I am joining
Install the beta, set your profile, scan the host QR, wait in the lobby, and keep your eyes up when the round starts.
Join guidePlayer guide
Start fast. Play big. Stay aware.
Use this guide to redeem access, join a game, host a round, and understand the main modes without reading a giant manual.
Start here
Pick your kind of trouble.
Use the path that matches what you are doing right now. You can come back for the rest after the radar has accused you of something.
I am hosting
Choose Android Host or Windows Host, set a clear play zone, explain boundaries, legal crossings, and the 30-second out-of-zone rule, then start with a short test round.
Host guideI am testing
Use the current Internal Testing build, join Discord if you can, and send bug reports with the mode, host type, phone model, and what went wrong.
Bug report guideAbout
What is Oops, You’re Dead?
Oops, You’re Dead! is a real-world phone tag game for teens and adults who want a reason to get outside, move around, and play something ridiculous with friends.
Instead of keeping tag on a playground, the host can turn a park, campus, event site, neighborhood route, or several city blocks into the play zone. The app handles the timer, teams, radar, objectives, flags, ghosts, zombies, and score.
Big games are part of the point. Bigger zones can be more fun, but they also need better boundaries and more attention. The app warns players when they get close to the play-zone edge. If a player goes outside the zone, they have 30 seconds to get back in before they are booted from the round. Cross streets only at legal crossings when it is safe, watch for cars, bikes, pedestrians, pets, and other people, and check the phone only when you are stopped somewhere safe.
Large play
City blocks are allowed. Traffic still wins.
OYD is not park-only. A good play zone can be a big park, a campus, a festival site, a neighborhood loop, or several city blocks. Keep it large, clear, legal, and easy to explain.
Use crossings
Cross roads only at designated crosswalks or legal crossings, and only when it is safe.
Eyes up
Watch for cars, bikes, scooters, pedestrians, pets, curbs, signs, doors, crowds, and street furniture.
Stop to check
Look at the phone only when stopped somewhere safe. Do not run while staring at the radar.
Respect people
Give non-players space. Do not block sidewalks, doors, transit stops, businesses, or crowds.
Host clearly
Explain the boundary, crossings, off-limits areas, safe stop points, and the 30-second return rule before starting.
Quick start
The first five minutes.
Start here if you are installing the beta for the first time.
Install
Use the current Internal Testing link from the beta page. Closed Testing links will be added after they become active. Use the APK only as a backup.
Profile
Tap the profile card in the top-right of the home screen to set your player name, avatar, and language.
Redeem
In the app, use Profile → Redeem. On the website, use Player login → Redeem code.
Join
Tap Join the Chaos / Join a Game, allow the camera while using the app, and scan the host QR.
Play
Know the boundary. If the app warns you near the edge, return safely. If you leave the zone, you have 30 seconds to get back in.
Access
Redeem codes.
Redeem codes can unlock tester access, DLC, themes, or other access tied to your account.
Redeem in the Android app
- Open the app on the home screen.
- Tap the Profile card in the top-right corner.
- In the profile popup, select Redeem from the bar at the top.
- Enter the code exactly as given.
- Tap Redeem code.
- After success, the code field should clear.
- Open My access / DLC if you want to confirm the grant.
Redeem in the Player Portal
- Go to the website and click Player login.
- Log in with the same account you use in the Android app.
- Open Redeem code.
- Enter the code and submit it.
- Open My access / DLC to confirm the grant.
If a code says “already used”
Make sure you are logged into the same account that originally redeemed it.
Do not post full private codes in public Discord channels. Share only a screenshot of the message and the code label if you need help.
Join
Join a game from Android.
This is the normal player path. You need the app and the host’s join QR code.
Before scanning in, make sure you know the play zone, off-limits areas, safe/legal crossings, and where to stop if you need to check the phone.
- Open the app. Start on the home screen.
- Tap Join the Chaos / Join a Game. This opens the scanner/join flow.
- Allow camera permission while using the app. The scanner needs the camera to read the host QR code.
- Scan the host QR code. The host can show this from the Android Host lobby or the Windows Host screen.
- Create your player identity if asked. The first time you join a game, enter a display name and choose an avatar. This is your in-game nickname and face.
- Wait in the lobby. Confirm your name/avatar appears under the right team or player list.
- Play when the host starts. Your radar, timer, health/status, and action buttons change depending on the mode.
Safety check: know the boundary, watch the real world first, and stop somewhere safe before looking at the phone.
Host
Create and host a game on Android.
Use Android Host when one phone is acting as the game host.
- Open the app.
- Tap Start the Chaos / Host a Game.
- Select a Game Mode. Pick the mode you want to play.
- Set the Play Zone. On Android, the play zone is a radius around the host. Stand near the middle of the space you want to use before creating the game. Players get a warning near the edge and have 30 seconds to return if they go outside.
- Adjust the duration if needed. More players and larger zones usually need more time.
- Adjust mode settings only if you need to. Most first games can use the defaults.
- Tap Create Lobby.
- Show the QR code. In the lobby or game screen, use the draggable Host Controls box and tap QR.
- Let players scan in. Players tap Join the Chaos / Join a Game and scan your QR code.
- Start when everyone is ready. Check names, teams, boundaries, legal crossings, off-limits areas, and safe stop points first.
- Use Host Controls during the game. Pause or stop early for any reason. Drag the controls anywhere on the screen if they cover the action.
Windows Host
Create and host a game on Windows.
Use Windows Host when a laptop or PC is running the host app and players join from phones.
Set up the host
- Open the Windows Host app.
- Confirm the host is connected.
- Choose the game mode.
- Set the play zone, player cap, duration, teams, and mode options.
- For city-block games, choose boundaries that are easy to explain and include safe/legal crossings.
- Explain that the app warns near the edge and gives players 30 seconds to return if they go outside the zone.
Let players join
- Display the join QR code on the laptop or big screen.
- Players tap Join the Chaos / Join a Game in the Android app.
- Players scan the Windows Host QR.
- Watch the lobby list fill.
- Check teams and player names.
- Start only after everyone understands the boundary, crossings, and off-limits areas.
Host settings
Play Zone and useful settings.
Most first games can use the defaults. These are the settings worth knowing first.
Play Zone
On Android, the Play Zone is a radius around the host. Stand near the middle of the space you want to use before creating the game. The map preview shows the area it covers. During play, the app warns players near the boundary. A player outside the zone has 30 seconds to return before being removed from the round.
Server name
Enter the name of your server. Be creative, but keep it respectful and not offensive.
Theme
Theme changes the colors and sometimes the layout/design of game screens. Try different ones, but pick something readable for the group.
Mode-specific settings
The section after Game Mode contains settings for that mode, such as timing delays, health hearts, number of zombies, score limits, or other rules.
Capacity
This is the maximum number of players. The default can usually be left alone and is limited by your device or account level.
Teams
Team Elimination and Capture the Flag use teams. You can adjust team names and colors before starting.
Proximity Tagging
In modes that allow player tagging, Bluetooth Proximity Tagging lets players tag by getting close enough and holding the tag button instead of scanning a local QR code.
Game modes
Five ways to make terrible choices.
There are five total modes: three regular modes and two DLC modes. Start simple, then try bigger zones and more players once everyone understands the basics.
Regular game modes
Team Elimination
Two teams hunt each other. Best for groups and clear open spaces. Start teams on opposite sides, tag players on the other team, and keep moving until one side is wiped out. There is no friendly fire.
Capture the Flag
Two teams, two bases, two flags, one very loud argument about who was “basically there.” Capture the enemy flag and bring it back to your base to score. The default score limit is 3.
Ghost Hunt
Small-group or solo-friendly. Hunt ghosts on the radar, charge the trap, and catch them before time runs out. Some ghosts patrol. Some chase. All of them are rude.
DLC game modes
Zombie Extraction DLC
Co-op survival. Find beacon parts, grab useful supply crates, deliver parts, and reach the extraction point before the zombies turn the plan into soup. Good for small groups or solo testing.
Zombie Tag DLC
Group chaos. Some players become zombies after the release countdown. Survivors run, use crates, and try to last until time runs out while the play zone shrinks. Zombies win by biting everyone.
Screen guide
What am I looking at?
Most screens share the same basic pieces: timer, radar, GPS status, player status, objective markers, and mode-specific action buttons.
Testing
Send useful bug reports, not ghost stories.
The in-app bug button is best because it can attach helpful context. Discord is great for follow-up and test-night chatter.
Use the in-app button first
Open the bug report button from the app when something breaks. Add a short note while the problem is fresh.
Include the basics
Tell us the mode, host type, phone model, whether you were hosting or joining, what you expected, and what actually happened.
Add proof if you can
A screenshot or debug log can help a lot. Do not include private redemption codes, passwords, or anything from non-players.
Community
Discord is the alley where testers compare bite marks.
Discord is not required to open the app, but it helps organize test nights, share known issues, ask install questions, and follow up on bug reports.
Good Discord posts
Keep posts clear: what mode, what host, what phone, what happened, and whether you already sent an in-app report.
Keep it tester-safe
Do not post private codes, exact home locations, passwords, personal info, or photos of non-players without permission.
Help the next tester
If you find an install fix, hosting trick, or safe play-zone idea, share it. The horde learns faster when everyone yells useful things.
Host briefing
Say this before a big game.
Before starting a large or city-block game, the host should give a quick safety briefing.
- Point out the play zone boundary and explain the warning and 30-second return rule.
- Name any off-limits areas.
- Tell players which crossings to use.
- Remind everyone to cross only when it is safe and legal.
- Remind everyone to stop before looking at the phone.
- Ask players to give non-players, businesses, bikes, traffic, and crowds plenty of space.
- Tell players how to pause, stop, or regroup if something feels unsafe.
First round
Before the first round starts.
People
- Everyone has the current build.
- Everyone can log in.
- Everyone has redeemed access.
- Everyone knows the boundary, legal crossings, off-limits areas, where to stop safely, and the 30-second return rule.
Phones
- Battery is not terrible.
- Location is enabled while using the app.
- Camera permission works for QR scanning.
- Mobile data is available.
Game
- Use a short first round.
- Start with a simple mode.
- Confirm lobby count before start.
- Submit at least one test bug report.