The Ghost In My Machine

Stories of the Strange and Unusual

The Most Dangerous Games: Dry Bones

by

Previously: A Small Radio.

There are a couple of versions of Dry Bones floating around on the internet, but the oldest one I’ve found dates back to 2013. It was posted to r/NoSleep in June of that year by a Redditor going by the name “yomomma56.” (Reddit user names are endlessly entertaining.) They’re still active, by the way, so at least we know that they’ve played the game and survived.

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The game itself is sort of like a hybrid of One Man Hide and Seek, the Midnight Game, and Bloody Mary; the stakes are high, but the prize might be valuable enough to justify it — it all depends on your own wants and desires. Be careful what you wish for, though; it’s possible that whatever you’re summoning here might decide that playing the game isn’t fair bargain for what you’re asking for.

As always, play at your own risk.

Players:

  • One principal.

Requirements:

  • One bathroom.
  • One mirror. There’s flexibility here; the mirror over your bathroom sink will likely be the best option, but a hand mirror is also acceptable.
  • Matches. Don’t use a lighter.
  • A timekeeping device. This is technically optional, but highly recommended. The ability to keep time accurately is essential.

Instructions:

The Prelude:

  1. Before beginning, clear your house of people and pets. Make sure they know not to come back until the sun has risen the next morning.
  2. If the mirror isn’t already in the bathroom, place it there.
  3. Make sure the matches are somewhere on your person. The same goes the timekeeping device, if using.

The Invitation:

  1. Begin at 12:01 am.
  2. Securely close anything in your house that can open — doors, closets, cabinets, etc. Everything.
  3. Turn off all the lights in your house, as well as anything that might make noise. Unplugging the noise-making the devices is recommended.
  4. Enter the bathroom. Close the door behind you. (Everything needs to be closed, remember?)
  5. Face the mirror.
    • If you hear anything unusual: Do not proceed. Leave immediately. Exit the house. Go somewhere safe. Do not return until daylight.
    • If you hear nothing out of the ordinary: You may proceed.
  6. Think of something you want. Think about it hard. Visualize it in your head if you can.
  7. Light a match. Let it burn out.
    • If the match burns out in under 15 seconds: Do not proceed. Leave immediately. Exit the house. Go somewhere safe. Do not return until daylight.
    • If the match burns for at least 15 seconds: You may proceed.
  8. Lie on the ground and speak the words, “I am aware of your presence. I welcome you into my home. Come now.”
  9. Exit the bathroom. Close the door behind you. Go to the biggest room in your house. Close the door behind you.
  10. Wait.
    • If you hear anything other than a low moan and/or a slight rattling noise: Do not proceed. Leave immediately. Exit the house. Go somewhere safe. Do not return until daylight.
    • If you hear a low moan and/or a slight rattling noise: You may proceed.

The Game:

  1. Run. Hide. Do it quickly and quietly.
  2. Stay hidden until 3:00 am. This is not as easy as it sounds. Don’t let him see you. Don’t let him hear you. Don’t let him catch you.

The Farewell:

  1. At 3:00 am, return to the biggest room in your house. Close the door behind you. Speak the following words: “Thank you for playing, but you must leave now. You are no longer welcome.”
    • If at first you do not hear any form of acknowledgement, repeat the phrase until you do. You will know it when you hear it.
  2. Sleep, if you can.
  3. When you awaken, return to your everyday life. Your prize should be forthcoming.
  4. Do not play this game again.

Additional Notes:

  • A variation on the invitation exists, according to some versions of the game. You may therefore also use the following invitation in lieu of the previously mentioned one: “I am aware of your presence, and I welcome you into my home, but not into my body. Come now.” Added protection is not guaranteed, but, well… any port in a storm.
  • Do NOT blow the match out. Let it burn out on its own. If you blow the match out, even accidentally, exit the area immediately, go somewhere safe, and do not return until daylight.
  • After you enter the biggest room in your house during Step 9 of The Invitation, be patient. The waiting period might last as few as five minutes, or it might take much longer.

Concerning Your Wish:

  • Your wish will arrive to you reasonably quickly after the completion of the game. Some players have reported it being waiting on their doorstep for them as soon as the morning after.
  • Your wish should be something that is realistically attainable. If you ask for something that defies the laws of physics, for example, you probably won’t have much luck.
  • Your wish should not involve bringing harm to another person. If it does, he may decide that the price of the wish is steeper than the one you already paid — and he’s not in the habit of letting debts go unpaid.

If You Decide To Play The Game Again:

Don’t.

You might have asked him to leave this time, but that won’t prevent him from visiting again.

And if you go so far as to actually invite him again…

…It might not go so well.

Dry Bones: FAQ.

***

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[Photo via dirvish/Flickr]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Good to have you back again! Came to this website several times but went back disappointed. 🙂 But this more than made up for it. Hope you’re enjoying a great married life. 🙂

    Reply

  4. I discovered this site a few weeks ago and I already read almost all the posts. You’re serious and responsible about it, and this is important. I’ve seen enough to know that those things work. Thank you for sharing such a great and interesting content 🙂

    Reply

  5. AY NEVER KNEW YOU WERE MARRIED ME AND MY BEST FRIEND ALWAYS READ YOUR STUFF IN SCHOOL WHEN WE SHOULD BE WORKING HEHE LOVE YOUR POSTS

    Reply

  6. For the hiding part….. would he search for you? Like open closets, look under beds…? How serious would he take this? Plus, could you still do it if you live in an appartment (this question also applies for other games) ?

    Reply

    • Also why is it called dry bones if there are no bones involved? If your living room is the biggest room (but there are no doors there) what do you do?!

      Reply

      • It’s called dry bones because of the spirit finds you while you were trying to hide, your bones will dry up

        Reply

        • The same applies to me. My living room has two exits, one directly into a hall and one opening into the dining room. Because the front door branches off of the hall, putting a door between the hall and the living room would block the front door, so there is no door there. I’m not sure why there isn’t a door on the other opening, but the opening is too wide for one to really be added. It’s really more convenient that way.

          Reply

    • Of course he would search for you. He is very serious. The prize of him winning? Your soul or your death. You’ll be lucky if he asked for your limbs as a prize.

      No. The rule already stated that you should play it when you are alone. Having other animals or people in the house just increase the danger. They will be involved without invitation.

      (Most games just take anyone inside the house. Like “Anyone in the house is playing the game, regardless if you don’t like it!” type. Its better if you don’t play it. If you want to, play it alone or with friends if they are willing)

      Reply

  7. love this game, just like all the others! the way you compile the rules is so neat and I read way too many of these at work tbh… I recently read one that reminded of the “do not proceed” steps! It’s on r/nosleep, I think, called the nesting doll game. maybe you’ll like it too 🙂

    Reply

    • Your wish must be attainable, so that means it’s recommended to shoot for something materialistic. I wouldn’t risk something that can’t be put right on your doorstep, as anything that requires “extra work” requires a heavier price.

      Reply

  9. Congratulations on your wedding ! (Even though it was a couple of months ago)
    Love reading your posts too 🙂

    Reply

  11. When it hits 3:00 am can you safely and normally return to the biggest room or do you still have to worry about him catching you until you get to the room and recite the phrase?

    Reply

  12. Should you have to leave your house will you be able to or will he try to chase/follow you? Also when rerurning to the room at 3 am can you normally or do you have to avoid getting caught until you recite the phrase?

    Reply

  13. I just have 2 questions…

    1) Would sprinkling salt around your hiding place be constituted as cheating and leading to negative consequences or would it be okay? Sorry if this sounds stupid 😛

    2) Would a wish for someone else’s well-being be considered “steep”? Ie, wishing for a partner to stop drinking or for a close relative to be as happy as possible?

    Congratulations on your marriage btw! I know it’s late but I’ve literally only just found this site 😛

    Reply

    • Salt is considered as protection or a failsafe. This ritual doesn’t list anything of the sort as an option or a requirement. So using salt would be a waste of time, not to mention you’re inviting him into your home willingly. But there’s a reason safe spaces/objects, and salt aren’t listed in the requirements. Because a detrimental being such as this one can’t really be stopped or halted.

      Reply

    • To quote the text, “some players have reported”. This counts for material wishes. Also: your wish intends to help people, so I think the ghost will approve of that.

      Reply

    • I wouldn’t recommend the salt thing. Remember, you still have to get to the biggest room and if he sees you sprinkled salt around one door he’ll know you’re in there and can wait you out.

      Reply

    • It isn’t listed as an optional failsafe or requirement. So no, the usage of salt would be a waste of time.

      Reply

  15. Bit of a problem I can see with this is that the only lead-up to the house becoming dangerous is it being 12:01 with all the lights off, most people tend to be asleep at that time so the lights will be off. I would think you’d be safe as long as you don’t invite it in.

    Reply

  16. Heh….I think he gots a ‘ BONE ‘ to pick with me!

    Reply

  18. So I have a couch in a corner up to a table, to get under the table you have to go under the couch. Is this a good hiding place? It’s a little difficult for me to get under to couch and into it by the way. I just don’t know what is a good hiding place. Also the biggest room in my house is my living room but it only has one door to the outside. It’s connected to the rest of the house or would it then would my whole downstairs area be considered just one room since there are no doors separating them? Does the hiding place have to be in a different room than my biggest room then?

    Reply

    • if there are no doors it’s one whole room. i suppose you could modify this by hanging sheets everywhere where there would be a door, honestly i don’t think they’ll be a huge concequence if you mess this part up but i could be wrong! referring to your hiding place – if it’s going to cause you to make noise or if it’ll take you a long time to get into pick another one!

      Reply

    • No. You need a hiding place that is easily accessible and easily able to leave. If you don’t, that’s just basically walking right into his trap.

      Reply

  19. Can I wish for love from my crush? I know it sounds awful but that’s all what I can wish about.

    Reply

  20. Can we wish for more than one of the same thing? For example, two cars of the same type or something.

    Reply

    • It didn’t go into detail about how many items for your wish, but it says that if your wish is worth more than the price you payed, then he will collect his debt. So it honestly depends on the value of your cars tbh. Two Lamborghinis seem more valuable than a spooky game whereas two crappy toyota camrys don’t seem like too much of a stretch

      Reply

      • I dunno, if you’re putting your life on the line you should be able to get whatever material possession you want.

        Reply

    • I dont think you should lock the door, because once the demon sees its locked, he will KNOW that your hiding space is in there, because most likely thats the only door locked. So if you lock the door, he just might camp out there.

      Reply

      • This comment gave me the best idea. Instead of locking the door of the room you are hiding in, lock a door that is a good distance away from your hiding place and the biggest room in your house so the demon will think you’re in that room hiding and will wait outside the door of that room and stay there. This makes it so you are never caught by the demon when you are hiding and or even on the way to the biggest room for when you decide to end the game.

        Reply

  22. In the FAQ for this game, you suggested hiding in the last place anyone would think to look for you. Does that mean like, cater a hiding place to me? I’m scared of enclosed spaces, none of my friends would ever guess I’d hide in a small closet. Would he know that, and also not guess I’d be hiding in a small closet, or would he not know anything about me specifically?

    Reply

    • No. This is what makes the ritual so dangerous. You may defeat him once and receive a prize, but this does not prevent him from coming back. I guess you could count keeping your life as the prize for defeating him a second time.

      Reply

  26. What if during the game while you are in your hiding spot and he finds you what should you do? Also can a salt circle protect you if you are found? And what kind of form or what does he look like how do we make sure its him?

    Reply

    • 1. You’ll be incapable of doing anything. There’s no saving yourself. When he finds you, he wins.

      2. Salt is useless in this ritual, it is not an optional failsafe or a requirement. So don’t expect it to have a positive effect.

      3. Those who have ever been able to provide details for this question are most likely rendered incapable of doing so.

      Rituals like this require the mindset “all or nothing.” If you’re not willing to risk it all to obtain one thing, you really have no business participating in a ritual such as this one.

      Reply

  27. If my wish is for someone to die and “he” decides that I should pay a bigger price for such a wish, is there any chance at all that I will survive after that?

    Reply

    • Maybe. Maybe not. There is a ritualistic game out there called Lightless City, you can find it on Creepypasta. It requires you to give up both of your eyes in order to bring the ultimate harm to anyone you wish. You also must live in the Lightless City forever if you choose for this to happen to them, and it’s not pleasant. Not only are you blind, but there are also dangerous creatures that roam the city that won’t hesitate to rip you apart. High stakes, yes? Same with this one. If your wish is to have someone killed, then the price will be of utmost extremity. You might have to give up a limb, a sense, maybe even more than one. Or maybe your soul. Don’t expect the price to be light.

      Reply

    • Considering the spirit’s presence is already stressed to possibly appear once again at random, I wouldn’t recommend willingly playing again. He might just find you.

      Reply

  31. Could you ask for an ability such as shape shifting or magic? Or would this be too much, does the thing you wish for have to be a physical object?

    Reply

    • In the FAQ, the author said it was okay for someone to wish for a partner to stop drinking or a relative to be happy, so I don’t think the prize has to be material possession.

      Do not overdo it with your wish. Requesting the ability to perform magic isn’t something that’s realistically attainable, so, as the author says, you probably won’t have much luck.

      Or, even though you aren’t wishing to harm anyone, he may decide that magical powers are too much to ask for for just playing a game.

      Reply

  32. Can you wish for something that’s not an object, like if someone is blind in one eye, can they ask for their sight back?

    Reply

  33. Ok soz I am a teen who is interested in trying this game. I do want to try it, but I do have some questions that I need answered so I know what to expect.

    1. Why does this tell you to close everything that can be opened (doors, cupboards, etc.)? Is he unable to open doors or something?

    2. I live in a one story house that is about fifty years old. And there are three rooms in my house that are practically the same size, and they are the biggest. Which one will I choose?

    3. Soz I have this table in my bedroom that has a long tablecloth. Can I safely hide under it? Or is under my couch a better bet? Or do both of these places suck?

    4. If I securely close the door to a cupboard, can I hide in there?

    5. So say I decide to hide in a cupboard or a closet. Can I pull and hold the door closed from the inside, even though it already is closed?

    6. So say you are safely tucked away in your hiding place. Can you use your cellphone during this time to pass the time? As long as it doesn’t make any noises or anything?

    7. Why does it say it is recommended to unplug all devices that make noise? Like say you have a TV in your room. Won’t it suddenly turning on or something tell you that he is near?

    8. What will happen if you lock all of your doors? Or say you lock one door but it’s not the door to the room you’re hiding in. Will he just stay outside of it?

    9. There is a small shed on my property. If I successfully summon him, can I go hide in there as long as I come back to the house and do the farewell at three? Or is this considered cheating?

    10. What will he do if he finds out that he cheated?

    11. Say he comes back without another invitation. Will he like do his moaning thing so you can hear him and try to hide? Or will you just be asleep and just see this guy and die without warning? Or will he just kinda chill in your house and not touch you?

    12. So it says not to summon him again. What if you were spending the night at say, your boyfriend’s house, and he’s the only one home. Can you resummon him there? Or say the other person resummons him and you decide to play too. Will he know that you summoned him once already and try to kill you? Or is it like he’s never been summoned before.

    Sorry for all the questions, but I really just want to know what to expect when I play this.

    Reply

  34. Is hide-and-seek-tag-esque game plausible, or is the only option to stay hidden in one place?

    Reply

  36. I have 2 questions.
    1. If I lock the door of the room I’m hiding in, will it work to keep him out and will it have consequences?

    2. How will I know if the spirit is close enough to find me or in the same room as me?

    Reply

  37. I have a few questions

    1) what happens if you play with people AND pets in the house????

    2) What will be the consequences when or if he catches you??

    3) are you able to wish for being adopted?? ((Sorry if this sounds stupid, I just really want to know))

    4) are you able to wear jewelry during this ritual???((such as necklaces or chokers))

    Reply

    • Right, I’ll try to answer your questions off what I know.

      1) They will probably be included in the game too, and if they don’t know… You’re putting them in grave danger.

      2) If he finds you, I think he makes your bones dry, hence the name “Dry Bones”.

      3) Maybe, but I’m not sure if this is possible. It is recommended you wish for something materialistic, so perhaps… no?

      4) I think so. There is no dress code and it doesn’t specify you not being able to wear anything.

      Reply

  39. Can I ask… can you wish that every time you see someone you can tell how much they like you? Examples: Your best friend secretly hates you or your enemy has a crush on you?

    Reply

  41. So if you think about it, it is very much possible to accidentally invite dry bones by playing the man in the fields… Especially if you’ve already played.

    Reply

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