This would work much better and is actually a great variant I play with my family (although 3k is still a bit crowded). One hides, everyone seeks, if you find, you join hiding.

This has some neat extra elements, such as tactics ("I think I found them but I first need to misdirect and lose these guys"), gymnastics ("Found, so how am I going to fit my big ass into this tiny, already overcrowded spot"), and most importantly shared shadenfreude ("How are we supposed to hold our laughs if the last seeker just strolls by with all of us packed here?").

Highly recommended

I think that would usually be called a reverse-hide & seek.