The Midnight Watch

You are a banshee that has been imprisoned in a dungeon and are trying to escape to freedom! There is one small problem. guards are patrolling the dungeon, with one command: don't blink. They're constantly on the lookout, and if they see you, they'll alert the others and flee the area, dooming your escape. So, avoid their line of sight and utilize various objects as distractions, like throwing candlesticks, rattling chains, or even pushing over bookshelves. Once the guards aren't looking, strike and remove them from this mortal plane! Can you avoid their ever-watching gazes, or will you forever remain in the darkness?

Winter ZotJam 2026

• THEME: Don't Blink
  • The Midnight Watch fits the theme by featuring a stealth-based assassination mechanic where guards can be forced to blink so that you can kill them and prevent them from alerting others.

Controls

• WASD - Move
• E - Interact/Pick Up
• Left Click - Attack/Throw Held Item
• ESC - Pause

Mechanics

• Interactable Items
• Chains
• Chairs
• Tables
• Bookshelves
• Books/Candlesticks (Can Pick Up)
• Level Doors Open on...
  • All Enemies Dying
  • An Enemy Discovering You

Known Bugs

• Thrown Items may occasionally glitch out of the map.
• Thrown Items may occasionally turn into a spinning hockey puck on ricocheting off a wall.
• The Player does not gain increased movement speed upon making a Guard blink.
• (This makes Level 10 extra challenging if played without cheesing the first Guard...)
• The Guard in Level 1 is not interested in your noise. (They will not move towards your noisemaking.)
• Multiple Guards may cluster and spin on an Investigation Point if going to the same point.

Team

• Brandon - Game Designer/Programmer
• Canaan - Programmer/Art
  
• David - Programmer
• Matthew - Audio
  
• Stephanie - Art
  
• Will - Programmer