The Ghost In My Machine

Stories of the Strange and Unusual

The Most Dangerous Games: The Ghost Paper Challenge

by

Previously: The Nesting Doll Game.

I’ll admit that I’m not a huge fan of most of the “3am Challenge” videos circulating YouTube; they’re always way too hammed up for my taste, as well as incredibly easy to fake. They’re quite popular, though — and what’s more, one ritual game that folks seem to be really into right now was actually seen online for the first time on YouTube. It’s called the Ghost Paper Challenge, although it might also be referred to as Spirit Of The Door. The rules don’t seem to exist in written form anywhere on the internet, so I’ve cobbled together a set based on what’s available via YouTube; I’ve also incorporated a few safeguards in the event that something goes wrong.

Because something probably WILL go wrong.

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YouTuber Stromedy, real name Kyle Godfrey, was — as far as I know — the first person to bring the Ghost Paper Challenge online, although many others have followed suit since then. According to Godfrey, he originally heard about the game from his uncle, who apparently said it was a “big thing when he was a kid, similar to how Bloody Mary was for us.”

Godfrey is 18 according to his YouTube bio, so I’m willing to bet that his uncle probably isn’t that much older than I am; Gen X is likely a good guess. (I straddle the line between Gen X and Older Millennials.) This matters because of the reference to Bloody Mary — Godfrey doesn’t seem to be aware of the fact that Bloody Mary has been a thing at least since the 1970s, and has roots that go back even further. Personally, I think that’s a count against the game’s authenticity — it’s very, very likely that Godfrey’s uncle would have grown up playing Bloody Mary itself, so the remark implying that the Ghost Paper Challenge is an “older” game than Bloody Mary seems… odd to me — but that might just be me.

The ritual bears a few similarities to the Midnight Game; both involve lighting a candle, writing something on a piece of paper, positioning the paper before a door, and then knocking on the door a certain number of times to summon an entity. Where they differ is in the use of blood — the Ghost Paper Challenge doesn’t require any, while the Midnight Game does — and, of course, in the results: In one game, a correctly performed ritual enables you to make contact with something, ask questions, and gain information, whereas in the other, you invite something in specifically so it can hunt you down.

Is it possible the game is completely made-up? Absolutely. First, there’s that previous point I made about its comparison to Bloody Mary; what’s more, I would also argue that its close resemblance to the summoning portions of so many other games might be a clue that it’s fictional. It looks an awful lot like the game may simply be an amalgam of already-existing summoning rituals taken out of context and tweaked a tiny bit in order to create something ostensibly “new.”

Of course, the Ghost Paper Challenge might still be interesting — and maybe fun, depending on what your definition of “fun” is — to try.

As always, play at your own risk.

Players:

  • At least one principal.

Requirements:

  • Paper.
  • A writing implement.
  • A candle.
  • Matches or a lighter.
  • A room with a door. Make sure that the paper and writing implement can slide under the door completely when the door is closed.
  • A timekeeping device.
  • Three questions — no more, no less.

Instructions:

The Invitation:

  1. Begin shortly before 3am.
  2. Turn off all the lights in your house.
  3. Take up your supplies and go to your chosen room and door.
  4. Close the door.
  5. Place the piece of paper in front of the door.
  6. Place the candle next to the piece of paper and light it with the matches or lighter.
  7. Keep an eye on your timekeeping device.
  8. At 3am precisely, knock on the door three times.
  9. Repeat the following phrase three times: “Spirit of the door, I welcome you; make yourself present and come through.”

The Conversation:

  1. Using the writing implement, write your first question on the piece of paper. When you are finished, place the writing implement on the piece of paper.
  2. Slide the piece of paper and the writing implement halfway through the crack between the door and the floor.
  3. Wait.
    • If the paper remains where it is: The summoning has failed. Do not proceed. Extinguish the candle and try again another time.
    • If the paper is pulled through to the other side of the door: The summoning has succeeded. You may proceed.
  4. Wait.
    • If the paper does not reappear: Do not proceed. Apologize aloud, thank the spirit for its time, and extinguish the candle. Do not open the door until daylight. You may try again another time.
    • If the paper slides back through the door towards you: Examine the paper. Read your response.
      • NOTE: If the response tells you to go away, asks you to leave the spirit alone, or is hostile in any way, DO NOT PROCEED. Apologize aloud, thank the spirit for its time, and extinguish the candle. Do not open the door until daylight. Be VERY CAREFUL about trying again another time. Otherwise, you may proceed.
  5. Using the writing implement, write your second question on the piece of paper. When you are finished, place the writing implement on the piece of paper.
  6. Slide the piece of paper and the writing implement halfway through the crack between the door and the floor.
  7. Wait.
    • If the paper remains where it is: Do not proceed. Apologize aloud, thank the spirit for its time, and extinguish the candle. Do not open the door until daylight. You may try again another time.
    • If the paper is pulled through to the other side of the door: You may proceed.
  8. Wait.
    • If the paper does not reappear: Do not proceed. Apologize aloud, thank the spirit for its time, and extinguish the candle. Do not open the door until daylight. You may try again another time.
    • If the paper slides back through the door towards you: Examine the paper. Read your response.
      • NOTE: If the response tells you to go away, asks you to leave the spirit alone, or is hostile in any way, DO NOT PROCEED. Apologize aloud, thank the spirit for its time, and extinguish the candle. Do not open the door until daylight. Be VERY CAREFUL about trying again another time. Otherwise, you may proceed.
  9. Using the writing implement, write your third question on the piece of paper. When you are finished, place the writing implement on the piece of paper.
  10. Slide the piece of paper and the writing implement halfway through the crack between the door and the floor.
  11. Wait.
    • If the paper remains where it is: Do not proceed. Apologize aloud, thank the spirit for its time, and extinguish the candle. Do not open the door until daylight. You may try again another time.
    • If the paper is pulled through to the other side of the door: You may proceed.
  12. Wait.
    • If the paper does not reappear: Do not proceed. Apologize aloud, thank the spirit for its time, and extinguish the candle. Do not open the door until daylight. You may try again another time.
    • If the paper slides back through the door towards you: Examine the paper. Read your response.

The Farewell:

  1. Thank the spirit for its time and extinguish the candle.
  2. Keep the door shut.
  3. When the sun has risen, you may open the door.
  4. Do NOT open the door before daylight.

Additional Notes:

More than one player may participate.

Do NOT use any other light source besides the candle for the duration of the game.

You may ask any variety of question you please; however, whatever you ask, always remain respectful in manner and tone.

Do NOT attempt to ask more than three questions. This rule remains even if there are multiple players participating.

Do NOT open the door at ANY TIME until the ritual has concluded and daylight has arrived.

Concerning Safeguards:

Should something go wrong, a sincerely-given apology and a respectful farewell might help.

But not necessarily.

Just… keep that in mind.

The Ghost Paper Challenge: FAQ.

***

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[Photo via Pexels/Pixabay]

Reader Interactions

Comments

      • Not all of them. I mean, I can see how some of them are fake, but in some of them, he calls 911 and idk how you’d fake that.

        Reply

    • i saw this one video and the guy broke the rules and then the spirit said if he broke them BURN and the dude did not know what that meant and he broke a rule and the paper burned so he concluded if you broke more than one maybe the spirit would burn your house down or something like that.

      Reply

  3. “Do NOT attempt to ask more than three questions. This rule remains even if there are multiple players participating.” Does this mean that if, for example, there’s three players, each gets only one question? Or does everyone still get their three questions?

    Reply

    • I believe it means that no more than 3 questions may be asked at all. Like, only 3 questions may be written on the piece of paper, regardless of how many of you there are.

      Reply

    • The instructions are very clear – three questions only. Whether it is one person or a hundred people playing, they are allocated a total of three questions for the whole group.

      Reply

    • No, simply every person gets three questions. On Youtube,there is a video of Stromedy and ImJayStation. And the spirit provided SIX questions. If the video is actually real or if the Ghost Paper is real all together.

      Reply

  5. Today’s my birthday and I’m so happy you uploaded a ritual today! I’ve been waiting!! It’s a birthday miracle!

    Reply

  6. If you are planning on playing this game (which I wouldn’t recommend), then I would suggest that we play inside your bathroom, just in case you need to go in the middle of the game. If I’m playing the game inside another room, and it says to wait until sunrise to open the door, I guess I’ll die then. I’d rather be haunted than allow my kidneys to explode.

    Reply

  11. I think I may try this, though I doubt it will work. One of my friends tried and nothing happened. Thanks for such an amazing site, Lucia!

    Reply

  12. I initially read the title as “Ghost Pepper Challenge”, which does sound like a potentially dangerous game, just not the sort usually covered on this site.

    Reply

    • lol…
      Step One:
      Prepare salt water. Eradicate your house of all things that are commonly used to relieve heat.

      Can anyone continue this, one step per person?

      Reply

      • Step 1A:
        Shut down your house water line. Might as well since it IS a method of relieving heat.
        Step 2:
        Before you prepare the ritual at precisely 6:66 PM (which is basically 7:06 PM lmao), go out and buy yourself plenty of Blaire’s Hot Sauces (or any hot sauce in particular, the hotter the sauce, the greater the challenges). In addition, gather up some crushed and dried Ghost Peppers for the summoning and safeguard method (you could use table salt as well, though the ghost peppers add further challenge).

        Reply

    • Well, I’d assume nothing good. No telling what’s answering your questions on the other side. When it comes to fortune telling/question answering entities (or all-knowing entities in general, really), they’re typically docile to a certain extent. If you provoke them, they just might render you incapable of being able to even process what they’ve told you. Other times, they do what they are summoned to do but cause harm indirectly. This is why in a lot of cases, you’re not allowed (err, not supposed to) to look at them. They can cause you to become blind, paralyzed, petrified, they can induce insanity, and probably lots of other possiblities. Sometimes, looking at them or exposing yourself is all they need to give them the drive to attack you, should they be capable of doing so.

      Reply

  15. Hmm, it’s almost been 5 days since Purple Girl The Horror Fan said she would try this then report back. I suppose she still has time. Think she followed all of the rules correctly?

    Reply

    • Bystanders are allowed, so long as all of you remain congregated as a whole in one room for one night. Pets could possibly become disruptive if they are a cat, dog, or basically any pet animal capable of roaming on its own or making noise. They should remain in the room with you however, in case harm could come to them. Non-participating residents of the building should probably lock themselves in their rooms for the night as well, in case they accidentally interrupt.

      Reply

  18. I’m trying this tonight. Like omg my fiance is terrified but tbh it may not work but having Wicca blood running through my veins may prove otherwise.

    Reply

    • I really don’t think being a descendant of a bloodline of magick practitioners increases or decreases the success rate of a black ritual. Black rituals are popular among adrenaline seekers and occult enthusiasts because they can be performed by literally anyone. That’s what makes them scary though. I must ask though, did the ritual work for you?

      Reply

  19. So you can’t have lights on during the ritual and you can’t open the door before sunrise but can you turn the lights on in your room before sunrise but after you’ve blown out the candle?

    Reply

  20. May I use my phone just to check I’ve done everything right or does no light (except candle) mean actually no light whatsoever?

    Reply

  21. What if the spirit tries to open your door, like the door starts rattling?.. I’d be like bye felicia I’m jumping out of my window.

    Reply

  23. I really want to do this tonight but Idk if it actually works, I do believe that my house is 100% haunted though. Does anybody know if it works??

    Reply

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