7/10/2025
This article provides a complete survival and strategy guide for new players in Shift at Midnight, focusing on identifying doppelgangers through questioning, barricades, traps, and coordination.
How to Identify Doppelgangers in Shift at Midnight: A Complete Beginner's Guide
🎮 Game Overview
Shift at Midnight is a first-person horror co-op game set in a 1990s rural gas station. Players take on the role of midnight shift employees who must identify and eliminate "doppelgangers" — ghostly imposters disguised as customers — while surviving terrifying encounters.
👻 What Makes Doppelgangers So Dangerous?
- Some customers are imposters trying to sneak into the store.
- You can ask up to 5 questions per customer to verify their identity.
- If your judgment is wrong, the doppelganger enters the store and triggers deadly encounters.
🛠️ Practical Tips for New Players
1. Ask Precision-Based Questions
Start with questions about birthdate, address, or ID number — details that imposters often mess up.
2. Watch for Behavioral Cues
Imposters might walk strangely, hesitate when responding, or avoid eye contact — subtle giveaways that they're not human.
3. Use Co-op Roles Effectively (for 2–3 players)
- Player A: Handles questioning and ID checks
- Player B: Monitors entrances and sets traps
- Player C: Prepares barricades and handles emergency lockdowns
🔐 Barricades & Traps Are Essential
- Barricade quickly with boards, buckets, or shelving to seal off access.
- Place traps such as spike strips or sticky webbing to delay invaders.
- Best hiding spots include behind the freezer, under counters, or dark storage areas.
🔄 Replayability and Random Events
Every run features randomized NPCs, events, and item spawns. After each game, reflect on:
- Which questions led to correct identification?
- Which trap combos were most effective?
- Was your team coordination smooth and responsive?
🗣️ Player Feedback Highlights
“I nearly jumped out of my chair during the first scare!”
“I let a fake customer in and ruined the whole night. Absolutely thrilling.”
These comments from players on Itch.io and YouTube highlight the tense blend of horror, logic, and unpredictability that defines this game.
✅ Final Advice
- Think through your 5 questions — timing and wording matter.
- Always prep barricades before you need them.
- Communication is survival in co-op mode.
- Review failed runs to refine your strategy and positioning.
Ready for more? I can now help generate the second article on multiplayer co-op tactics. Let me know if you'd like to continue.