Five Nights with Maids places you in the security office of a monochrome mansion from midnight to 6:00 a.m. Published by Saikey Studios and developed by Now for Windows PC on Steam, this single-player horror simulation tasks you with surviving five shifts against wandering maids. Night 1 acts as your introductory shift, designed to teach camera routing, security lights, and shutter defense without overwhelming aggression.
Night 1 Shift Overview and Objectives
Your sole objective on Night 1 is surviving from 12:00 a.m. until the clock hits 6:00 a.m. While later nights introduce aggressive behaviors and stealth threats, Night 1 features low enemy activity across a smaller group of moving maids.
During your opening shift, you monitor rooms such as the living areas, halls, and the bathroom using mouse controls. Your employer calls at the start of midnight to explain the basics: watch the maids via surveillance monitors, and press the office door buttons to close the doors whenever a maid draws too close.
| Feature | Night 1 Detail | Tactical Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Shift Hours | 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. | Survive until 6:00 a.m. without letting power run out |
| Core Threat | Roaming maids (low activity) | Track movement intervals rather than staring continuously |
| Primary Danger | Excessive power consumption | Keep checks brief so shutters remain functional late |
| Controls | Mouse navigation | Toggle monitor, light buttons, and shutter buttons |
Guard Room Controls and Core Mechanics
Survival relies on three interconnected security tools in the office. Every tool consumes power from the same shared battery gauge displayed on your monitor.
Camera Surveillance System
The camera network allows you to check specific rooms, including Camera 01, Camera 02, Camera 03, and adjacent hallways. While one maid may remain stationary in Camera 01 early in the campaign, others move between adjacent rooms toward your office doors. You do not see continuous walking animations; maids shift between static positions when you toggle or exit camera views.
Security Lights
Positioned alongside your left and right office doorways, security lights illuminate blind spots and adjacent hallway entries that cameras cannot safely verify. A quick flash reveals whether a maid is standing immediately outside your entryway.
Shutter Doors
Physical shutter doors on the left and right sides of your room act as your final line of defense. Pressing the door buttons seals the entrance, blocking any maid attempting to enter. However, lowered shutters cause a severe, continuous drain on your remaining power reserve.
| Security Tool | Primary Function | Power Impact | Safe Usage Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameras | Track maid positions across mansion rooms | Moderate continuous drain while feed is open | Open briefly to locate maids, then lower monitor |
| Security Lights | Inspect doorway blind spots beside office | Moderate active drain per activation | Quick on-and-off flicks to confirm positions |
| Shutter Doors | Block maids from entering the security room | Heavy continuous drain while closed | Lower only on confirmed threat; open once they leave |
Step-by-Step Night 1 Walkthrough
Follow this standard response loop throughout Night 1 to establish consistent survival habits.
- Listen to the Boss Call: Let the opening dialogue play out at midnight. Your employer confirms that your shift lasts until 6:00 a.m. and instructs you to close the left and right shutters if maids get too close.
- Run an Initial Camera Sweep: Open your surveillance feed to locate the starting positions of the maids. Check Camera 01, the bathroom, and intermediate rooms like Camera 02 and Camera 03.
- Lower the Monitor: Do not stay on camera feeds. Return to the main office view to prevent unnecessary battery loss while waiting for movement.
- Spot Movement Cues: Reopen the monitor periodically. When a maid goes missing from a room, check the adjacent hallways leading toward the left or right entries of the office.
- Confirm with Office Lights: When a maid reaches the areas directly beside your office, flick the light button on that side.
- Lower the Shutter Door: If the light reveals a maid waiting at the doorway, immediately press the button to shut the door.
- Verify and Restore: Wait briefly, then re-check the light or nearby cameras. Once the maid departs and retreats down the hallway, raise the shutter immediately to halt battery drain.
- Hold the Reserve Until 6:00 a.m.: Continue cycling short camera checks, light checks, and timely door closures until the clock strikes 6:00 a.m.
Power Management Rules for Night 1
Running out of power disables your monitors, turns off your security lights, and forces both shutter doors open, leaving your office entirely vulnerable. Surviving to 6:00 a.m. requires strict conservation.
- Avoid Idling on Cameras: The camera monitor continuously siphons power while open. Look at active sectors briefly, note maid positions, and close the display.
- Never Keep Shutters Closed by Default: Shutters consume more power than any other system. Closing both doors out of caution will exhaust your power reserve by 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m., resulting in failure before morning.
- Use Brief Light Flashes: Do not hold the security light button down. A split-second click provides all the visual confirmation needed to spot an approaching maid.
- Conserve Power for Late Shift: Maid movements speed up between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Aim to enter 4:00 a.m. with substantial power remaining so you have enough reserve to keep shutters closed during close encounters.
Beyond Night 1: What Changes Next
Clearing Night 1 triggers an end-of-shift call from your employer before unlocking Night 2. The employer warns you about an additional shy maid positioned behind a hallway curtain who avoids moving while directly watched on camera. As you progress toward Night 3, Night 4, Night 5, and the bonus Night 6 stage, maid movement paths expand, requiring faster light checks and stricter power conservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if power drops to 0% on Night 1?
If your power reaches zero percent, all electronic systems shut down immediately. Your monitor drops, office lights fail, shutter doors open, and you cannot defend against incoming maids.
Should I keep both shutters closed on Night 1 to stay safe?
No. Closing shutter doors drains your power rapidly. On Night 1, maid attacks are infrequent, so you should only close the specific door where a maid has been visually confirmed, reopening it as soon as she retreats.
Do maids have walking animations on the cameras?
No. Maids move between static positions across camera feeds. They disappear from one room and reappear in connecting hallways or at your doorways when you cycle views.
