Slip the Watch
Eight night patrols, one thief. Every guard walks a fixed loop and sees three squares ahead. Read the rhythm, wait in the dark, cross in the gap, and beat the shortest possible route.
←↑→↓ or WASD move · Space wait · U undo · R restart · swipe or tap a neighbouring square on touch
Rules. You and the guards move together, one square per turn. A guard's light reaches 3 squares in the direction it faces and stops at walls. Bushes hide you from the light, but stepping onto a guard, or swapping places with one, is always fatal. Dashed outlines show what the lights will cover on the next turn. Par is the true optimum, found by a search over every guard timing.