First, I laid out my village in a way that packed as many houses in as possible, too make it look like there were many people who populated the village. I also added some props like a campfire and posts that helped flesh out the previous lives of long-gone citizens. I also added a little area for fires with a few hay bales gathered around, and it feels like a proper spot for the various citizens to convene. I added some hints as to what might have happened here, too; I made it look as though the doors blew off their hinges at the gate, and I put a stray paddle on the platform over the river to imply a hasty sailing off into the distance. These details all add mystery to the emptiness of the village.
Coins helped guide the player where to go, and served as a reward and incentive for exploration. The gems are incentives for the player to really take a good look at the game, to use their detective skills and critical thinking to get to these more valuable collectibles. While the coins are regularly supplied, the gems are rarely ever obvious. The one time I did make the gem fairly obvious, it was still somewhat out of the way. Having at least one gem that the player can easily find will let the player know that they are a possibility, making the player engage with the game more.