Manhunt

2003 Rockstar North Action

Windows 11With a fix

MacNot sold

LinuxSilver

Gamicality score

Metacritic 754

OpenCritic Not rated

Steam players 691

How it’s combined

Playability today

2.5

Runs today3/5

Design today1.5/5

Steam user reviews

Mostly Positive

70%

7,088 reviews1

Get it on Steam

Facts checked November 1, 2026

Does Manhunt run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11With a fix

Runs with a fix. See the steps below.1

Mac (Apple Silicon)Not sold

No Mac version is sold.

LinuxSilver

Through Proton. ProtonDB: Silver, runs with minor issues.3

Played Manhunt lately?

One click, no account, so the next player knows. How we check where it runs

How to get Manhunt running today

Install DirectPlay through Windows optional features to fix the DirectX 8.1 error (PCGamingWiki).
Run the Manhunt Fixer, choose the Steam version and patch it to remove the broken anti-piracy behavior, or place MHNoDRM in the game folder instead.
Keep the frame rate at 60 FPS, since higher frame rates cause AI bugs in some levels (PCGamingWiki).

Synopsis

Manhunt is a grim stealth action game from Rockstar North in which death row inmate James Earl Cash is forced to star in a snuff film directed over an earpiece. Players creep through dark, linear city levels, hiding in shadows, luring gang members with noise and executing them from behind, with firearms taking over in later stages.

Developer: Rockstar North
Released: 2003
Genre: Action
Where to get it: Steam

Reception

Critics at release praised the tense stealth, the oppressive atmosphere and the voice of the unseen Director, while noting trial and error play, fixed save points and a later stretch heavy on shootouts; the PC version holds a Metascore of 75. Later retrospectives call it an underrated stealth game that still holds up. On Steam it is Mostly Positive, but many recent reviews warn that the Steam release is broken by leftover anti-piracy code and only becomes playable with fan fixes. Other players today find it clunky, slow and repetitive despite its mood.

Playability today

The average of two parts, each from 1 to 5. Tap a check to see why. How it works

Runs today

3/5

Sold or given away today by an official source
Needs fan patches to run well on Windows 11
?Not confirmed yetSingle-player works without an internet connection
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
The game is single player only and no modes or content were removed, though it is not sold in several countries (PCGamingWiki).
No proper support for modern resolutions and widescreen
Widescreen is stretched by default and needs a fan fix (PCGamingWiki).
No full controller support and no remappable controls
There is no official controller support, and lock-on does not work on a gamepad (PCGamingWiki).
?Not confirmed yetSteam Deck Verified or Playable
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
Known game-breaking bugs in the current version
Leftover anti-piracy code in the Steam release makes gates stay shut, enemies turn aggressive and memory leak, so the game cannot be finished without fan fixes (PCGamingWiki).

Design today

1.5/5

Controls feel awkward on a modern controller or mouse and keyboard
The PC version has no official controller support and lock-on is impossible with a gamepad, while players describe the mouse and keyboard handling as clunky; community controller layouts can loop weapon switching endlessly. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, steamcommunity.com, steamcommunity.com.
Menus, text or interface are hard to read on today's screens
The picture is stretched on widescreen displays by default, and even with the fan widescreen fix the HUD is sized and placed incorrectly. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
Saving is harsh: few saves or checkpoints, progress gets lost
Progress saves only at fixed save points inside each level; they usually sit before the hardest stretches, but the steep difficulty still means replaying whole sequences of stealth kills after a death. Source: gamingnexus.com, dvd-fever.co.uk, steamcommunity.com.
It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progress
The Director's earpiece instructions spell out each objective and guide the player through linear levels, and a visibility indicator shows whether Cash is hidden. Source: gameinformer.com, gamingnexus.com.
Pacing drags: grind, filler or forced backtracking
Trial and error deaths force repeated runs through the same sections, and players today widely call the game slow and repetitive. Source: gamingnexus.com, dvd-fever.co.uk, steamcommunity.com.
Camera or movement fights the player
The third person camera makes it hard to judge hiding spots when hunters give chase, and movement while crouched in cover feels stiff by modern standards. Source: dvd-fever.co.uk, steamcommunity.com.