The Night Shift

About

The Night Shift is a single player action game. It was developed by Red Spiral Studios and was released on August 7, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Game Editions STANDARD EDITION Just the game, plain and simple. The standard edition gives you the full Night Shift experience, no extras, no fuss. SUPPORTER EDITION Grab the supporter edition to get the full game, plus a bonus level, eight unique mannequin cosmetics, and access to a special supporter-only locker. It’s a small way to say thanks for the extra support. About the GameSYNOPSIS…

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 79 reviews

story5 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features an immersive atmosphere with excellent graphics and sound design, creating a genuinely spooky experience.
The developer is highly engaged with the community, frequently updating the game based on player feedback and showing a commitment to improvement.
The gameplay includes unique mechanics, such as mannequins that only move when not being watched, which adds an interesting twist to the horror experience.

The game suffers from significant performance issues, with many players reporting low frame rates and optimization problems that hinder gameplay.
Repetitive tasks and a lack of variety in objectives lead to a monotonous experience, making it feel tedious over time.
Several players encountered bugs that prevented them from progressing, such as getting stuck or save files not working, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique horror mechanic where mannequins move only when not observed, creating a tense atmosphere filled with jump scares and comedic moments. While the core loop involves navigating dark environments and solving puzzles, some players found it repetitive over time, and there are calls for improved controls and accessibility features. Overall, the game successfully blends narrative-driven content with atmospheric horror, though it may require further refinement to enhance the experience.
- “The gameplay is smooth and it is filled with little gems, jump scares, and even some comedic effects!”
- “The core gameplay mechanic presents a unique twist on traditional horror tropes.”
- “Unlike typical hiding mechanics, players must confront the supernatural elements directly to survive.”
- “While a photosensitivity warning is provided at the start, it is still rather painful and disruptive to a core mechanic, and I'd love to see an alternative accessibility feature in the future.”
- “The gameplay mechanics, controls, and certain technical aspects need refinement.”
- “The ambiance is great for a free game, and like I said, the first 2-3 shifts were good, but I got really bored by the rest of the gameplay.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its depth, unexpected twists, and multiple endings that enhance replayability, while others criticize it for being minimal or lacking immersion. The DLC is noted for providing additional context and resolution to the main narrative. Overall, the storyline contributes to the game's suspense and intensity, with some players enjoying the integration of gameplay elements that complement the narrative.
- “Graphics are fantastic and the story is amazing (blew my mind on the turn it took), and has replayability with multiple endings.”
- “The DLC offers some resolve in the main story and was a fantastic addition.”
- “The game has no story and no sense of immersion.”
- “Story was light and direct via notes found in the game, uncovering what has caused this behavior from the mannequins.”
- “The plot just adds another layer of suspense.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their stunning detail and immersive quality, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. However, performance issues are noted, with some players experiencing low frame rates even on lower settings. Overall, while the visuals are impressive and enhance the storytelling, there are mixed opinions on their effectiveness in creating a truly scary experience.
- “Graphics are fantastic and the story is amazing (blew my mind on the turn it took), and has replayability with multiple endings.”
- “The graphics are unsettlingly good and the sound pulls you in.”
- “The attention to detail is remarkable - from the chilling graphics to the immersive sound design.”
- “There are definitely some performance issues as the game is very graphically intense, but I do see the potential.”
- “Current performance on modern hardware averages approximately 14 fps even on low graphical settings.”
- “I mean, the graphics are okay, but it's not even scary and it's very boring.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and creepy vibe, effectively building tension through elements like darkness, isolated environments, and nighttime operations. Players appreciate the detailed design, including eerie decorations and sound customization, which enhance the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's horror elements.
- “The atmosphere is so immersive and well done!”
- “Atmosphere is everything and this game crushes it.”
- “The game itself has a creepy vibe which certainly helps build tension.”
- “The game itself has a creepy vibe and atmosphere, which certainly helps build tension.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is particularly effective in its use of immersive darkness, isolated environments, nighttime operations, and stealth mechanics.”
- “Since its early access release, the game has undergone substantial development, introducing several key features, including seasonal decorations that enhance the atmosphere and new environment elements like eerie child mannequins and detailed corridors.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game's optimization is notably poor, with significant performance issues reported, including low frame rates averaging around 14 fps even on minimal settings. While the game showcases impressive content updates, it is clear that optimization requires substantial improvement to enhance the overall experience.
- “There are definitely some performance issues as the game is very graphically intense, but I do see the potential.”
- “[h1]Technical Performance[/h1] While the game demonstrates impressive content updates, performance optimization remains an area for improvement.”
- “It's hideously poorly optimized, and when I finally got to the screen that would've allowed me to start the tutorial, it was unresponsive on choosing the dialogue option.”
- “Current performance on modern hardware averages approximately 14 fps even on low graphical settings.”
- “While the game demonstrates impressive content updates, performance optimization remains an area for improvement.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game boasts high replayability due to its multiple endings and unique experiences with each playthrough, enhanced by its fantastic graphics and captivating story. Players appreciate the variety and depth that encourage them to revisit the game.
- “Graphics are fantastic and the story is amazing (blew my mind on the turn it took), and it has replayability with multiple endings.”
- “The replayable nature of the game, with each shift offering a unique experience, adds to its charm.”
- “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to play through it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel tedious and uninteresting.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, exacerbated by low sprint stamina that adds frustration to completing tasks.
- “It's tedious and boring.”
- “The low sprint stamina does not really help in that respect, as it makes the grinding feel even more tedious and slightly frustrating to complete each shift.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits some stability issues, including occasional bugs and instances where players may get stuck, necessitating reloads. However, the developer is actively addressing these problems and has shown responsiveness to player feedback.
- “While a bit buggy in places, I had to reload due to getting stuck a few times. However, the developer is actively fixing those bugs and even came by my stream to see me experiencing them, instantly starting to work on solutions.”