piiloleikissä

Piiloleikissä is a popular children's game played worldwide, known by many different names such as hide-and-seek, hide-and-conkers, or just hide. The fundamental objective of the game is for one player, designated as the "seeker," to count to a predetermined number while the other players, the "hiders," find places to conceal themselves. Once the counting is complete, the seeker then attempts to locate all the hiders.

The rules can vary slightly depending on the group playing. Typically, the seeker closes their eyes or faces a designated object, like a wall or tree, and counts aloud. The counting number is often agreed upon beforehand, but common choices include 10, 20, 50, or 100. During this counting period, the hiders scatter and find hiding spots. After reaching the agreed-upon number, the seeker shouts "Ready or not, here I come!" and begins their search.

When the seeker spots a hider, they must call out the hider's name and often the location where they were found. The first hider found is usually the next seeker. In some variations, the game ends when all hiders are found, and the first hider discovered becomes the new seeker. Other variations involve a race back to the starting point, where a hider might be safe if they reach the "home base" before the seeker tags them or calls their name. The simplicity and universality of piiloleikissä make it a staple of childhood play across many cultures.