The first mode, like other visual novels, requires little interaction from the player as much of the player's time is spent reading the text that appears on the game's screen which represents the protagonist's thoughts or the dialogue between the different characters.

[3] This secondary gameplay feature is rather unique to Shikkoku no Sharnoth as the player's interaction with a visual novel is usually isolated to the graphics and audio.

[5] The player assumes the role of Mary Clarissa Christie (メアリ　クラリッサ　クリスティ, Meari Kurarissa Kurisuti, voiced by: Rino Kawashima), the protagonist of Shikkoku no Sharnoth.

The art and character designs of Shikkoku no Sharnoth were provided by AKIRA.

[1][12] During the month of November 2008, Shikkoku no Sharnoth was the ninth most widely sold PC game on Getchu.com.

[13] In a countrywide ranking of bishōjo game sales in Japan of November 2008, Shikkoku no Sharnoth appeared in thirteenth place out of fifty.