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Manhunt refers to several variant games, sometimes played by two teams, usually outdoors at nighttime. In some team versions, the goal of the game is for each team to amass more points than the other within a predetermined limit, or number of rounds. In the non-team version, the goal is simply to be the last one caught. Manhunt is a variant of Tag. It is considered a form of urban gaming. It is popular on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

As with all games of this nature, many informal variants and house-rules exist. See also Ringolevio.

One of these game takes place after dark, preferably in very dark places, where someone is "it" and has to search for the others one by one. A variant of this, if there are enough players, is the concept of teams trying to flush out then trap other teams.

Non-team game

The teamless version of the game is also free of any scoring system. One person is chosen to be "It" – the manhunter – and everyone else runs away and hides somewhere (usually in a preset perimeter). After a predetermined delay, the manhunter attempts to find the rest of the players. When any of the fugitives are tagged, they are "brainwashed" and become additional manhunters. The goal of this game is to be caught last, to hide until everyone else gives up, or optionally to stay uncaptured until a predetermined end time for the game.

This version of the game has recently become popular in an urban context. Originating in Toronto , this specific version of the game, generally played at night in the city with armbands worn to denote participation, is now played regularly in several cities throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

This game is also referred to as 'Shark' which is widely played on land or in water in Southeast Texas.

One-man variant

In this variant, one man hides , and everyone else try to find him. Depending on the size of the area and the skill of the hunted man, the game can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours or even longer. Traditionally, the hunters give the hunted a head start of about 5-10 minutes. They are normally armed with flashlights to aid in their search. Some strategies used by the hunters include: setting up squads to search certain areas, trying to scare the hunted into giving up, if there multiple hunted, and they capture one, they will try to interrogate him, and setting up traps before the game starts . Some popular hunted strategies are: throwing rocks to draw the hunters away, wearing camo, submerging themselves in a creek or pond, impersonating a hunter , and climbing up a tree/building. To win, the hunters corner the hunted and the hunted give up or find a way to continue running. Most games, however, outlaw the second option and say that if the hunted is surrounded and has no way to escape without fighting, he is caught. Most games are played at night and have only 2-3 rounds of play before they stop for the night, since it takes about an hour to finish an average game.

Team manhunt

Each "round" consists of one team "hiding" and the other team "finding". The finding team closes their eyes and stays at a predetermined "home base" and counts to some amount of time. While this happens the "hiding" team runs away from the home base and hides themselves. When the finding team reaches their count, they begin to search for the hiding team. During this period the "hiding" team members are free to move around. The "finding" team may attempt to capture a person on the "hiding" team but the person on the "hiding" team can attempt to wrestle out of the finders reach. However as soon as two people on the "finding" team have a person on the "hiding" team the "hiding" person can no longer try to free them self. Being out means you stay inactive for the remainder of the round, unless another person on the "hider" team tags you free at their home base.

Scoring points

Only the current hiding team may score points. Points are scored by either a hiding team member successfully reaching and tagging the home base without being tagged out by the finding team, or by remaining unfound for the duration of the round. For each successful hiding team member that reaches the home base, the hiding team scores 5 points. For untagged members remaining at the end of the round, the hiding team scores 1 point each.

In a variant involving wool bangles which must be torn from the hiding team, the It team receives 2 points for successfully defeating the hiding team, or the hiding team receives 1 point for escaping. When a team reaches 10 points, they are considered the winner.

Another version of this game simplifies the process by removing the element of scoring. A set amount of people hide in the forest while the same amount stays at "home base". The manhunters must be distinguishable from the hiders in order to avoid confusion. As the manhunters search the forest, the hiders attempt not to get caught. If one is tagged, he or she becomes a manhunter, and changes their distinguishing markings to show as such. The game continues until only one member is left hiding. The final player hiding is the winner.

Alternate version

This non points game consists of one team "hiding" and the other team "finding" and eventually catching. The finding team closes their eyes and stays at a predetermined "home base" and counts to some amount of time. While this happens the "hiding" team runs away from the home base and hide themselves. When the finding team reaches their count, they begin to search for the hiding team. During this period the hiding team members are free to move around restricted by predetermined boundaries. The "finding" team may attempt to capture a person on the "hiding" team but the person on the "hiding" team can not try to free themselves when caught. Also the person who has caught a member of the "hiding" team must take them to the base and cannot catch anymore people until they do. Being out means you stay inactive until everyone is caught, unless another person on the "hider" team tags the base and shouts "Manhunt" at their home base. This version is very popular in Sunderland, England. Sometimes referred to as 'Sunderland Tag' or 'Sunderland Manhunt'. Recently Southern England caught onto this style of game. A Woodcote Manhunt League was set up in Epsom, Surrey, where a number of young people play this style of game to win a league .

Scottish Version

The Scottish version of the game, nick named "Mannie" or more vulgarly "Hunt the Cunt", is played with two teams. The hiding team think of a word that has the same number of letters as players. Each person is given a letter and as they are caught they are forced to give up the letter. If the Hunters figure the word out, within a time limit, they call it and if it is correct they win.

The game is not constrictive, and can be played over a wide area allowing the Hiding team not only to hide but to run.

The Scottish version however does not rely on the "tag" format instead the game is sometimes far more violent (Like the game "Join The Crew") and the Hunters use physical force to get the letter from the caught member.

This version has been played for decades.

Escape variant

There are two teams, usually of about 5 or or more, 1 round lasts a half hour to 1 hour depending on the amount of people present. There is a hiding team and a finding team. The leader of the finding team sometimes carries a flashlight, simply to make it more interesting. The leader of the hiding team carries binoculars. A base is declared, and the finding team closes their eyes and begins a count of 100. Afterwards, the finding team goes out looking for the hiding team. The only way someone can be considered "caught" is if you grab any part of their body or clothing and say, while still holding on to them, "1, 2, 3, manhunt!" They are then brought back to the finding team's base. If a hider returns to the finding team's base and puts his hand on a captured teammate and says "1, 2, 3, manhunt!", the teammate is then freed. If half or more of the hiders are caught, the finders win, and if less than half of the hiders are caught, the hiders win. If you are caught by the captain, you cannot be freed from the opposing team's base: you remain "caught" until the end of the round. This game is very popular in New Jersey.

A to B Variant

Yet another team game of hunters and in this case, runners. The distance of the game varies on the size of the group, but is usually between half a mile to up to 5 miles. The point of this variant is for the runners to make it from point A to point B without being caught. Hunters patrol/search via cars, and when spotting a runner, get out and make chase. Runners as the name goes, run. However, neither the hunters or runners are required to work together within their groups, and can at any time go on their own. When runners are caught, they too become hunters. A runner is caught when grabbed by a hunter while in sight of a patrol car. This is to prevent a single hunter from 'camping' the destination. This variant also works best after dark. Though the use of flashlights is frowned upon. This game is popular in the Richland, WA area.

External links

• Manhunt Toronto
• Manhunt Edmonton
• Manhunt Montreal
• Manhunt Vancouver
• Manhunt Halifax
• Manhunt Bath
• Manhunt Perth
• Woodcote Manhunt League

• Games