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

    • I think the candle isn’t for protection, but just so you can write and read? As you need to be in the dark, a candle is the most effective way. But who knows! Probably something bad!

      Reply

      • What do you think will happen if we don’t relight the candle? Will the ritual be over? Will something bad might happened?

        Reply

        • DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR WHILST PLAYING THE GAME OR AFTERWARDS. YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR DAYLIGHT. THE SPIRIT OF THE DOOR DOESN’T LIKE TO BE SEEN. THE CANDLE IS SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU’RE WRITING BUT IT IS ALSO WHAT ALLOWS THE SPIRIT OF THE DOOR TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU. DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME FOR FUN. Always just use a Candle for lighting, put the paper and pen halfway through the door, if the paper does not move then you’ve done the Ritual wrong. Say that you’re sorry, thank the Spirit Of The Door and blow out the candle. If it is not yet daylight, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. It has to be at exactly Three AM when you knock on the door Three times and say the Ritual THREE times. I have been doing this ritual since I was young. My Great Great Grandmother used to tell stories about this Ritual. No one in my family since has tried it. Until me. You have to have a clear mind when you do this. Be careful when you do this Ritual. It can be very dangerous. DO NOT ANGER THE SPIRIT OF THE DOOR. There are only three rules to this….
          1. Don’t anger The Spirit Of The Door
          2. Don’t open the door
          3. Don’t turn on any lights until the three questions have been answered, you said thankyou and the candle has been blown out.
          Good Luck.

          Reply

    • What do you think will happen if we open the door while doing the challenge or before the sun come up? If I had to guess I’ll say something bad might happened. Like noises for example. What do you think?

      Reply

      • Probably he/she or it will haunt you or maybe you’ll see he/she or it (don’t take it badly I just don’t know what it wants to be called)

        Reply

      • Perhaps you will be able to see the spirit you were talking to and they will haunt you for eternity, along with an ominous misfortune.

        Reply

        • What would happen if you asked more than 3 questions, opened the door before sunrise or started at say 4/5am??? What would you see? what could you do? would you die? I’m thinking about doing this on my channel, I need to know!

          Reply

          • Asking it more than three questions it just sends the paper back to you,you open the door he/she or it will get out,it won’t work at 4 or 5am

  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

  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

    • Hey so I did it and… nothing happened. I tried it again the next night, …but nah. Was disappointed. But hey, this doesn’t mean it won’t work for other people either! Can someone else try this and let me know? Lol I’m literally asking you guys to put yourselves in danger…sometimes I forget that everyone isn’t crazy about ghosts like me.
      ~~Peace Out~~

      Reply

    • You said you were trying the ghost paper challenge right? How did it go? Please tell me the ghost paper challenge work. Sometimes I wake up to try the ghost paper challenge but I keep waking up too early or too late. Sometimes I even try to stay awake to try the ghost paper challenge but I keep falling asleep. I already have the things to try it out at home in my bedroom next to my bed.

      Reply

    • I suggest you don’t say stuff like am I going to die next month? because you never know what the paper might say.

      Reply

    • Yes, you can. I remember on a video someone asks in the ghost paper challenge when he was going to die. And it said 21 years old. He was shocked. That meant he only had a few years left. Then he asked how was he going to die. Then the reply said accident. I don’t remember what kind of accident but I think it was a car crash accident.

      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

    • I have 3 cats at home. Let’s just hope the ghost paper challenge won’t harm or hurt them. Fingers crossed.

      Reply

    • Think of it like this: if you were supposed to work in the middle of the night, would you like to be disturbed by extra work with no warning?

      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

    • Please let the ghost paper challenge work? I really want to try it as well. Please let me know if it did work.

      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

    • Hh. I did this w/ my cousin. Nothing happened. The first time I tried to do this, I saw a head with glowing white eyes peek out of the hallway. So I stopped. But I tried it w/ my cousin and nothing happened.

      Reply

  35. Well if it says the only candle then I’m guessing you can use only a candle. Is it just me or are you saying you don’t have any candles? Not even 1?

    Reply

  36. I think you can, but it’s better not to, as the entity is not from the light. It’s more like a bad spirit or a demon that will want something from you. It’s better not to make any wishes as your life can be in danger.

    Reply

    • Alex that is NOT I repeat NOT a good idea. It could take you to hell or the middle of nowhere and how would you get home? That’s not a good idea. I don’t know you but I don’t want you to get hurt.

      Reply

  42. Does it actually work or is it fake? I won’t sell my soul but i do wanna duplicate my $100 bill wit da spirit of da door if it is real. W/o soul selling 😆

    Reply

  43. High Spiritual activity begins from 12midnight to 4am. I have tried this challenge and it did not work. I opened my door anyway and all I felt was fear. I closed my closet door. Put my candle on top of my desk and laid down on my bed trying to go to sleep. The candle light was flickering like heck but I was like if you didn’t want to talk to me before then don’t start shit now. I knew something was hinting at my spiritual body because fear was placed. It was almost like I knew exactly what was happening. So what did I do next? Well the lights kept flickering and I told myself in my head, ” Girl, you do realise that it’s playing on fear. And you know about this demonology shit”. As soon as I finished that conversation with myself, the lights still flickered but I smacked my teeth and said I don’t have time for this and the fear was gone. I couldn’t fool myself like that. So the next 2 hours I ignored the flickering lights while watching not Jaystation videos. Then I went to sleep. Woke up the next day refreshed.

    Reply

  44. So I also played the Charlie Charlie and that did not work for me at all. I got mad when it didn’t work. Last but not least I played the ouija board and that shit did not work for me. So all in all, seems to me like Demons can’t touch me or shit or God has destined my life and this was not part of his Will. I actually believe this is the reason why shit doesn’t work for me.

    Reply

  47. What if you’re doing it and when you’re all done and go to bed and let’s say your mom or dad or sister opens the door. what will happen?

    Reply

  53. So I was about to play till I realised there are my family members sleeping in different rooms, will the game affect them?

    Reply

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