The Most Dangerous Games: The Ghost Paper Challenge

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.

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.”

[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]

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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