The best hiding spots in Manhunt
The best Manhunt hiding spot has three things: cover that breaks up your outline, a view of anyone coming, and two ways out. A hedge line, the shadow beside a lit building, the far side of a wide tree at the edge of a field and low playground equipment all qualify. Dead-end corners, anywhere private and anything you'd have to climb don't.
Key facts
- The rule of three: cover, a view, and two exits. Missing one? Keep looking.
- At night, the darkest place is right next to a light. Eyes adjust to the light, not to the shadow beside it.
- Move right after a hunter walks past, never toward one.
- Never hide in roads, parked cars, water, private yards, sheds, on roofs or anywhere locked.
On this page
Most runners get caught for the same reason: they pick a spot that hides them well but leaves them nowhere to go. A great Manhunt hiding spot isn’t the one where nobody could ever see you. It’s the one where, if a hunter does, you can see them first and get away. The full playbook for runners and hunters is on the strategy page; this page is only about where to hide.
12 hiding spots that work
- The end of a hedge line. Cover along one side, a view off the end, and you can slide along the hedge as a hunter passes.
- The dark side of a lit building. Hunters look at the bright wall; you sit in the shadow at its edge.
- Behind a wide tree at the edge of a field. Circle it as a hunter walks by, keeping the trunk between you. Open ground on one side means you see them coming.
- Low playground equipment. Lots of cover, lots of exits and good sightlines. Stay out from under slides and tunnels, where one hunter can block you in.
- Flat in long grass or leaves. In the dark, a runner lying still in long grass is almost invisible. Stand up only to run.
- Behind a slope. A dip in the ground or the far side of a small hill hides you completely from anyone on the other side.
- The edge of a tree line. Not deep in the woods, where it’s dark and slow to move. Right at the edge, where you can see the field and vanish backwards.
- Behind a low wall or bleachers. Behind, not under: under leaves one way out.
- Somewhere already searched. Hunters rarely check a spot twice. Slip into the area they just cleared.
- In a shadow with a gap to watch through. Any bush or fence with a gap lets you watch a hunter’s flashlight or footsteps without moving your head.
- Near jail, for the bold. Close enough to jail to try a rescue the moment the guard looks away. High risk, high glory. See how jailbreaks work.
- Behind a hunter. The oldest trick: after a hunter sweeps past, follow a safe distance behind. They almost never look back.
Spots that get you caught
| Spot | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| A corner between two walls | One way out. A single hunter traps you. |
| Up a tree | No way out, and it’s how people fall. Climbing is against the rules anyway. |
| Inside a thick bush | Every move rustles, and you can’t see out. |
| Under a slide or in a tunnel | One hunter at each end and you’re done. |
| Your spot from last round | Hunters remember. |
| Next to other runners | Two outlines, twice the noise, and one hunter catches you both. |
Where never to hide
These are out of bounds in every version of Manhunt, even if they’re inside the boundary and even if they’d work:
- Roads, driveways and anywhere near parked cars. Drivers can’t see you, especially at night.
- Water: ponds, creeks, pools and storm drains.
- Private property: yards, sheds, garages, porches and anything with a gate.
- Roofs, walls and anything higher than your own head.
- Construction sites, railways and anywhere locked or closed for the night.
A hiding spot that gets someone hurt or gets the police called ends the game for everyone. More in the safety guide and how to play Manhunt at night.
Day spots vs night spots
- Daytime: hide from sightlines. Hunters can see far, so get behind things: slopes, walls, the far side of trees.
- Night: hide from light and silhouettes. Stay low, stay off the skyline, and cover anything that reflects: shoe stripes, watch faces, phone screens. In Flashlight Manhunt, get flat and turn your face away from the beam.
When to move
- Right after a hunter walks past without seeing you.
- When you hear “Jailbreak!” Hunters rush to jail, and the rest of the field goes quiet.
- Before you’ve been in one place long enough to get comfortable. Comfortable runners get caught.
Hiding spot questions
Is it cheating to hide inside a car or a house?
Yes, under standard rules: buildings, sheds, garages and cars are always out of bounds. They're unfair to hunters, and hiding in or near cars and other people's property is how players get hurt or reported.
Should you hide alone or with a friend?
Alone is harder to find, because two people make twice the noise and twice the outline. At night, younger players should hide in pairs anyway; pick a spot big enough for both of you and agree which way you'll each run.
How long should you stay in one hiding spot?
Until a hunter has passed close by, or a few minutes at most. The longer you stay, the more likely a hunter sweeps your area. The best time to move is right after someone walks past without seeing you.
What's the best hiding spot at night?
The shadow beside a light source: next to a lit porch you're not allowed near, under a lamp post's dark side, or behind a wall a streetlight is shining on. Hunters' eyes adjust to the bright part and miss you in the dark part.