The Ghost In My Machine

Stories of the Strange and Unusual

The Most Dangerous Games: The Answer Man

by

Previously: Charlotte’s Web.

Like a lot of the games that we’ve examined here at TGIMM, The Answer Man — also sometimes known as The Phantom of the Answer or The Answer Phantom — is said to originate in an east Asian country; in this case, it’s ostensibly Japan, although I haven’t located any Japanese sites featuring the rules (yet, at least).

This 4chan thread from 2013 states that The Answer Man has been “circulating among Japanese kids for over 10 years,” which suggests that it dates back to the early 2000s. Given the technological requirements of the game, this fact makes sense, although I’ve been unable to verify it conclusively. For what it’s worth, the game also appears in another 4chan thread from a year earlier, in 2012 — making it the earliest version of the game I’ve been able to find, at least online — although there’s no mention of the decade-long timeline here. Interestingly, I also found a number of Indonesian sites laying out the instructions for the game; most of these posts also date to around 2013 or 2014.

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The Answer Man has a lot in common with games like The Raven Man, The Red Book Game, and The Knockertell in that you play it for a particular reason: To get information. However, knowledge doesn’t come free, so be prepared for a trade-off.

As always, play at your own risk.

Players:

  • 10 participants.

Requirements:

  • 10 cell phones. Burner phones are recommended (see: Ending The Call, Step 4).

Instructions:

Making The Call:

  1. Begin at any time and in any place.
  2. Gather all 10 participants in a circle.
  3. Each participant should give their phone number to the person to their right — that is, each participant should be able to call the person to their left.
  4. On the count of three, all participants should call the person to their left.
    • If all 10 participants receive a busy signal or the call goes to voicemail: The ritual has failed; do not proceed. If this outcome emerges, try again later.
    • If nine participants receive a busy signal or the call goes to voicemail: The ritual has succeeded; you may proceed. If this outcome emerges, one participant’s phone call — and only one — will be answered. This participant will hear a voice begin to speak on the other end.

The Conversation:

  1. The participant whose call was successful may ask the Answer Man a question.
  2. The participant should listen carefully to the answer.
  3. After the Answer Man has given his answer, he will in turn ask a question of the participant.
  4. The participant MUST answer this question. The answer must be honest, truthful, and correct.
  5. The participant may repeat this process as many times as they like.

Ending The Call:

  1. When the participant has received all the information they require, they may end the call by telling the Answer Man they must go.
  2. The Answer Man may attempt to keep the participant on the line, possibly by offering information for free. Do NOT stay on the line. The participant should repeatedly state their need to end the conversation.
  3. If the participant is persistent, the Answer Man will say good-bye and hang up. At this point, the call has been terminated.
  4. After the call has been terminated, immediately destroy all cell phones used to conduct the ritual.

Additional Notes:

It is recommended that participants save the phone numbers required for Making The Call, Steps 3 and 4 to their contacts list for easy dialing.

It is recommended that one participant be designated the “Counter”; this person will issue the countdown signaling when the phone numbers should be dialed in Making The Call, Step 4. It is also recommended that this person clarify, in advance, what “on the count of three” means: That is, whether all participants press “call” as the number three is spoken, or whether all participants press “call” in the moment immediately after the number three is spoken.

It is NOT recommended that participants who have successfully called the Answer Man pass the phone around the circle or allow multiple participants to ask questions. There’s a reason the Answer Man picked up that particular call; he’s not content to talk to just anybody.

It is NOT recommended that you put the Answer Man on speaker phone.

Do NOT fail to destroy all cell phones used to conduct the ritual as soon as possible after the ritual’s completion. Even if you’ve hung up — or even if you were among the nine who were unable to connect in the first place — you never know what might try to call you back.

Concerning The Answer Man’s Offer:

Do NOT accept the Answer Man’s offer for free information in exchange for staying on the line. He is a master at exploiting loopholes; he will find a way to ask you a question, and he will find a way to make it a requirement for you to answer that question. When this question comes, it will be far more difficult than any of his preceding questions; indeed, it will likely be impossible to answer. Should you fail to answer — as he intends by extending this offer — see below.

Concerning The Answer Man’s Questions:

Do not fail to answer the Answer Man’s questions. Do not lie, either directly or by omission. Do not answer falsely. Do not answer incorrectly. If you fail to answer any question put to you by the Answer Man, you may feel a mild tingling sensation in a particular part of your body — a finger, a toe, a hand, a leg; anything is fair game. This is how you will know you have failed; this is the price of your failure.

And when, some days or months or even years on, you lose that part of your body — by accident, by illness, or by some other means — you will know that he has collected his fee.

A Final Note:

Do not hang up on the Answer Man.

He doesn’t like that.

The Answer Man: FAQ.

***

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[Photo via Indi Samarajiva/Flickr]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Will the Answer Man ask you questions such as, math questions? Or questions about yourself/your family?
    What would happen if you don’t know the answer?

    Reply

    • The Answer Man will ask you question on anything that he likes. Family, math, social life and etc. He’ll just ask you.

      If you can’t answer his question , you will lose a limb. (or worse, die)

      Reply

        • You are not an idiot. Math is difficult. That’s why they force it into your cranium. Math is difficult for EVERYONE in my grade. My older sister gets confused too. Like I said, math is difficult. Everyone struggles with it at somepoint in their lives.

          Reply

    • Personally, I think it will be personal questions he will ask, remember, the Answer Man is an entity, with a malicious intent, Logical problems, such as maths, are directly easy to receive with a calculator on standby. It doesn’t make much sense in terms of his standards.

      Though I can’t directly conclude this; I’m assuming the Answer Man uses personal questions in order to use them to either a) conclude factual information (not riddle or maths type questions, however.) or to b) harm friendships with intent.

      For example, if he asked the question: What do you think about your friend sitting beside you?

      Since you have to give the truth, I’m assuming this will be quite uneasy.

      Although other times he could ask questions as: What is the height of Mount Everest?

      This sort of questioning deviates the receiver and gives them a big surprise.

      Hope this helps!

      Reply

      • Honestly yeah i was thinking that, The Answer Man probably has some bad intent to break your group up in some way so one would asume his personal question would have some damaging affect to you or others playing with you. He is a dark entity, so true true…

        Reply

  2. So, we can do this is broad daylight with all windows open and sunlight coming in? Also, can there be other people around in the place where this ritual is taking place?

    Reply

    • You could most likely do this in broad daylight. Don’t have too many people in the area, though, because you know how it is having a phone call in a busy place.

      Reply

    • Yeah you can do this at any time, but I think the area you do it should be your home. Because unless someone is participating in the ritual they probably shouldn’t be there when it happens…But I don’t really know.

      Reply

  3. My question with all kinds of games that “summon” an entity is, what if two or more separate groups (or individuals, depending on the requirements of the game) call upon the same entity at the exact same time, and happen to succeed? Does that mean that other, uhm, forces assume the identity of the entity being summoned? I wouldn’t like to think that those beings are omnipresent, for lack of better word.

    Reply

    • The entity (in which I’ll call A) has only one in the world. In the game Answer Man, it is impossible for A to have 2, as only 1 phone call is answered. If there is another one, it has 2 meaning:

      a) The other A is a false one
      b) (More likely) there are two of A

      Reply

      • In your answer, I do not think there are two of A (Answer Man). The other is a false one, you cannot really seriously answer one person’s call and another person’s call at the same time.

        Reply

  4. What if he asks us a question we don’t know the answer to? On a related note, is ‘I don’t know’ an acceptable answer if it’s the truth? And how does he know we’re lying? Also, what if he doesn’t hang up on us? How easy is it to answer the questions? Sorry for all the questions lol

    Reply

    • What if he asks us a question we don’t know the answer to?
      = Just answer it. No escape.

      On a related note, is ‘I don’t know’ an acceptable answer if it’s the truth?
      = In sense of my theory, yes. However, I don’t think the Answer Man would ask you a question that even you don’t know.

      And how does he know we’re lying?
      = He has (probably) all the information in the world, and he want to confirm the info if its legit or not, so he asks you.

      Also, what if he doesn’t hang up on us?
      =If he doesn’t hang up on us, then persist that he has to leave. Just don’t be rude. Don’t hang up on him.

      How easy is it to answer the questions?
      = Depending on the question you asked. Probably the difficulty of one question is based on what you asked him.

      eg.
      Your Question = When will I die?

      His Question = When do you have the most bitter past memories of your childhood? (assume you don’t have one)

      Reply

    • I think the question he asks you would be a personal one, like about your secrets or would make you confess to something in front of the 10 people. But honestly that’s a really fair price.

      Reply

    • I’ll answer your questions.

      1. What if he asks us a question we don’t know the answer to?

      You guess and hope that you’re lucky. But if you’re not……

      I’m so sorry.
      I’m so sorry.

      2. Is “I don’t know” an acceptable answer?

      Welp, according to the FAQ, “I don’t know (in which I’ll call IDK)” may be honest and truthful, but it’s not correct.

      3. How does he know we’re lying?

      You guys can tell whether an answer is correct or wrong, sooooooooo, I guess he can, too.

      4. What if he doesn’t hang up on us?

      Keep saying that you need to go, despite his “free information.” Don’t be rude, or don’t hang up on him.

      5. How easy it is to answer the questions?

      Seriously, you’re gonna ask that? Who knows what’s gonna happen?

      Reply

  6. This girl (that’s me) finally figured out a way to win this game. Simply ask: What is the answer to the question that you will ask me? When he asks you his question, give him the answer that he gave you and then just end the game. You won’t get any information this way, but still you’ll be able to wear a t- shirt which says: Hey guys, I defeated the answer man, thanks to Miss PurpleGirlTheHorrorFan! Ha ha, I am such a genius!

    Reply

    • Yeah… I’m not sure on that one: the Answer Man is quite persistent, regardless of how he might seem. I would be careful using that phrase just in case he does call you out as a cheater.

      Reply

    • Well then what’s the point of even doing the ritual and asking him questions if all You’re going to ask is what is the answer to what he’ll ask? Can you imagine going around in an obnoxious little circle like that for the length of the phone call? I don’t know, sounds pretty boring. But I’m pretty sure the Answer Man will avoid calling the dolt who he knows will do that…

      Reply

    • Thank you for the strategy. I think if you did that, spirits will respect you and fear you and do whatever you want them to do.

      Reply

  7. Can you please post the game ‘Six murders’? And if you do, please mention my name saying that I suggested it!

    Reply

        • It involves getting someone else killed. Lucia is not fond of rituals in which the goal is to harm another living being. Why do you think she adds “Play at your own risk.” to every game article?

          Reply

      • +Veronica Lodge I know, that one really is a bit of a ‘dangerous’ game. You are right, maybe she wouldn’t want to post that one, you know, for the the greater good of those who don’t know about it. But those who don’t know about it are gonna look it up anyway, as soon as they read my comment. ( I mean the one which you replied to,Veronica.) So here’s hoping no one decides to give that game a go.

        Reply

    • Actually, that’s more dangerous than the most dangerous game posted here, it involves killing someone accidentally. It’s just a pointless ritual that’ll mess up ur life.

      Reply

    • Well, he is supposed to hang up on you. I assume you mean that he just does it without you having to ask? Seems unlikely. He wants you to answer his questions too.

      Reply

  9. I was thinking about doing this until it stated to destroy your phone lol.

    Oh,and also, does anyone know the name of the ritual that involves staring into a toilet bowl and a cellphone,and where to find it? Thanks in advance.

    Reply

  10. If we felt a “mild tingling” on all our body, does that mean that we will die? I mean, of course we will, but can it actually happen?!

    Reply

    • Though I’m not an expert, I’m assuming that only piece of the body can be claimed. Due to you only answering one question incorrectly, it is quite sure that the Answer Man will respond with a fair side of the deal.

      However, with that said, you may want to tread wearily.

      Reply

    • Nope, but you’ll LOOSE THAT PART OF YOUR BODY!!!!!! So I guess you should study study study before calling A-man. (Answer man)

      Reply

  14. I have bad memory, and if the answer man asks about anything from my childhood, or something i can’t remember, would “Sorry, i can’t remember” be a valid answer?

    Reply

  15. Instead of destroying the phone, can we just destroy or remove the sim card or battery or anything to makes the phone off

    Reply

  17. Ok, what if it’s an answer you can google? Can you get a friend to have their own phone to google the answers, then tell you in some way?

    Or is that cheating?

    Reply

  19. So what kinds of questions can we expect from the Answer Man, since the FAQ suggests he won’t ask questions that we can look up online?

    Reply

  20. I’m considering doing his, but I have a weird question and I need a straight answer: can you use google for the question?

    Reply

  21. I’m probably going to do this but… I am not destroying my phone after. If something happens to me because I keep my phone it would probably be better than destroying my phone… I think.

    Reply

    • And will the Answer Man answer questions like if someone likes you or something like that?

      Caller: Do I look good?
      Answer Man: Bre…

      Reply

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