Day-Night Cycle

A full Day lasts for 8 real-time minutes (split into 16, 30-second segments) and is divided into 3 phases. The Day phase is the brightest and is represented by the yellow segments of the clock in the top-right corner of the screen. Dusk is shown by orange segments and is the part of the day when the sun is setting and the world becomes darker; although light is not yet required. When Night falls, the world quickly becomes completely dark and a light source is necessary. Night is represented by blue segments on the clock.

Day
The lightest portion of the Day is generally the safest and also the time when most Animals are active. Spiders sleep during the Day and Pigs roam outside their houses. Merms are less common dusking the Day phase and this is the only time Red Mushrooms sprout up to be picked. Crops in Farms only grown in daylight.

Dusk
At Dusk, Bees, Butterflies, Frogs, Gobblers, Pigs, Rabbits, and Tallbirds all return to their homes until morning. Spiders and Mosquitoes become active at this time while Beefalo and Koalefants remain unaffected. Merms are much more active at Dusk than any other phase. Pigs who are trapped outside at Dusk will panic and run around searching for light. The temperature begins to drop as well and Green Mushrooms sprout to be picked. Dusk has a small drain on Sanity, although not as much as Night.

Night
When Night falls the world quickly turns black. A light source is required during this phase not only to see, but also because the Grue (Night Monster) will attack in complete darkness. Spiders continue to be active at Night, although Beefalo and Koalefants fall asleep. Birds also stop landing at Night and will fall asleep if they do not take flight before dark. Night is the coldest phase and the time when Blue Mushrooms (a potent healing item) may be picked.

Seasons

 * Note: This section relates to Sandbox/Survival mode only.

The amount of daylight varies throughout the game. In mid-Summer (starting around Day 3) the Day phase is more than half of the total clock, while Night lasts only 2 segments. In Winter, Night is about 1/3 of the clock and Dusk nearly half. One complete cycle of the seasons lasts 36 days; 20 Summer and 16 Winter. Below is a chart showing the amount of each phase throughout the seasons: