Why do the ghosts behave differently?

The red ghost is the pursuer: it targets the tile you're standing on, relentlessly. The pink one is the ambusher, aiming several tiles ahead of your mouth to cut you off at the pass. The cyan one flanks using a mirrored calculation that often brings it in from unexpected angles, and the orange one chases only at distance - up close, it loses its nerve and wanders off. Our games reproduce this quartet, and Ghost Rush adds two hybrid hunters on top.

If all four ghosts chased directly, they would form a single-file conga line behind you and the game would be trivial. Different targeting rules make the ghosts surround rather than follow - and because each rule is consistent, a skilled player can predict, bait and herd them. It's the difference between fleeing a mob and playing chess against one.

Periodically all ghosts break off and retreat toward their home corners - scatter mode. The hunt/rest rhythm gives the game its pulse and gives you windows to clear dangerous ground. Feel the rhythm and you'll notice the maze breathing; exploit it and your clear rate jumps. Practice reading the personalities in Chill Pacman, where the slower pace makes each brain easy to watch.