Shift at Midnight: How to Spot and Stop Norbert the Gnome’s Pranks
In Shift at Midnight, most strange encounters have straightforward explanations, but Norbert the gnome is different. He’s a doppelganger who can disguise himself like a normal customer—and if you handle him the wrong way, he may keep coming back with new pranks that can derail your shop progress.
Who Norbert the Gnome Is (and How to Spot Him)
- Norbert is a doppelganger, like other impostors in the game.
- When he shows up, he will provide an ID for you to scan.
- The system will quickly reveal the truth with the message: “Fake ID. Scan Unsuccessful”.
- After your shift ends, Norbert also appears as a doppelganger in the customer report you receive.
Norbert’s visits aren’t tied to a simple schedule. He first appeared during a player’s third shift, and later visits seemed random. Once inside, he can spend time wandering the aisles before acting like he works behind the counter. He may ask if you have everything you need and offer to scan items himself.
What Norbert Does—and Whether You Should Shoot Him
What happens if you shoot Norbert
- Shooting Norbert doesn’t end the problem. If you shoot him, he returns and pranks you further.
What happens if you leave Norbert alone
Leaving Norbert alone is the recommended approach. The gnome will still return periodically and keep annoying you, but shooting him can make the situation worse by triggering additional prank cycles.
Norbert’s pranks you can expect
- He can bike through your shop, including times when he rides straight through the store.
- He can arrive in a car and park it outside your shop.
- He can disguise himself as a regular customer.
- Using the Anomaly Lens can reveal him—if you suspect a disguise, check him with the lens to confirm it’s Norbert.
One prank is especially dangerous: Norbert can set up a lemonade stand outside your shop. Don’t drink it. His lemonade contains poison, and consuming it removes a large chunk of your HP.
If You Already Shot Norbert: What to Do Next
- If you’ve already shot Norbert and he starts returning with pranks, you can shoot him again.
- He may return once more after that, but you can take him down again when he does.
Even so, the core takeaway remains: Norbert is a recurring doppelganger encounter, and how you respond can affect how disruptive the next round of pranks becomes.
