Also known as Fugitive, Manhunt is a game that requires little set up and no equipment. All that is needed is a playing area that has some concealment (basically you can't play in an open field) and some friends to play with.
The rules of Manhunt are simple as it is basically Hide and Seek in reverse, a single person or a small group hides while everyone else seeks, or looks for them. The game goes on until all the hiders (fugitives) have been found and tagged by the seekers (also called cops or hunters). The last hider to be tagged gets to pick the hider(s) for the next round.
Before starting the game, be sure to set strict boundaries on the field of play, otherwise, hiders tend to completely disappear. Also, consider maintaining boundaries for hiding, but allowing the hiders to leave the boundaries if they are being chased by a seeker. This makes it more difficult to corner a hider and makes the seekers have to run a bit more.
Concealment: The field should have plenty of places to hide. Wooded areas and parks are good for this reason.
Lack of Obstructions: Electric fences and rampant poison ivy or pricker bushes tend to make games less fun.
Not on Private Property: Don't trespass. Only play where you have the owner's permission.
Not Too Small: If the playing field is too small it's too hard to hide.
Not Too Large: If the field is too large you'll never find the hiders. The larger the field, the more seekers you should have.
Know the Area: I'm not saying that you have to know where every nook and cranny is, but knowing enough to not get lost can be helpful.
Don't Stay in the Same Spot: It's OK to stop and hide, but staying in the same spot for an extended period of time is just asking to be caught.
Outmaneuver the Enemy: If the seekers figure out where you are, try to stealthily work your way around them and get away. If they spot you and chase you, try weaving in and out of trees, you might get lucky and lose them.
Avoid Crossing Open Areas: When moving from place to place, try to take the route with the most concealment, even if it's slower.
Don't Wear Yourself Out: Heavy breathing will give you away, and you'll need your energy to outrun the seekers when they spot you.
Think Like a Hider: Look where you would hide if you were in their shoes.
Surround the Enemy: Work together with other seekers to try and corner the hider(s).
Stay Together: Split into small groups or pairs to cover more ground, but avoid searching alone. If you do spot a hider, it's harder to outrun two people than it is to outrun one.
Make Use of Trails: Move along trails and open spaces when possible, unlike a hider, speed, not concealment, is your greatest weapon.
Watch for Movement: You're more likely to notice movement or sound than you are to actually see someone.
Constant Movement: Everyone has to keep moving at all times, stopping to hide is not allowed (thought up by a modified cross country coach as a workout on easy days).
In a Crowd: At a concert, street festival, or any other place with lots of people. Just be sure not to trample anyone.
At Night: Best just as the sun is going down so it's somewhat dark, but no one runs into anything. Everyone gets a flashlight.
Airsoft/Paintball: Instead of tagging the hiders the seekers shoot at them. Hiders can shoot back, but have smaller weapons (pistols).
In a Room: Everyone stays in one room and the seekers wear blindfolds. A true test of coordination.
Replacement: When a hider finds a seeker they switch roles, with the seeker (now the hider) hiding in the same spot.
Zombies: Seekers must extend their arms and growl "Brains! Brains!" throughout the game, unless they are vegetarian zombies, in which case they would growl, "Grains! Grains!"
Helper Manhunt: Like helper tag, if a hider is tagged they become a seeker. The game goes on until everyone is a seeker (thanks nf119).
Tournament: Uses two even teams which alternate being hiders and seekers for a set number of rounds, with each round having a time limit. If a round ends and all hiders have been found, the seekers win that round. If all the hiders have not been found, their team wins the round. Which ever team wins the most rounds wins the game (thanks lemonshark10).
Muggles: Hiders are not only out if found by a seeker, but also if they are found by someone who is not playing, also known as a muggle (thanks lemonshark10).
Journey: Hiders have to move from a starting point to a base on the other side of the playing field. If they reach the base without being caught they are safe. Instead of the last person to be caught picking the next round's hiders, the first hider to get to base picks (thanks othertonywilson).
Long Distance: Played in a large playing field (4-6 square miles), seekers are allowed to use cars, however, they are not allowed to run over the hiders or any pedestrians who get in the way of the game (thanks othertonywilson).
Partners: Hiders get partners and must stay together or they are considered to have been caught. Also, if one person gets tagged, their partner is also out (thanks tac135).
Jail: When hiders are caught, they get sent to a designated "jail" and must stay there until they are tagged by another hider, or a set time limit expires (thanks KillerPanda).
Sardines: Seekers who find a hider must hide with them, sometimes resulting in a large mass of people hiding behind a tree (thanks "byaaface").
Sasquatch: Hiders may jump out and tag a seeker, thus making the that seeker the next hider, or sasquatch. When a seeker finds a hider, they must yell "sasquatch," at which point the seekers may all run back to base, making the last seeker to reach base the next sasquatch (thanks jmicko).
Anything Else You Can Think of: Underwater? In zero gravity? The possibilities are endless. Post your ideas in the comments section and I'll add the ones I like best to the list.
Thanks for reading! I hope you've enjoyed this Instructable.
We play a variation where there are hiders and hunters and there is a jail (like a front stoop or something). The hiders are given time to hide and then the hunters are released. The hunters have to keep both hands on a hider and say manhunt manhunt 1 2 3 and then they can take them to the jail, where they must stay until they are tagged by another hider that is not already in jail. The game ends when all the hiders are in jail.
I've always played where there is an even amount of players on each team and one team hides. Other team hunts. The hunting team also has to guard the "base." Hiding team gets points if they make it to the "base" without being tagged. This variation is a lot more fun in my friends and my opinion.
It reminds me of game called "hide and seek" (also known as "tigy") you can play in a park or anywhere and there is two ways to play either it's build up thats where there is 1 seeker and how many ever hiders. You get about 20 seconds off and the hiders go hide while the seeker counts to 20 with his/her eyes closed. When the seeker tags a hider than the hider also becomes a seeker and so on.
The other version has all the same rules except when you get tagged by a seeker and you are a hider you are out of the game. (And can't get back into the game until everyone is found).
We used to play a version called Sasquatch, where when anyone found the hider they would yell sasquatch and everyone would run to the base which is safe. the Sasquatch had to chase them upon being found, but could jump out at them any time he wanted. first person tagged is the next sasquatch.
That sounds a lot like a game that we used to play when we were kids called A Ghost in the Graveyard.
Ghosts in the graveyard is very similar, but multiple people hide, and one person finds. After each round, those who were found join the seekers, correct?
Sorry I took so long to reply, but "sasquatch" has now been added to the list. Thanks for contributing!
I don't know. Would a 40 acre piece of land with lots of woods and no trails be good?
40 acres seems rather large. Maybe if you set boundaries within the property? As for no trails, that makes it much more fun to be a hider, but really hard on the seekers, so be sure to set a time limit.
Actually me and a few friends play something similar, we call it "one man army" its technically everyone looking for a single person, but the way to win is when the timer (usually 5-15 minutes for us) hits zero (or whatever)the game ends. This is best to be played at night and with about 10 or so people, the seekers may use flashlights, and if the hider is spotted... wish him luck, game becomes intense with the more people.
Another veriation is "army of two" same as above, just with two hiders.
Optional: the hider can use infrared goggles or a gillie suit, and a headset to communicate with others.
Idisagree with Long distance. The max should be three miles, WITHOUT CARS! i think the cars defeat the idea. Also, please add Snowhunt. Same as manhunt, though in winter. seekers are allowed to hit hiders with snow balls.
With the whole Snowhunt idea, my friend and I played it in reverse, and with airsoft guns. The hunted could through snowballs and the seeker (we only had 3 people playing) had an airsoft gun.