Crossword Genius

Game-playing dean’s weirdly into punishing subsistence (6,3,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hiding and seeking

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'game-playing dean's weirdly into punishing subsistence' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'game-playing dean's weirdly into' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'playing' could be 'in' and 'in' is present in the answer.
'into' could be 'in' and 'in' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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