Cluck And Tag — Deep Dive Strategy Guide

Overview

Cluck And Tag is a 3-5 minute multiplayer party game from Turkish indie studio Spaceandtab Company, built in Unreal Engine 5. It takes the classic schoolyard game of blind man's bluff, adds roaming chickens that you catch for points, and arms everyone with beach balls to knock the haul out of each other's hands. One player is the Hunter (blind man) — everyone else is a chicken collector. The Hunter tags players to swap roles. Non-Hunters catch chickens and throw beach balls. Highest score wins.

Released June 20, 2026 on Steam for $2.92. Windows only. Supports online PvP, LAN, Remote Play Together, and single-player versus AI bots. No microtransactions, no controller support at launch.

Developer: Spaceandtab Company (Furkan Akça, Izmir, Turkey)
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Storage: 2 GB
Players: Multiplayer (online/LAN) + single-player (AI bots)
Price: $2.92 USD (one-time, no extras)

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Complete Controls Reference

All players share the same movement speed. No classes, no stat boosts, no power-ups. The only variable is your route choice and your beach ball aim. Movement is skill-based — knowing when to sprint, when to jump, and when to cut corners matters more than raw speed.

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The Two Roles — Complete Breakdown

Non-Hunter (Chicken Collector)

Objective: Score points by catching chickens and delivering them to the vendor.

What you can do:

• Catch chickens by walking into them (close distance, trigger the catch animation)
• Deliver chickens by reaching the vendor with one in hand
• Throw beach balls at other players to make them drop their chickens
• Jump, vault, and parkour across the map
• Run from the Hunter

What you cannot do:

• Score points while the Hunter is on you (you'll be tagged)
• Carry more than one chicken at a time
• Defend yourself against the Hunter (no counter-attack)
• Use the vendor as a hiding spot (the Hunter can tag you there)

The Non-Hunter's real job is triage. You have three competing priorities — catch chickens, deliver them, and avoid the Hunter. You cannot do all three at once. The best players know when to abandon a chicken, when to fight for one, and when to just run.

Hunter (The Chaser)

Objective: Tag other players to swap roles with them.

What you can do:

• Run faster in straight lines (the Hunter has slight forward speed advantage)
• Tag any Non-Hunter by touching them
• Parkour and jump (same as everyone else)
• Use the environment to corner players

What you cannot do:

• Score points (zero point generation while Hunter)
• Throw beach balls
• Catch chickens
• Hide (your footsteps are louder — everyone hears you coming)

The Hunter's job is psychological. You do not need to catch everyone. You need to catch the right person — the one with the most points. The Hunter is a balancing mechanic. If you are losing, getting tagged resets the playing field. If you are winning, the Hunter will target you. Use this to your advantage: if you are behind, bait the Hunter into chasing you so your rival can score freely.

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Chicken Behavior — The Complete Guide

Chickens are not random. They follow a consistent behavioral model:

Movement Patterns

• Chickens prefer open areas with multiple exits. They avoid dead ends.
• They cluster in groups of 2-3. If you find one chicken, scan the area — more are nearby.
• They gravitate away from the vendor. The vendor area is usually chicken-free.
• When a player approaches within ~5 meters, the chicken enters "flee mode" — it runs directly away from the player.
• Flee mode lasts 3-4 seconds. After that, the chicken resumes wandering.

Escape Routes

Chickens do not flee blindly. They run toward:

1. The nearest obstacle they can hide behind
2. Another chicken (safety in numbers — confused pathing when multiple chickens cluster)
3. Elevated terrain (they stop at the top and reset their wander pattern)

Catching Techniques

The Stillness Trick

If you stand completely still for 3 seconds, nearby chickens stop fleeing and resume wandering. They may even walk toward you. This works because the flee trigger requires player movement — a stationary player does not register as a threat. Use this to catch chickens without chasing them.

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Beach Ball Physics — Mastery Guide

Beach balls are the only offensive tool. Every Non-Hunter has an infinite supply. No ammo, no cooldown beyond a short recovery animation after each throw.

Throw Mechanics

Leading Targets

A stationary target is a dead target. A moving target requires leading — throwing where they will be, not where they are.

Strategic Throws

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Map Strategy — Universal Principles

All Cluck And Tag maps share these features:

The Vendor Zone

The vendor is always in a central or slightly off-center location. Usually a small booth, table, or stall.

• Danger rating: 8/10 — most tags happen here
• Chicken density: 0-1 chickens nearby (they avoid the area)
• Strategy: Never go to the vendor without checking your surroundings first. Circle wide, approach from the side with your back to a wall. If the Hunter is within 10 meters, skip this delivery and run.

The Chicken Clusters

2-3 areas on each map where chickens congregate.

• Danger rating: 3/10 — low Hunter traffic
• Strategy: Establish a route between the nearest cluster and the vendor. Memorize the fastest path. If that path is compromised (Hunter patrolling it), use an alternate route.

High Ground

Elevated areas that give sightlines over the map.

• Danger rating: 5/10 — good visibility but limited escape routes
• Strategy: Use high ground to spot chickens and Hunter position. Do not stay longer than 5 seconds — you are a sitting duck.

Chokepoints

Narrow passages connecting major map sections.

• Danger rating: 9/10 — Hunters love these
• Strategy: If you must pass through a chokepoint, pre-throw a beach ball through it first. If you hear it hit someone, you know it's clear.

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Round Phases — Detailed Breakdown

Phase 1: Opening (0-20 seconds)

Everyone starts at random positions. The first Hunter is chosen randomly.

As Non-Hunter:

1. Immediately identify your position relative to the nearest chicken cluster and the vendor.
2. Do not run toward the first chicken you see. Run toward the SECOND closest cluster — the Hunter expects everyone to go for the obvious target.
3. Grab one chicken, immediately head toward the vendor. Your first delivery is the most important — it establishes early momentum.
4. Keep the vendor between you and the nearest player. The vendor blocks line of sight and beach ball throws.

As Hunter:

1. You have 3-5 seconds of confusion before players orient themselves. Use this to position yourself between the closest chicken cluster and the vendor.
2. Do not chase immediately. Wait for a player to commit to a chicken catch (the animation is ~1 second — they cannot move during it). Tag them during the catch animation.
3. First tag sets the tone. If you tag someone within 10 seconds, you establish dominance. Players play more cautiously, which means fewer chicken deliveries.

Phase 2: Mid-Game (20-90 seconds)

At least 2-3 deliveries have happened. Players have established routes.

As Non-Hunter:

1. You should have a mental map of where all 3-5 chicken clusters are. Rotate between them to keep the Hunter guessing.
2. If a cluster is empty, it means either the chickens fled (too much player traffic) or someone already cleared it. Move to the next one.
3. Throw beach balls preemptively near the vendor. You do not need to hit anyone — just making players dodge slows their deliveries.
4. If you see the Hunter pursuing another player, sprint for a delivery immediately. You have a 5-8 second window.

As Hunter:

1. The scoreboard tells you who to target. Ignore the bottom scorer — they are not a threat. Go for the leader.
2. Herd players toward the vendor area. The vendor is where they must go to score. If you patrol the vendor zone, you will naturally intercept them.
3. Do not chase the same player for more than 10 seconds. If you cannot catch them, pivot to someone else. Wasted Hunter time is points for everyone else.
4. Fake chasing one player to draw them away from the vendor, then pivot to intercept another player making a delivery run.

Phase 3: End-Game (90+ seconds)

Scores are diverging. The bottom player takes more risks. The top player plays defensively.

As Non-Hunter (top scorer):

1. Stop carrying chickens. You are the biggest target. Every delivery risks a tag.
2. Focus on disrupting other players with beach balls. You do not need more points — you need to prevent others from catching up.
3. Stay near the vendor. Intercept other players' deliveries by throwing beach balls at them as they approach.
4. If the Hunter comes for you, run toward the bottom scorer. The Hunter will have to choose between chasing you or taking the easy tag on the bottom player.

As Non-Hunter (bottom scorer):

1. Take maximum risk. Go for the farthest chicken clusters — they have the highest density and lowest traffic.
2. Do not throw beach balls. Every throw is time you could spend catching chickens. You need raw volume.
3. Ignore the Hunter. If they chase you, great — you are the lowest-value target. The longer they waste on you, the more the top scorer is vulnerable.
4. Use still-ambush technique. Stand still near a chicken cluster. Let the chicken walk to you. Catch it. Run to vendor. Repeat.

As Hunter (end-game):

1. Target only the top scorer. Everyone else is irrelevant.
2. Camp the vendor. Do not patrol. Stand near the vendor and wait. The top scorer must eventually come here to deliver.
3. If the top scorer has stopped carrying chickens, your presence alone is enough — they cannot score while you are near the vendor. This freezes their score.

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Advanced Techniques

The Double-Catch

Catch a chicken, immediately throw it toward the vendor (not a mechanic — but you can carry it closer by throwing a beach ball near the vendor, retrieving the dropped chicken quickly, and delivering before the Hunter reacts). Timing: ~2 seconds from drop to delivery if you are positioned correctly.

The Shadow Play

If you are being chased by the Hunter, run directly toward another player who is carrying a chicken. The Hunter must decide: tag you (easy, close) or tag the chicken carrier (higher value, further). Most Hunters will go for the chicken carrier. You escape.

The Beach Ball Barrage

In a 3+ player free-for-all near the vendor, throw beach balls non-stop. Do not aim. Just throw in the general direction of the vendor. Chaos favors no one, but it hurts the player with the most to lose (the top scorer). If you are behind, chaos is your friend.

Hunter Mind Games

As the Hunter, you can feint. Sprint toward one player, then at the last second turn toward another. Players commit to dodge animations — they cannot change direction mid-dodge. If you feint correctly, you get a free tag.

The Vendor Trap

Stand on the opposite side of the vendor from where a player is approaching. The vendor blocks their view of you. When they enter delivery range and start the animation, walk around the vendor and tag them. The delivery animation locks them in place for ~1 full second — more than enough time.

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Playing Against Bots — Difficulty Tiers

Hard bot beach balls: Hard AI will hit you with beach balls from across the map. Do not stand still for more than 2 seconds. If you see a bot stop moving, they are lining up a throw — start moving unpredictably.

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Match Flow Reference

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Common Mistakes — Complete List

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FAQ

How do I play with friends? Online PvP, LAN, or Steam Remote Play Together. Create a private lobby and invite friends. No split-screen local play.

Can I play solo? Yes. Single-player matches you against AI bots on Easy, Medium, or Hard difficulty.

How long is a match? 3-5 minutes. Rounds are fast — play multiple matches in a session.

What happens if I get tagged? You become the Hunter. You stop scoring and must tag someone else to swap back.

Can I carry multiple chickens? No. One chicken at a time. Deliver it before catching another.

Is there controller support? Keyboard only at launch. No controller mapping available.

What are the system requirements? Minimum: Intel HD 4000 graphics, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB storage. Recommended: dedicated GPU (GTX 1050+), 8 GB RAM.

How many players per match? Up to 4+ players in online/LAN matches. Exact cap depends on host connection.

Are there different maps? Multiple maps with different layouts, but all share the same core features: vendor zone, chicken clusters, high ground, chokepoints.

Are there microtransactions? No. $2.92 one-time purchase on Steam. No DLC, no battle pass, no cosmetics shop.