Shift at MidnightShift at Midnight

7/12/2025

This download guide explains where to get Shift at Midnight (Itch.io, Steam, and GitHub mirrors), the minimum and recommended PC specs, step-by-step installation for each platform, how to handle Windows security prompts on first launch, how to update to new versions, and how to troubleshoot common issues.

Shift at Midnight Download Guide: How to Install, Launch, and Update the Game

You’ve seen the clips. You’ve heard people yelling about doppelgangers and gas stations. Now you just want one thing:

“How do I actually get Shift at Midnight running on my PC without breaking anything?”

This guide walks you through where to download the game, how to install it, what specs you need, how to deal with Windows security pop-ups, and how to update or fix common issues.

No fluff, just step-by-step instructions.

Where to Download

Right now there are three main “lanes” for Shift at Midnight:

1. Itch.io – Free Single-Player Demo

  • Official single-player horror demo by the developer bun muen. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
  • Great if you just want to test the core vibe:
    • Run the gas station
    • Check IDs
    • Survive your first night

You’ll find it on the developer’s Itch.io page under “Shift At Midnight”.

2. Steam – Main Game Page + Multiplayer Demo

  • Shift At Midnight has a Steam store page where you can wishlist the full game and access a multiplayer demo. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
  • The multiplayer demo:
    • Supports 1–3 players co-op
    • Limits you to a few pre-scripted shifts so you get a curated feel for the game
    • The full version aims for highly randomized runs later

If you’re a Steam enjoyer and plan to play co-op, this is the lane you’re going to live in.

3. GitHub – Windows Demo Mirror

Some fan sites (like the one you’re building) host a direct ZIP download of the Windows demo on GitHub releases.

  • This is basically a mirror of the demo build.
  • It’s convenient for people who just want to:
    • Click
    • Download ZIP
    • Unzip
    • Run ShiftAtMidnight.exe

Golden rule:
Only download from trusted links (official Itch.io page, Steam, or well-known mirrors). If a random site offers a “super special cracked build”… maybe don’t.

System Requirements

Good news: the demo is pretty lightweight by modern standards.

Based on recent system requirement listings and community tests, you’re roughly looking at this ballpark: :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Minimum (Demo / Early Builds)

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-2100 or similar dual-core
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • GPU: Something around a GTX 750 Ti / RX 460 level with 2 GB VRAM
  • Storage: A few GB of free space
  • Network: Broadband (for co-op / Steam)

If your PC is from the last 8–10 years and can handle other indie horror titles, you’re probably fine.

Recommended

  • OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 or equivalent
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • GPU: GTX 1050 Ti / RX 560 or better with 4 GB VRAM
  • Storage: Extra space for updates / recordings

If you’re on the edge, don’t worry — you can always drop settings to Low and tweak resolution to squeeze a bit more performance.

Step-by-Step Installation

Let’s go through all three main paths one by one.

A. Installing the Itch.io Demo

  1. Open the official Itch.io page for Shift At Midnight.
  2. Click Download on the Windows build.
  3. Save the .zip file somewhere you can find it (Downloads, Desktop, etc.).
  4. When it finishes downloading:
    • Right-click the ZIP → Extract All…
    • Choose a folder (e.g. C:\Games\ShiftAtMidnight)
  5. Inside the extracted folder, look for:
    • ShiftAtMidnight.exe or similarly named application file.
  6. Double-click it to start the game.

If Windows asks “Are you sure?” — we’ll cover that in the next section.

Some players on Itch have shared exactly this kind of flow: download ZIP, double-click, extract, then run the EXE. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

B. Installing the Steam Demo

  1. Open Steam on your PC.
  2. In the store, search for “Shift At Midnight”.
  3. On the store page:
    • If there’s a “Download Demo” or “Install” button, click it.
    • If not, at least hit “Wishlist” so you’re ready for future builds.
  4. Steam will ask which drive to install to. Pick one and confirm.
  5. Wait for the demo to download and install.
  6. Hit Play from your Steam library when it’s done.

Steam will handle future updates automatically, so this is the lowest-maintenance option.

C. Installing From a GitHub ZIP (Mirror)

If you grabbed the game from a GitHub release:

  1. Click the .zip file (for example, ShiftAtMidnight.zip).
  2. Save it to your PC.
  3. Once downloaded:
    • Right-click the ZIP → Extract All…
    • Choose an install folder (e.g. D:\Games\ShiftAtMidnight_Demo).
  4. Inside the folder, find the EXE (e.g. ShiftAtMidnight.exe).
  5. Double-click to launch.

If Windows flags it as from an “Unknown publisher”, that just means it’s not signed like a big AAA release. See next section for security prompts.

First Launch & Common Security Prompts

If you’re on Windows, you’ll probably meet the famous blue box:

“Windows protected your PC”

This is Windows SmartScreen saying “Hey, I don’t recognize this file.” That’s normal for small indie games and fan-hosted mirrors.

When You See “Windows Protected Your PC”

  1. On the blue SmartScreen window, click “More info”.
  2. Check the details:
    • File name
    • Publisher (might be “Unknown” for small indie games)
  3. If you’re 100% sure you downloaded from a trusted source:
    • Click “Run anyway”.

If you’re not sure where it came from, stop there and re-download from the official Itch.io or Steam page. Don’t gamble your PC for one night shift.

Antivirus / Windows Defender Warnings

Sometimes your antivirus might:

  • Quarantine the EXE
  • Warn about an unknown app

Again, this is common with small Unity/Unreal/indie projects that don’t have a long reputation yet.

If you’re confident it’s the legit demo:

  1. Open your antivirus / Windows Security.
  2. Go to Virus & threat protection → Protection history.
  3. Find the blocked file.
  4. Choose Allow or Restore (wording depends on your antivirus).
  5. Add the folder to exclusions if it keeps complaining.

If anything feels sketchy or your antivirus shows a real threat name, delete the file and re-download from an official source.

How to Update to New Version

Shift At Midnight is under active development, which means updates and newer builds are going to happen.

Updating on Steam

Super easy:

  • Steam will auto-update the demo or full game when a new version drops.
  • If something seems out of date:
    • Right-click the game in your Steam Library
    • Click Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity
    • Steam will check and fix missing files

Updating on Itch.io

On Itch:

  1. Check the Shift At Midnight page for a new version or updated date.
  2. Download the latest ZIP.
  3. Extract it into a new folder (don’t overwrite old files blindly).
  4. Once you’re sure it runs fine, you can delete the older version’s folder.

Updating a GitHub Demo Mirror

If you’re using a GitHub mirror:

  1. Go to the release page and check the version tag (e.g. v1.00, v1.01).
  2. If there’s a new version:
    • Download the new ZIP.
    • Extract it to a separate folder.
  3. Launch the new EXE.
  4. If everything’s good, you can delete the old folder to save space.

Troubleshooting (Common Issues & Fixes)

1. Game Doesn’t Launch At All

Symptoms:

  • You double-click the EXE and nothing happens, or
  • You get a quick flash and it crashes

Try this:

  1. Run the game as Administrator (right-click → Run as administrator).
  2. Make sure Windows is fully updated.
  3. Update your graphics drivers (NVIDIA / AMD / Intel).
  4. If the game mentions any missing runtime (like Visual C++ or .NET), install it from official Microsoft links.

2. Game Launches but Mouse Doesn’t Work Properly

Some players reported that the demo would open but ignore mouse movement in-game while the cursor still worked in the menu. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Things to try:

  • Click inside the game window and press Alt+Enter to toggle full-screen / windowed.
  • Tap Esc to go to the menu, then back into the game.
  • Check the Controls menu to confirm mouse look is actually bound.
  • Make sure no overlay (recording software, other apps) is stealing mouse focus.

If all else fails, try re-launching the game or reinstalling it in a clean folder.

3. Zip Won’t Extract / Shows Errors

If your ZIP file refuses to extract:

  1. Delete the broken ZIP.
  2. Download it again (ideally from Itch.io or Steam). Slow or unstable internet can corrupt large downloads.
  3. Use a solid tool like 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract.
  4. If Windows blocks the file, right-click → Properties → tick “Unblock” if that option appears, then extract again.

4. Antivirus Keeps Deleting the EXE

If every time you extract the game, your antivirus instantly nukes it:

  1. Open your antivirus or Windows Security dashboard.
  2. Find where it quarantined the file.
  3. If you’re sure the file came from a legitimate source, mark it as allowed / restore. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
  4. Add the game folder to your antivirus exclusion list.

Again: if you have any doubt it’s legit, don’t fight your antivirus — re-download from official links.

5. Performance Is Terrible

If you’re getting a choppy slideshow:

  1. Go to Settings → Graphics.
  2. Lower:
    • Shadows
    • Post-processing
    • Resolution scale
  3. Turn off:
    • Motion blur
    • Depth of field (if available)
  4. Close background apps: browser tabs, launchers, Discord overlays etc.

If your PC is under or near the minimum specs, running at 900p or even 720p with low settings is totally fine. Survival > ego.

Final Tips Before Your First Shift

  • Play the Itch.io demo first to get a feel for the interrogation and horror pacing.
  • If you love it, wishlist on Steam so you don’t miss the full co-op release and future demo updates. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
  • Keep your demo updated — devs are actively patching bugs and tweaking features based on community feedback.

Once you’re installed and ready, hop over to the Game Guide and learn how not to accidentally let a doppelganger shop in peace.

Now go clock in. The graveyard shift is waiting.

Back to Articles