HideZone: IRL GPS Hide & Seek
Real-world multiplayer Hide & Seek! Hunt friends with live GPS, tactical items, and traps.
Overview
HideZone transforms the classic game of Hide & Seek into a high-tech, adrenaline-fueled GPS adventure. Whether in the park, the city, or the woods, it's like a battle royale in your own neighborhood! The game features multiple modes including Classic Hide & Seek with shrinking zones and Zombie Infection. Players can utilize a tactical inventory system with Scanners, Proximity Mines, and Ghost Mode to outsmart opponents. Designed with a privacy-first approach, it requires no accounts and ensures all data is wiped instantly when the match ends.
Tech Stack
The Challenge
Traditional outdoor games often lack the structure, boundary enforcement, and strategic depth that modern gamers expect. Organizing a large-scale game in a city center is difficult due to unclear play zones, and simple running games often fail to engage players who crave tactical complexity.
The Solution
HideZone acts as a digital referee and game master. It enforces boundaries with GPS geofencing and introduces 'Tactical Warfare' mechanics—virtual items like Proximity Mines and Scanners, to add strategy to the physical exertion. It supports dynamic modes like Zombie Infection, where gameplay mechanics shift entirely (Survivors vs. Zombies).
System Architecture
The application is built with Flutter for cross-platform performance. It employs a clean architecture using the Strategy Pattern to handle different game modes (e.g., Classic, Zombie). State management is driven by Flutter Riverpod, ensuring a reactive and testable codebase. Firebase Realtime Database acts as the single source of truth, synchronizing player types, locations, and game events across all clients in milliseconds.
Key Features
Tactical Warfare Items
Use Scanners to reveal locations, Proximity Mines for traps, Ghost Mode for stealth, and Zone Movers to flush out campers.
Dynamic Game Modes
Includes Classic Hide & Seek with shrinking interaction zones and Zombie Infection with 'Patient Zero' mechanics.
Real-Time GPS Action
Live tracking with geofencing that supports custom lobbies for 2 to 10+ friends.
Privacy First Design
No account required. All data is wiped instantly when the match ends. 100% Fair Play with no Pay-to-Win mechanics.
Project Gallery
Development Timeline
Core Development
Started app development and implemented basic features.
Further Development
Added features like game modes, events, items and further quality of life improvements.
Closed Testing
Field testing with local groups to refine GPS tracking, battery consumption and overall user experience.
Release
Released the app to the Google Play Store and improving the app based on feedback.