This guide for 3 Minutes to Midnight is very basic and does not go over things like easter eggs, secrets, achievements, etc.
Puzzles can be solved with different items depending on the scenario. This guide is only one way to approach the game. There are tons of ways to approach puzzles and the game has branching paths as well, so some items you might not always have. But things are always doable in a different way.
Most of the beginning of the game is getting to know the characters and the layout.
Walk around and take your time getting to know everyone.
I would highly suggest trying everything out on your own prior to using any guides. Generally things are locked behind a specific lines of dialog you need to trigger.
Buttons:
Holding down mouse1 sprints.
Holding mouse2 then 1, shows all interactable objects.
Double-clicking the edge of the screen will auto-teleport you to the next screen rather than walking.
This guide took a substantial amount of time, so any thumbs up or awards is much appreciated.
Thanks! You also may like: 3 Minutes to Midnight Multiple Paths Guide
Chapter 1
After speaking to everyone in town:
The first required object you want is the alcohol from the bar. This is locked behind the line of dialog with the Mike threatening to turn him in for counterfeit liquor.
The text should:
-“About the walkers’ “Special”…
-“Let me guess…”
-“Marco!”
Once you have that, you need to go to the cells below the police station and open the first aid kit. Take the bottle from inside and combine it with the booze.
Give the bottle to the guard in-front of the mansion.
Go back to the church and speak to the priest. You will need to get him into the confession booth.
Once in there, leave the booth, and untie the right side of the rope holding the cross, then the left side.
Once the priest is outside you need to switch the empty bible you found with the one he dropped.
Do this by clicking the one in your inventory first, otherwise you will have to do the whole sequence again. Talk to him again with the new bible and you’ll get the shears.
Use the shears to trim the bush on the right side of the mansion gate. You won’t be able to do anything in there yet. Go back to the barber shop and ask how he keeps his garden. He’ll kick the chair and leave. Take the cushion.
Go back to the mansion and click on the fountain. Go through the gate.
Inside, take the hate off the bust upstairs and downstairs click the newspaper on the right.
Take the wrench by the foot of the bed.
Head back to where the mean kids are and use the wrench on the fire hydrant.
Collect the tree sap before you go.
Go back to the mansion and combine the mannequin with the cushion, the horse, the belt, and hat.
Use the horsequin on Angelo. When he leaves use the bookshelf in the back. You can let him ramble or cut him off. Click on the bottle of moonshine until your character takes a drink.
After the cutscene, go to the right and take the vinegar bottle from the food truck.
Continue right to meet the professor.
Inside her classroom, wait for the hamster to eat, causing her glasses to fly up. When that happens quickly take the ethanol.
Go in the hall and open your locker. Take the sandwich.
Go to the science lab. Take the empty container of baking soda and go to Bucky in the hall to fill it up.
Go back into the science lab and combine the bacteria with the vinegar, then combine it with the ethanol. Use the vinegar and baking soda on the volcano.
After the cutscene go back inside and take the hamster. Take the hmaster to the generator and he’ll ask for food. Go to the fruit stand.
Talk to the pigeon. You want to essentially exhaust every line of dialog with him.
Once he leaves ask Lorraine for “something sweet”. Give the hamster the Twonkie.
*Possible end of chapter*
For those who fail the experience of the science lab at the end of Chapter 1 and cannot use the guide. You lose all your objects and the warden closes the lab.
1) Make you bite from the radioactive hamster
2) Go to the market, use the sandwich on the Giant Pigeon.
3) Get a chocolate bar from the saleswoman.
4) Go to the Junkyard, click the Motor of the car and get a Allen Wrench flying into the air.
5) Open inventory and catch the Allen Wrench
6) Use Allen Wrench on Motor of car: get Transmission Strap
7) Return to the Hamster Room, use Transmission Strap on Hamster.
8) Automatically get out after cutscene: Give Chocolate bar to the hamster
9) Go to Park, Use hamster on Generator.
*End of Chapter*
Chapter 2 – Part One
Go into the camp and speak to the leader.
Once you have the spray bottle from her, kick the trash can.
While she’s in the basement, take some of the grass to the left of the house. Then go up and take the Kerosene from the locker.
Walk down past the cabins, on the next screen take the candle that’s on the podium.
Use the grass on the clothes wheel, then collect some oil, then dip the candle in.
Combine the oil with the spray bottle then use it on the mosquitoes.
On the other side, move the outhouse valve so it goes the other way. Fill this spray bottle with water from the lake, then use the water on the handle. Pick up the handle and use it on the valve.
After speaking to the guy in the lake, go back to the outhouse and pick up the drain remains and the plunger from inside. Combine the plunger, the rope, and the remains.
Go back to the campfire and use the kerosene on the fire. When she drops the extinguisher use the candle on the embers. Return to the outhouse and use the candle on the mosquitoes again.
Go back to the fire and kick the trash can. Once she runs in go over and shut the door behind her.
Take the fire extinguisher and combine it with the rope.
Use the new item on the kayak and take the oar, then use the oar on the harpoon.
Give the harpoon to Smoky.
During the cutscene you’ll have to talk to monster out of eating him, I chose nutritional objection, but my guess is anything will work.
Once he takes you, you’ll have to answer riddles. I’m not sure what happens if you pick others, but this is what OI chose:
Riddle 1 – You
Riddle 2 – Trick Question
Riddle 3 – Raccoon
Once done, go back to the campfire and pick up the rental gear and return it.
With the keys you can now go back to the dam.
Inside the control room you want to move the levers. The order is:
Left lever – bottom
Right lever – middle
Bottom lever – up
Use the drainage pump. Once done, go down the ladder.
Go to the far right up the ladder. Speak to the military guys.
Exhaust all dialog options with them and take the tube from the trash can.
Use the tube on the body 3 times then use the lever.
Once back in your moms office, click on Lincolns head and use the button.
Pick up the book on the right. You can read through it, but nothing useful yet.
Leave the office and speak to the townsfolk as you make your way to the police station.
Go to the cells and speak with the prisoner who’s now awake.
Once finished, go back up stairs and leave.
Speak to the sheriff and tell him about the squirrels/chipmunks. (The game gave me an ominous message about this, so it might be possible to skip it).
Take the star off the police car door.
Go around town and speak to everyone.
Speak to the priest and get the cup from him.
You can now go across the train tracks to the motel by the diner.
Take matches from the motel counter.
Pick up the possum in the road.
Go across the street and take the empty gas can, and the dream catcher feathers.
You can use the match on the gas pump, but it’s not required.
Go back to the park and to the comm tower.
Keep going back until it won’t let you anymore.
Go back to the school and speak to the drifter.
Take the fuse from him and look through his cart for a newspaper.
Go into the school and speak to Ms. Dixon to get the skull. Simply answer her questions any way you want.
Go back to the church and speak with the priest.
When he gives you the cup, take it to the far left wall and fill it up.
Ask the priest to curse the cup.
Stop by the cafe and talk to Mike. Exhaust all dialog options.
When he goes into the kitchen, take the knife.
Go to your mom’s office and get the book back.
Use the book on the grail.
Now use the book on the eagle seal on the floor of the office.
Use the “make demands” option.
Other options might work, but that is the one I chose.
Pick up the “special delivery” from the floor.
You can use the microphone and the button, though they’re not required.
You need to push the button many, many times for it to work.
Go to Linda’s shop and search the car, then speak to Linda.
Now go to the jail cells and speak to the Lazlo.
Go to Mike’s diner and exchange the coupon then take it back to Lazlo.
Go speak to Hank near the school and ask him to play something relaxing then take the red paint.
Now go to Ben’s gas station across from the motel and give him the newspaper.
While he’s busy, use the paint, then place the star.
Use the fuse on the fuse box.
After Ben is done talking use the gas can on the pump.
Go to Linda’s shop and fill up the car.
Once in Corona, pick up the rock in the road.
Check the mail box.
Go down-left to the air field.
After speaking to Nancy, pick up the weather balloon attached to the plane.
Go upstairs.
Go back to the entrance and go top-left now to the farm.
Speak to Roscoe and get the tape and the pill.
Use the tape on the sign at the entrance.
Now go to where Nancy is imprisoned and use the tape on the power cable.
Go back to the farm and take some hay.
Combine the hay with the pill.
Feed the hay to Berta and use the weather balloon on her.
Drop the “triple medium sized rock” from the tower then go down and pick it back up.
This will correct your weight for the mine cart.
Go inside the watch tower and pick up the gas mask from the box.
Take the water bottle from the table then push the red button.
Chapter 2 – Part Two
The plane has a ton of different ways to approach, so keep this in mind.
The two most common ones I know of are:
1- Use the rope on the first engine. You can also use the fork on the power cable if you have it.
2-Wait for the engine to run out of gas. This takes ~5 mins or so.
Once the engine stops you must cross when the wind isn’t blowing then use the wind as a boost with the plunger on the plane door. You can also combine the blanket with the tarp to make a glider if you no longer have the plunger.
(There was a bug at the time of writing this that would make you unable to cross until you restart the game.)
Push the cargo net out of the plane and pull the lever that in behind it.
Click on the helmet.
Once back in town use the weird typewriter on the door locked to Nancy.
Exhaust all conversations with Nancy.
Click on the crates behind the jet and combine the helmet with the gas mask.
Attempt to leave the area and finish the conversation with Nancy.
Go to the farm and then into the barn.
Pick up the small rock in the middle.
Take the blanket and the meat from the line.
Speak to Roscoe and get the chicken feed.
Combine the ectoplasm with the chicken feed.
Show Piki the underwear, takes a few tries.
In the new location, pick up the rock in the middle, the tarp on the right, and the halite crystal next to it.
Use the bloody beef on the cougar and go up the ladder.
Pick up the rope that’s on the cart.
Combine the crystal and one of the rocks.
Go to where the chickens are and combine the salt with the gloopy and use that one the chickens.
Next use the combined chicken feed and then the ghost trap.
Take the ghost trap back to the plane crash and give it to Walter.
When he leaves take the goggles from his head.
Go back to the mine and combine the goggles with the helmet and mask.
Use the mask on the mine cart.
Once inside the mine, pull the piece of metal off the cart.
Go left and take the diamond from the wall upstairs.
Take the detonator from Willy.
Go across the bridge on the bottom of the screen.
Pick up the spool.
For the rock formation it is:
Ruby
Emerald
Citrine
Sapphire
Opal
Go into the dark left of fire and continuously click on the “something” in the bottom left until you pick it up. Combine the claw with the rock into something sharp.
Use the sharp item on the thick tarp in the middle of the room and pick up the TNT.
Put the TNT in the wall in the far left of the cave exit, then the cord, then the detonator.
Use the diamond on the pigeon and grab the flare.
Use the flare on the fire pit in the middle of the cave.
Use the piece of metal on the dinos mouth.
After speaking to the guard, kick the pile of dirt under you.
Chapter 3
You can approach the objective in any order, the main goal is to do a campaign rally around the entire town. Speak to everyone and ask them if they’re voting. This is a lore/story every section so sit back and enjoy.
When you pass by the Halloween store, grab one of the tape reels on the ground.
Once you’ve spoken to the town, you need to swing by the school and get the rental agreement from the mobsters.
Take the agreement to Mike’s Diner and convince her to sign it.
I spoke to Slim and used reverse psychology, but I’m sure you can get her other ways.
Take the agreement back to the school.
Once back in your office, take the blueprints off the desk and go to the town square.
Speak to Mr Huckleberry.
Go into the police station and talk through anything you like with the chief.
You should get a brief final convo when you attempt to leave.
Go back to your house to get the next scene. Once done go to the motel across town.
Talk through as much as you want with Sam.
When you attempt to leave you should take a book of matches.
Go across the street and speak to Ben.
When done go to the park near the school to the tiki party.
Trade the journalist for the recorder.
When you are done speaking, go to the far left and pick up the fireworks.
Go back to the town square and use the fireworks on the statue.
While the sheriff is outside, go inside and take the guitar from the evidence room.
Combine the tapes with the recorder and give them to Mr Huckleberry.
At the military base, keep attempting to open the gate until the guard comes out.
After the cut-scene’s, go to the church. After the conversation, go to the Halloween store and pick up some more tapes from the road. Next go to the diner and speak to Mr Harrelson.
Next go to the motel and speak to the other mayor. Once done speak to Sam, then go across the street.
Go to the police station and try to get Amos to take the night off. Leave and go to the park and into the tiki bar.
Go to the food truck and tell Mr. Vazquez to go back to the hideout.
After that speak to everyone else to try and get them to leave the area.
Once done, use the tape recorder on the tree.
Go to the cells under the police station and use the tape recorder.
Go upstairs and grab the keys from the desk.
Go to Lorraine’s fruit stand and knock on the window.
Take the gun to Mr Harrellson outside the diner.
Go to the bank and talk to the deputy.
After the cut-scene’s go to the church and exhaust the dialog options.
Go to the Halloween store and use the hand on the window.
Now go to the Tiki bar and steal the costume from the mannequin.
Then speak to Joseph who’s on the stage.
Stop by the hotel and speak to Sam.
Use the dance steps on the eagle.
Take the work contact to the bank and give it to Mr Huckleberry.
Now go back to the tiki bar.
Talk to Mr Hardy and give him the drink.
Take the business card he gives you and use it on the bank alarm.
Then head back to the church.
When you wake up, go to your office.
Take the building permit off the wall then go to the police station and talk to everyone.
Now go to the tiki bar. Talk to everyone.
Take the rubber chicken from the party box.
Head back to your house.
After the conversation head into the church.
Next go to Ben’s trailer, to the right of his truck.
After speaking to him and Nancy, go back to his house by the road and attempt to open his front door. When he comes to investigate, hide behind his truck.
While he’s talking, sneak to the far right.
Before he comes back, use the rubber chicken on ducky.
You can now steal the chain.
When speaking to Linda exhaust all dialog options and attempt to leave.
Speak to everyone and handle the conversation any way you please.
When everyone is outside put the costumes in the trunk of the car.
After the cut-scene’s read the note on the church gate.
Go back to Mike’s diner.
You can keep clicking on the front door to hear a length and rather disturbing scene unfold.
Go to the tiki bar in town. and pick up the hot sauce when you walk in.
Speak to everyone in the bar and exhaust you options.
When done, try to speak to Mr Huckleberry 3 times then go over to the speaker and unplug it.
Speak to the reporter a couple of times to get her to leave then speak to Lincoln.
After your conversation, go back to the tiki bar and speak to Max.
(Note: If you answer anything wrong he will end the conversation and get mad.
Even if you reload the save, it will not work, he will know you tried to cheat!)
Depending what you chose, the answers to his questions are:
1. Opening a tiki bar
2. A pantsuit
3. Coconut tree
4. …that flow into a moonless night
5. Rodrigo Esperanza
Go back to the police station and get Amos to let Ben go home.
Then go to Ben’s trailer and get the notice off his door.
Go to your office to get your stamp.
Take the stamp to the tiki bar and speak to Ms Valentine.
Combine the hot sauce with the stamp then stamp the notice.
Give the notice to Amos.
Go back to the tiki bar and speak to Max.
When done, use the napalm on the curtains.
When done go to the school and read the note.
Once you have control, pull Excalifork out of the stone.
Open the metal container under that and remove the can and give it to Ms Peterson.
Have Lincoln give her the code.
Take the horseshoe off the sign under the boulder.
Use the horseshoe on the soldiers.
When they aren’t looking speaker to Ms Peterson.
Use the empty can on the far left rock at the bottom.
Use the twig on the fridge door.
Keep putting the can back.
Use Excalifork on Roscoe.
While he’s talking to the soldiers, pick up the can and use it on the last rope.
Chapter 4
Keep kicking the bomb.
Once up, open the 3rd case from the bottom and pick up the abnormal device.
Go to the right and click on the giant blanket until you go inside.
Place the abnormal device in the ships cavity.
Click on it again to get a puzzle.
The pattern is:
Down
Up
Left
Right
Mid
Left
Inside go to the middle door then down the hall and into the door on the right.
Open the access panel near the floor.
This is basically a game of pipe dream. You must use every panel and go through all purple squares.
Once you finish the pattern it will instantly finish.
Press the glowing circle in the far right.
After a lengthy conversation and cut-scene, you’ll have another puzzle.
It’s all worth watching. I suggest you don’t skip.
Click the transmitter.
The symbols around the outside ring tell you what sections it activates.
This is a difficult puzzle if you’re not used to them, so if you don’t want to mess with it, just skip it.
After the cut-scene, search mike’s leftovers bag next to the dumpster.
Go to the park and to the generator to pick up the crystal Trenzor dropped. Combine the crystal with the Holoplasmatron.
Back at the train, use the electromagnetic pulse on the lights.
Use the train controller in your inventory on the train.
Go to the fire station and open the garage door, use the greatest hits on the don’t touch statue.
After turning on the music hide inside. While he’s listening to the music, use the rubber gloves on him.
In the church, use the gold spray on the hanging cross.
Then use the organ.
Go to Linda’s garage.
Use the hologram on Linda.
After teleporting give the knuckle duster to Marco.
At the fruit stand give the plasma rocket to Lorraine.
At the fountain, give the beast obliterator to Smoky.
Chapter 5
After putting p-taa-h in the pod, go out the door and down the hall. Go in the door on the left.
Use his hand on the console in the middle of the room and go out the door in the bottom left.
Go in the door in the top left of the hallway.
Go to the far left of the room and activate to get the maintenance droid.
Left the room and go down the hall.
Combine the hand with the droid and use the droid on the tunnel at the bottom.
(RIP martin, you deserved better.)
Go into the colorful door on the right and pick up the bucket by the door.
Go back out into the hall and go left. Use the bucket on the broken container to get the alienium.
Go into the door on the right and use the alienium on the fuel filler.
Pick up the reactor core on the table.
Go all the way back to the start where p-taa-h is in his pod.
Open it with the button on the far right and place the reactor core inside.
Make your way back to the end and place the core inside the reactor.
When you originally picked up the alienium should have a door blown into it now, walk through.
Head down the hall to the last door on the left.
Click on the security system override on the right side of the room.
Click on the access panel.
The correct order is on the screen in the room with p-taa-h’s pod.
Use his hand on the control panel that pops up.
Pick up the alien and take the power cell.
Go to the room with all the plants and use violet on the far right one.
Put the power cell into the charging port and then go back to the hole that was blown in the wall.
Place the charged power cell into the slot across from the transporter door.
Use the monkey on the A-bomb core then use the monkey on on the transporter pad where you came in. When he’s in the room following it, use p-taa-h’s hand to lock him in.
Click the access panel on the bottom of the table.
**Given that you have to recharge the monkey every time you mess up, I skipped this puzzle as it’s tedious and annoying.**
Pick up the plasma hammer he drops and kick the broken monkey toy.
Use the hand again to close the door, then use the hammer to destroy the panel.
Click on the “keyboard” to open the bomb, swap the cores.
Congrats!
