This is a guide that will include maps for each of the in-game locations, and once I've played the maps more thoroughly - will include tips for the most optimal way of looting each map and avoiding the entities.

I've been a big fan of heisting games since payday the heist and i'm easily scared by spooky games (like phasmo or forewarned) even though i enjoy them.
To get the most out of this gem of a game I am creating helpful maps and tip guides to make this game more approachable to horror/heisting noobs or the easily spooked (like me -_-).

(This guide may be out of date if the game updates)
(There may be issues with the maps where I've accidentally left out items. For the most part they are accurate but your mileage may vary.)

This is the general key for all my Midnight Heist maps.

KEY:

The exit of the level.


Stairs going to other floors.


Camera icon (C), the arrow dictates the camera's direction.


Hiding space, can be a locker or a bathroom stall.
(Apparently there is a small chance that the ghost can check lockers. So it is advisable, if possible, to hide in bathroom stalls that the ghost doesn't check as opposed to unsafe lockers. Although in my experience I haven't been caught by a ghost in a locker yet. -_-)


Door, often not locked, although it can be locked. Clear safe routes to the nearest hiding spot before a hunt. Make sure blocking doors are unlocked.


Doors I personally have seen locked. Other doors may be locked and these doors can start unlocked. EDIT: Upon more play testing I believe that any door that is not glass can be a locked or digitally locked door.


Light switch. Always keep lights on around you as early warning for if the ghost is hunting. If you are done in an area turn all lights off to not trip the breaker.
(Note on the maps some light switch locations may be slightly inaccurate or some rooms may not have them Generally each room has at least one light switch, look around and check for yourselves if it is not included on my maps.)


The breaker. Go here if you turn too many lights on and trip the breaker.

Additionally, areas are highlighted on the map:
Yellow: These are areas with objectives that you need to hack.
Purple: these are areas that contain no hack objectives although there may still be photo opportunities, hiding spaces or loot-able objects.

Ground Floor:

Basement

Upper Floor

Main Floor:


Upper Floor:

Main Floor:


First Floor:


Second Floor:

More maps to be added once I have made them/ more maps have been added to the game. And more tips will be added once I've played more or see others come up with helpful suggestions.

This section is mostly personal experience based and you can play the heists however you want. This is what has personally worked best for me. I will update this section with a part about Cemax Agency North after I have played more on the map (although initial reactions is that you should probably clear the upper floor first).

Cemax Agency South Fast Hack Completion
Initially on this map my route was to head immediately to the basement and clear that area and then go to the upper floor and clear that followed by the main floor. Now I believe this is the wrong approach to this map.


This is my current plan that I believe to be the most efficient (following the red line from bright red to dark red).

• Start: Enter the building and go straight to the office near the public bathrooms. Be careful, the ghost might spawn nearby.
  
• In the Office: Hack cameras and computers quickly, then go upstairs using the nearest staircase. Hack cameras as you go up.
  
• Upstairs: Upstairs is risky, so clear rooms far from the stairs first. Once done, move to the small office with a locker on the stair side; it's a safe spot during a ghost hunt.
  
• Basement: Head to the basement; it's usually the safest area. Clear it out before going back to the main floor.
  
• Main Floor: Return to the main floor and clear the two safe rooms you left earlier. Then, head towards the exit.

Remember, this plan doesn't consider extra rooms with side objectives or loot. You can check them when nearby or after completing the main objective for more loot.


Cemax Agency North Fast Hack Completion
TBA

Off World Technologies Fast Hack Completion
This map is quite small so generaly any way around the map will complete it in a simialr time. This route prioritises staying near a hiding spot at all time except when exiting.
This is my current plan that I believe to be the most efficient (following the red line from bright red to dark red).

• Start: Enter the building and hack the right office first and the office connecting to it further in.
  
• Left Side: Retreat back and head to the left side office and hack that before crossing into the corridor and then the next adjoining office.
  
• Upstairs: The upper floor on this map is probably the safest place on the map. As the ghost spawns far away from you it generally won't spawn on this floor and there are hiding spots quite equally spread out just in case. I like to just ignore the long passageway on the right as it feels the most 'blind spotty to me'.
  
• Exiting: You may be okay b-lining it like i have shown here on the map. Or you can detour towards the bathrooms on the lower floor before heading towards the stairs.

As the map is quite small this route generally covers the areas for other objectives you can always check them thoroughly when you pass by though.
Or check out Aggression's 100% achievements guide for a good fast hack completion with a video guide.

Lights:
ALWAYS have lights on near you when you're looting or hacking. If they start to flicker the ghost is directly nearby and you should prioritise finding safety or hiding.
As of Update v0.1.5:

Originally posted by Developer:

All Entities now have a boost in the form of a 10% higher movement speed when the power goes out. Be careful when the light goes out!

Sound:
During a hunt the way you move makes a BIG impact on whether or not the ghost will find you and start to directly chase you.

Originally posted by Developer (Paraphrased):

If you crouch you will make no footsteps so the ghost will not be able to hear you move.
If you have further to move you can walk.
Be aware when walking you send out a noise in a 7m radius around you that if the ghost hears; they will investigate.
If you have a safe location in sight and you think the ghost is a ways away consider sprinting. Sprinting is the noisiest option and will send out noise in a radius of 15m that, in testing, will generally make the ghost know where you are almost immediately.

If you are having trouble with the noise sprinting makes you can try using the Fetherweight perk although I advise using Power Pulse instead and just being aware of the Entities' location via sound and visual cues and playing around it accordingly.

Additionally, in hunts it is often a lot easier to hear the ghost coming than waiting for the lights to flicker. ALWAYS pay attention to footsteps that aren't yours or your friends.
(Im pretty sure the ghost events, banging noises, comments etc... are random and do not actually give out the ghost's location. If you know for sure, let me know. -_-)

As of Update v0.1.5:

Originally posted by Developer:

The entities now always spawn as far away as possible and produce a very bass-heavy sound over a long distance when they spawn, so that you may be warned when it is there.

Speed:
You CAN loop the ghost on beginner and normal difficulties and out run the ghost to a hiding point.

Originally posted by Developer:

On beginner difficulty the ghost is slightly slower than the player.
On normal difficulty the ghost moves at the player's speed.
On higher difficulty levels the ghost moves faster than the player.

On higher difficulties than normal you should prioritise being quiet and/or being close to hiding locations.

As of Update v0.1.5:

Originally posted by Developer:

All Entities now have a boost in the form of a 10% higher movement speed when the power goes out. Be careful when the light goes out!

As of update v0.1.8: With the new stamina system you have to be careful when you sprint (shift) around the map and when to recharge your stamina. I recommend using the Power Pulse perk.


Pathing:
Some parts of maps are highly advisable to NEVER go into unless you can help it.
If there is an area on a map that doesn't have hack objectives you don't NEED to be there.
For example the main floor large bathroom at the lower right of Cemax Agency South Main Floor has a corridor and the bathroom itself that has no objectives.
It is a dead end with a hiding place.
If you are in the adjoining office it may be advisable to run to a different hiding place instead.
Especially since the ghost can directly spawn in these dead ends, such as this bathroom, and trap you there or catch you when you try to hide.
Edit: The Ghost as of Update 0.1.5 Spawns 'As far away from the player as possible.' You CAN go into ares deemed inadvisable now and still have plenty of wriggle room when it comes to escaping the entity. Still be prepared to retreat to a hiding place when going into these areas as the entity may still spawn elsewhere and path-find over to you.

Originally posted by Developer:

We added a wait time, a time when the entity can't do anything, but you can see it. Only when it is "activated" lights etc start flickering. But this is one thing we will keep an eye on all the time to make balance changes, especially for solo players =)

As there is a time when the entity spawns when it is inactive (it is only a few seconds in testing) if you are cornered and on lower difficulty it may be preferable to sprint past the entity and head for the nearest hiding space.

Edit: Apparently the devs are working on making the ghost not spawn directly next to you. But for now keep to the logic of being careful when nearing dead ends. As of Update v0.1.5:

Originally posted by Developer:

The entities now always spawn as far away as possible!

Sanity:
According to fellow community member Merlin's guide 'The Advanced Guide'.

Originally posted by Melin:

You start with full sanity. The following can lower sanity:
- There is a constant passive sanity drain based on difficulty level.
- Seeing paranormal stuff. (Ghost events)
Being in the light or the dark does not affect sanity in any way. Exiting the map halts sanity drain entirely.
Sanity affects the grace period before a hunt occurs.

Unconfirmed grace period times before the entity will hunt:
Beginner: 8-11 mins
Normal: 5-6 mins
Hard: 3-4 mins
Nightmare: 2-3 mins
Note: Parona has said that the time before hunt depends on the sanity of the players in the building.

You also get a few seconds grace period to run away when the ghost appears.
Current grace seconds according to Parona:
Beginner: 5 seconds
Normal: 3 seconds
Nightmare: 2 seconds

Additionally it is a good idea to use the Sane perk to increase this grace period by up to 20%

Ghost Events:

Originally posted by Developer:

Hey, these are horror events to scare the player. The first destroys the lights so you can no longer use them afterwards. The second one is just a fake hunt. We plan to expand and improve these events in future updates to add more variety :)

Small Tips:
N/A

More TBA.

These are the skills up to LV 5.
(If there is a way of seeing further skills leave a comment and let me know. It may be that further skills aren't implemented yet as I am past the required level for them.)
You can equip one skill from each tree at a time, up to a maximum of three skills.

Perks
Tree 1
LV 1: Lock-picker : Increases range of hitting the right point whist lock picking : 10%, 20%, 30%
LV 5: Sane : Sanity Decreases slower : 10%, 15%, 20%
Sharp Sighted : Highlights Black Market items in your vicinity : 2m, 2.5m, 3m

Tree 2
LV 1: Power Pulse : Increases your stamina : 10, 20, 30%
LV 5: Featherweight : Reduces the sound you make whilst running : 10%, 20%, 25%
Rush : Possibility to sprint faster for a certain period of time every 15 s (double tap sprint key to use) : 0.75s, 1s, 1.25s

Tree 3
LV 1: Barrier Breaker : Reduces number of locked door in a heist (max 50%) : 10, 20, 25%
LV 5: Lucky One : Gives you a chance that regular loot is worth twice as much : 3, 5, 7.5%
Treasure Hunter : Gives you a chance to find a golden safe (max 5% a heist) : 1, 2, 2.5%

Recommended Skills
Single Player: Sane - Gives you more time before the entity can move in a hunt. Power Pulse - Increases your overall move speed more than rush over the duration of the heist. Barrier Breaker - So you don't waste time lock-picking doors.

Multiplayer: Two people should pick Barrier breaker so that it caps out at 50%. Any further players should pick either Lucky One or Treasure Hunter as more copies of Barrier Breaker won't stack.

Karma (The Original Entity)

Originally posted by Developer:

An entity that can see and hear equally well. It has no special features, but is all the more a terrific all-rounder in the basic abilities.

Most of the tips in this guide are based around this default entity.

Photo Source:Update Patch Notes V0.1.5

Nishi

Originally posted by Developer:

An Entity that can see extremely poorly but hear incredibly well. It probably sees less than your grandmother without glasses, but can hear over long distances and has the special ability to sprint quickly towards a noise.

Photo Source:Update Patch Notes V0.1.5

Goryo

Originally posted by Developer:

An Entity that is deaf, but can see very well due to its two-headed stature and extra pair of eyes. Has a great range of vision, but hears absolutely nothing. It has the special ability to sense hacking.

Photo Source:Update Patch Notes V0.1.5

For more information to do with the hacking mini games or item locations check out Kindemir's guide 'Midnight Heist/Full Walkthrough'. For more detained info about game mechanics check out Merlin's 'The Advanced Guide'.

Or if you're completely new to this type of game check out Merlin's 'Absolute Beginner's Guide'.

For a guide for Achievement grinding check out Aggression's 100% achievement guide.

ALSO:

If you like making information avaliable as much as I do go and add info to the Midnight Heist FANDOM wiki here: https://midnight-heist.fandom.com/wiki/Midnight_Heist_Wiki
or just google Midnight Heist Fandom wiki

Thanks for checking out my guide. I will hopefully continue to update these maps as the game progresses keep tuned and happy heisting!