hitboxes

Hitboxes are the portions of game geometry that determine when an attack connects or a character can be struck. They are a core element of collision detection in video games and simulations, translating an animation or projectile into a tangible hit or miss. In practice, a hitbox can be a geometric volume in 2D or 3D space, or, less commonly, a pixel mask that represents a vulnerable or damaging area.

Hurtboxes vs hitboxes: The space that can be struck is the hurtbox; the space that can deal damage is the hitbox. An attack registers when an active hitbox intersects a target’s hurtbox (subject to game rules such as invincibility frames or parries). Some games treat these concepts separately to enable defensive mechanics, while others use simplified collision boxes for both offense and defense.

Common shapes and representations: In 2D games, hitboxes are often axis-aligned rectangles, capsules, or circles; in 3D titles they may be bounding boxes, capsules, spheres, or convex hulls. More precise detection uses polygonal or pixel-level data. To balance precision and performance, developers employ broad-phase culling, spatial partitioning, and simple shapes for most checks, reserving complex checks for key interactions.

Practical considerations: Hitbox design affects gameplay feel, fairness, and responsiveness. Timing, placement, and animation alignment are critical, and players benefit from clear feedback when a hit lands. Many engines include debug overlays to visualize hitboxes during development, aiding adjustments and consistency across platforms and versions.