House of Hazards: Every Hazard, Room by Room, and How to Get Past It

House of Hazards is small: a handful of rooms joined by doors, each with two or three traps that a defender can set off. Once you know what each one does, the to-do list stops being scary. This is the house as it plays on this site, room by room.

Hallway

The first room you usually see. A canoe hangs from the ceiling on ropes and drops straight down when fired; it is the hazard on the defender's card in the very first round. It comes down fast and swings back up slowly, so the runner's move is to stop short, let it fall, then walk under while it climbs. Jumping is the mistake here — it puts your head in the hull.

Kitchen

Two hazards and the coffee task. The toaster on the counter fires toast in an arc across the room; a crouch (S for Player 1, K for Player 2) gets you under it, a jump does not. The wall cabinet swings open and knocks over anyone walking under it. Cross the kitchen right after the toaster has fired, and drink the coffee as soon as you arrive rather than standing at the counter waiting.

Bathroom

Brushing your teeth is the task that keeps you still the longest, which is exactly when a defender wants to fire. If you are the runner, crouch at the sink between hits; if you are defending, wait until the brushing animation starts and then trigger.

Backyard

The tire swing hanging from the tree comes round in an arc and is the widest hazard in the game; the picnic bench is the safe spot beside it. Tasks here involve carrying something: the game shows the pick-up key above your character when you reach the item, and the drop spot is marked with the same yellow outline.

Defending well

A defender's card at the bottom of the screen shows the hazard they hold, and a hazard that has been fired needs time to reset. Do not fire when the runner enters the room; fire when their feet are under the item. If the runner has left your room, switch to a hazard on their route. With the computer set to Defense Only you can practise the runs solo before you hand the second half of the keyboard to a friend.