[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hide_5.jpg]]
''HIDE'' is a short [[FreewareGames freeware]] SurvivalHorror game for [[Platform/IBMPersonalComputer PC]] by Andrew Shouldice. [[https://indiegamesplus.com/2011/08/freeware_game_pick_hide_andrew Made]] and [[https://download.cnet.com/Hide/3000-20416_4-75789335.html published]] in 2011, it's likely the direct inspiration for ''VideoGame/{{Slender}}''.

It takes place in a snowy, night-sunken forest patrolled by shadowy, flash-light wielding enemies as a loud alarm bellows throughout the background. The player must evade the spotlights of enemy patrols and the helicopter watching from above as they find five locations, each housing notes reading out a specific crime.
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!!The game provides examples of:
* AmbiguousSituation: The game is intentionally as vague as possible. At first glance, you could assume you're a concentration camp escapee getting hunted by SS officers whilst looking for notes of crimes you and your peers were victim to, but the helicopter invalidates that theory, on a realistic level. It's more likely you're a wanted convict and the notes read out the sick shit you've done.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Two of the locations say "TORTURE" and "STARVATION", likely one of the protagonist's many crimes.
* DontGoIntoTheWoods: The setting is a wide, wintry forest in the middle of the night, swarmed with enemies.
* DownerEnding / BittersweetEnding / ShootTheShaggyDog: This game is a very bizarre example of all three. At face value, it's just a typical ShootTheShaggyDog ending, where even if you find all five locations you'll get caught, which the end screen rubs in further by saying your struggle was utterly futile. However, it says "You will be brought to justice and they will never be.", which can be interpreted as you'll be rightfully punished for your awful crimes (subscribing to the convict theory) while your victims will always be just that - victims who never got any justice.
* FeaturelessProtagonist / FirstPersonGhost / HeroicMime: As per usual, for an indie survival horror game. Although if the convict theory is true, "heroic" couldn't be further from the truth.
* HeroAntagonist: If the well-supported "you're a wanted convict" interpretation is true, the enemies are just law enforcement hunting down a sick bastard.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: One of the locations says "RAPE", likely one of the protagonist's many crimes.
* {{Retraux}}: The game's artstyle is a strange but unique blend of 3D and 8-bit.
* SerialKiller / SerialRapist: The player is possibly one, as you've inflicted murder, starvation, rape, and torture upon multiple people (as the end screen says "they", although that could just be a gender-neutral singularity as well).
* SpiritualSuccessor: It's a spiritual predecessor to ''VideoGame/{{Slender}}''.
* VillainProtagonist: If the well-supported "you're a wanted convict" interpretation is true, the player character is guilty of murder, persecution, starvation, rape, and torture. The end screen implies you've done this to multiple people.
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