I think the darkroom stuff is interesting, but 1 minute to look and such a small visual radius is far to frustrating. Then you pick the wrong quest zone and waste the group lol. I think a way to make it much better would be to remove the timer. And as the girls get corrupted you can find them with John in zone you cant reach them.
Honestly playing hide and seek never made any sense, it's like it was just added to pad out gameplay. But I think it could work if it wasn't so dark, and you added the chance for events where they are with John. And remove to stupid timer.