The thrill of survival games and the tension of match-based shooters: that's the unique combination that you will find in Hunt: Showdown. Set in the darkest corners of the world, this competitive PvP bounty hunting game sets up to ten players loose in a Louisiana swamp to hunt down gruesome monsters—and each other. If that sounds like a good time, then you can download Hunt for free during our free weekend event on Steam, running from Thursday, August 9th at 10 am PT/1 pm ET/ 7 pm CEST to Monday, August 13th at 10 am PT/1 pm ET/ 7 pm CEST. During this event, the game will also be 20% off.

Now, it may sound like a game like that would require you to go in loud and proud with guns blazing. But what you will really need to survive—and win—a match of Hunt is strategy. Death is permanent, and when you risk your life, you also risk losing your character and all their gear—forever. In a world crawling with enemies and brimming with danger, you will need to plan carefully if you want to live to fight again.

This list of tips and tricks will help you track and kill your targets and get off the map with your prize before a monster or another player takes you out for good.

Choose your target.

Your first consideration when it comes to strategy should be what you want to accomplish. You just want to kill some monsters to collect XP and level up and get off of the map without attracting attention? You can do that. Want to go after just one bounty? Ok. Want to get both bounties and sprint off the map in spray of bloody glory? Do it. Want to ambush other teams and steal their prize? That's a thing.

Put together a strong roster of Hunters.

In Hunt, you can recruit up to 5 Hunter characters that you can then choose from at the beginning of each match. But every match is a gamble with your Hunter's life and gear. The higher the risk, the higher the reward, but consider taking it slow. Start out cautious and level up multiple Hunters. That way you'll have a higher change of succeeding when you do take a risk, and if you fail, you'll have strong back up waiting to come in for you in the next round.

Use in-game voice comms.

Hunt's proximity voice chat feature can be a blessing and a curse—because if other players hear you chatting with your teammate, they can find you and take you out. Because of this risk, we know players will use third-party communication tools, but we recommend using the in-game chat as a matter of strategy. Why? You can use it to tease and torment enemy players, or to bait them into an ambush. You can also use it to try to form alliances with other teams, which is risky, but could result in an unstoppable team.

Listen. The world is trying to tell you something.

The sound of beating wings as a flock of ravens take flight; distant gunshots; growls, barks, and screams: each of these sounds is a clue to the location of the monsters and the other Hunters in your vicinity. Don't get too chatty with your partner either; others will be able to hear that too, if they are close enough. Stealth requires silence, and good strategy requires a good ear.

Choose your weapons and equipment wisely.

Remember what happened in that Indiana Jones movie when that guy picked the wrong cup? That is basically what will happen to you if you are poorly equipped for a match of Hunt. Maybe you won't turn to ash in a dramatic flourish, but another player or a monster is going to have an easy time taking you out if you aren't prepared. You are going to need weapons for both close and long range attacks, first aid kits, and depending on the time of day, a light source. If you know what monster you will be facing, you can arm yourself according to its weaknesses and strengths. Choose wisely, and you might make it out alive with your own grail.

Stay vigilant. Always.

Yeah, so you just took out the scariest spider you've ever seen. Don't think that means you can relax. Once you have killed a monster boss and banished it to hell, every player on the map will be tracking you in hopes of stealing your reward. Grab the bounty and get off of the map as fast as you can. The others will be coming for you, and they won't be merciful. Don't get killed at the last second because you were getting over-confident about your success. It isn't over until it's over, and it's not over until you've gotten off of the map.

Hunt together, die alone.

We're not kidding about that tagline; Hunters who work in pairs are far more likely to successfully complete a mission. Playing solo puts you at a severe disadvantage. For example, teammates can revive each other in case of injury; solo players who go down stay down. There are also several machines in the game that can only be operated by two players. We don't recommend playing solo until you've built up a strong, well-armed stable of Hunters to choose from.

Let there be light. Sometimes.

You're going to need a flashlight when you go hunting at night, but you need to be strategic about when you use it. Both other players and monsters can track you by its light. Make use of environmental light sources that won't reveal your location whenever you can.

Patience, grasshopper.