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DIRECT ANSWER
Persuade first, then decide what to ask for
The sequence, in the order it happens
Every rescue runs through the same four steps, and skipping straight to the exit is the most common beginner mistake because an unconvinced resident is not going anywhere with you.
- Locate a resident — points of interest reveal where they are, and they move each match
- Convince them the threat is real, which is what unlocks every option below
- Choose what to ask for, based on what the team needs right now
- Guide them to an escape route, which is also placed per match
Three things a convinced resident will do
Choose the request according to the current match. A follower needs protection while moving. Hiding lets you prepare, but does not itself complete a rescue. Asking for police help supports resistance against Michael. The official overview specifically warns that initiating an escape alerts Michael to the escape location; do not confuse that trigger with every resident interaction.
| Request | What it gives you | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Additional police call | Pressure on Michael from the authorities | This request does not by itself escort the resident out |
| Secure hiding place | The resident waits in a hiding place | No progress toward an escape |
| Companionship | The resident follows you toward an exit | Someone to protect while you move |
Gather supplies for the exit you actually found
Keep teammates informed about what is already supplied and what is still missing. One person can prepare an exit while another warns or hides residents nearby. This is an editorial coordination routine, not a claim that every route needs the same number of players or items.
| Supply reported by players | What to check before collecting it |
|---|---|
| Keys | Match the named key to the vehicle, door or gate prompt; do not assume keys are interchangeable. |
| Fuel or repair items | Check whether the current vehicle prompt requests either item before duplicating a teammate’s trip. |
| Bolt cutters | Inspect the locked route for a matching interaction; do not assume every exit accepts cutters. |
| Resident escort | Confirm the route is ready before moving an exposed follower through it. |
If a resident follows but will not escape
First separate a prepared exit from an exit you merely found. Read any remaining requirements, make sure the resident was persuaded, and inspect the available follow or escape interaction. Do not assume walking past a landmark completes the command.
The early-access issue roundup also contains reports of residents failing to obey escape commands. That is community evidence of a symptom, not proof that every stopped resident is bugged. If the visible conditions appear satisfied and the command still fails, record the map, exit type, resident, build and a short clip of the prompt. Avoid abandoning a whole save or reinstalling solely to address one NPC interaction.
The second way civilians win
Escorting residents out is the main route. The developer also describes detaining Michael with the right equipment and enough people, after which he is shipped to Smith’s Grove Sanitarium. It needs coordination that a public lobby rarely has, so treat it as a situational outcome rather than an opening plan — and note that no source lists what the required equipment actually is.
Why route guides do not transfer
Three things are placed fresh every match: lootable containers and weapons, the escape routes themselves, and the points of interest that reveal residents and hiding places. That is deliberate design, and it means a guide telling you an exit sits behind a particular building is describing one match. What does transfer is building layout — interior connections and sightlines are fixed, so knowing a map still helps, just not in the way route memorisation would.
What Michael is being rewarded for
Michael wins by eliminating all four civilian players before time expires, and priority targets pay him more. That asymmetry matters to you as a civilian: being marked changes how much attention you should expect, and it changes whether splitting up protects the team or feeds him. The mechanics of how targets are chosen are not published.
Frequently asked questions
Can residents be rescued more than once?
Not addressed. The developer describes locating, convincing and escorting them, without covering what happens to a resident who is separated from you partway.
Do I need to escort everyone to win?
The stated condition is guiding rescued residents to escape routes before time expires. No source gives a required number, so treat quotas you see quoted elsewhere as unverified.
Does calling the police actually stop Michael?
It applies pressure through the authorities. No source describes the effect in mechanical terms, so how much it hinders him is not something anyone can state yet.