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Escape a dark maze: one player looks for the way out, the other hunts them

Prisoner and Guard online

Prisoner and Guard is an asymmetric game for two. The prisoner wakes up in a cell in the middle of a maze and looks for the way out, but can only see a few steps ahead. The guard sees the whole maze and the prisoner, and tries to catch them before they escape.

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Lethal Card · Every game against a person counts toward your Lethal Card — one ELO for every game.

Every game has a new maze, and each side plays a different game: the prisoner feels their way through the dark and listens for footsteps, the guard watches from above and decides when to lock a door. The server never sends the prisoner what they have not seen, so there is no way around the darkness.

Players2 players
Game length3–5 minutes

How to play

  1. The maze is 9 × 9 with four exits, one on each side. The prisoner starts in the middle, the guard in a corner.
  2. Players alternate, the prisoner moves first. On your turn you move one square wherever a passage leads.
  3. The prisoner only sees squares up to two steps away. They spot the guard only up close; otherwise they hear footsteps: far, near, right next to you.
  4. Instead of moving, the guard may lock one of the exits. The guard has two locks and may never lock the last open exit.
  5. The prisoner wins by stepping onto an open exit. The guard wins by catching the prisoner (stepping onto their square, or the prisoner running into the guard in the dark), or when the prisoner runs out of moves after 40 turns and dawn breaks.

Strategy

  • As the prisoner, head for the edge. Exits are always on the border of the maze; the middle only costs you moves.
  • When the footsteps are “right next to you”, do not gamble on an unknown corridor. The guard may be just around the corner.
  • As the guard, save your locks. Lock an exit only when the prisoner is really heading for it; a lock at the start costs you a move and the prisoner does not know about it anyway.

Frequently asked

Can the guard see where the prisoner is?

Yes, all the time, including how far the prisoner can see. The prisoner only sees the guard up close.

Can the guard lock the prisoner in completely?

No. The guard has only two locks for four exits and may never lock the last open one, so there is always a way out.

Who is the prisoner and who is the guard?

The prisoner is the first player at the table, the guard the second. In a rematch you swap roles.

How long does a game take?

Usually three to five minutes. The prisoner has forty moves, then dawn breaks.

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