If you’re diving into the harrowing depths of Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit on Nightmare Mode, you’re in for a challenge. This guide will walk you through the essential tips and strategies to secure the coveted 3-star ending, complete with all achievements.
Quick Overview
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, it’s important to note that Nightmare Mode ramps up the difficulty significantly. Hiding becomes much harder, so relying on the vents is your best bet. The vent minigames, where you hit [A / S / D / F] corresponding to falling spiders, are the easiest to handle.
Remember to keep track of the hiding spots and noise makers in Oswald’s House and the Pizzeria by hitting [F] during the load game screen. By the end of the run, you’ll need to have:
- Fixed and played all arcade machines in the present.
- Found all of Oswald’s Dad’s belongings.
- Played all three secret minigames.
Let’s get started on each night and day.
Oswald’s House | Night 1
Avoid Activating Springtrap Early
Objective: Loot the house for all collectibles before activating Springtrap.
Key Items:
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- Attic: Battery (Suitcase Pile), possibly the Freddy Mask.
- Kitchen: Mom’s Number (Fridge), Battery (Shelf on Right Wall).
- Hallway 2: Battery (Drawer on Right Wall).
- Basement: Battery (Toolbox on Walled Shelf), Rope, Weight Resistance Mechanism.
Strategy: After gathering items, head to the Master bedroom to activate Springtrap. Use the Doll in the Attic for a loud noise distraction. Then, move through the house: Attic → Hallway 1 → Dining Room → Kitchen → Hallway 2 → Master Bedroom to grab the phone.
Tip: Hide in the Dining Room table after pulling out the phone and calling Mom (555-5683). Escape the house using the rope in the attic window.
Pizzeria | Night 1
Objective: Time travel to the past and start gathering key items.
Key Items:
-
- Ballpit Room (Past): Wooden Balls.
- Backstage Room: Dad’s Wallet.
- Present: Space-Age Speakers (Arcade), Electron Gun (Storage), Control Panel (Party Hallway), Power Supply (Trashcan in Party Hallway).
Strategy: After gathering items, repair arcade machines to clear inventory. Interact with the gumball machine for one of the secret minigames. Rescue the kid, run to the ballpit during the chase, and end the night.
Oswald’s House | Day/Night 2
Day 2: Play through normally. Don’t worry about key items yet, but grab the Voucher Validator in the 2nd Classroom.
Night 2: Sprint out the front door as soon as you load in.
Pizzeria | Night 2
Objective: Survive the night while completing key tasks.
Key Items: Battery (Cabinet near the sink when grabbing pizza slice).
Strategy: When the lights go out, run straight to the break behind the stage and then back to the ballpit. Use the Rat Trap early to trap the rat before grabbing the pizza slice. Lure Chica out and prepare to spam [SPACE] during the cutscene when you move back to the entrance.
Oswald’s House | Day/Night 3
Day 3: Play through the school day normally. If you missed the Voucher Validator on Day 2, grab it now. Collect batteries in the far left lockers and in the playground backpack.
Night 3: Escape using the screwdriver in Oswald’s bedroom.
Pizzeria | Night 3
Objective: Complete key tasks and survive the night.
Key Items: Family Vacation Photo (Kitchen), Photo of Oswald (Arcade).
Strategy: Hide in the kitchen cabinet or vent if Springtrap is nearby. Use the vent to travel to the Entrance and walk back to the Ballpit, picking up the Ticket Counter next to Foxy’s Place. Interact with Bonnie’s Guitar before leaving.
Tip: Repair and beat all arcade machines. Play [Heftin’ With Helpules] to earn the 100 tickets needed. Ensure you have four vouchers for the present and one for the past.
Oswald’s House | Day/Night 4
Day 4: Go to the Library first and trade the Freddy Mask or Game Console for the firecracker. Doing this skips the entire Night 4 section, avoiding the Freddy jumpscare and ladder escape.
Pizzeria | Night 4
Objective: Gather remaining items and survive the night.
Key Items: Dad’s Wedding Ring (Near Terrified Girl), Dad’s Nameplate (Bottom right of Storage).
Strategy: Make a distraction using the Broken Soft Serve Machine or Broken Arcade Machine, then run to a safe vent. Watch out for Freddy, who may block doorways and play tricks on you. During the Kitchen cutscene, be ready to spam [E] and escape to the ballpit.
Pizzeria | Night 5
Objective: Complete the final tasks and achieve the 3-star ending.
Strategy: After talking to Jeff, a chase will start. Follow this path: Storage (Present) → Party Hallway → Dining Area → Ballpit (Travel to the Past) → Dining Area → Party Hallway → Storage (Hide in the vent).
Key Items: Strange Photo (Final Secret Minigame Trigger).
Tip: Call Mom (555-5683) before picking up the Strange Photo. Ensure all arcade games are played, and all secret minigames are completed before moving forward.
Conclusion: Achieving the 3-Star Ending
After completing all the tasks, play the final sequence. If you’ve done everything correctly, the final cutscene will mention putting in a movie rather than moving away. If you end up with the 2-star ending, reload the autosave and ensure all requirements are met:
- Play all arcade games and fix them.
- Collect all of Oswald’s Dad’s belongings.
- Play all secret minigames.
With these tips, you should be well on your way to mastering Nightmare Mode and unlocking the coveted 3-star ending in Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit.
By following this guide, you’ll optimize your run, minimize risks, and ensure you achieve the best possible ending. Good luck, and watch out for those animatronics!