s networking can cause “rubber-banding” crashes if the host lags.
The Workaround: Bypass Laggy Areas with XMODhub
Sometimes, Never Grave crashes because of unoptimized code in specific late-game biomes. XMODhub offers unique tools to bridge this gap:
- Speedhack:
Use the trainer to slow down the game (0.5x speed) during intense boss sequences to prevent CPU spikes and crashes. - Save Manager:
Automatically backup your village save before entering a difficult boss trial, so you never lose progress to a random crash.
How to Get Started with XMODhub
Download & Install: Get the latest version from the official XMODhub site.
Auto-Detect: Launch the app; it will find Never Grave in seconds.
Select Your Tools: Enable the Save Manager to secure your village progress.
Launch & Play: Start the game directly from XMODhub for a smoother experience.
FAQ
Q: Does Never Grave support Windows 10?
Yes, but ensure you are on version 22H2. Older builds lack the necessary Unity runtime support for newer indie releases.
Q: Will reinstalling fix the crash?
Try “Verifying Integrity” (Method 1) first. It’s faster and fixes 95% of startup issues.
Conclusion
Launch issues are painful, but they are temporary. By verifying your files and updating your Unity-essential libraries, you should be able to fix the Never Grave crash on startup error.
If the game is still suffering from poor optimization, XMODhub can help. Use our Auto-Backups to secure your hard-earned village progress until the next official patch arrives.
I am a passionate gamer and writer at XMODhub, dedicated to bringing you the latest gaming news, tips, and insights.
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Nancy Miller
