Previously: The Ghost Paper Challenge.
The oldest version of the Living Doll Game I’ve been able to find dates back to February of 2012 — that’s when it first appeared on the Hide And Go Kill Wikia, although it’s undergone many, many revisions since then. Saya In Underworld posted it later that year, as well, so it’s likely that 2012 is at least the year it made it to the English-speaking internet. Other versions from around that time can be found elsewhere online, too, if you look carefully.
The Living Doll Game is often compared to Hide And Seek Alone (or One-Man Hide And Seek, or Hitori Kakurenbo, or any of the other names under which the game goes) — and indeed, the goal is similar: You perform a summoning or invitation ritual with a doll, then go hide somewhere in your home and try to make it back to home base before the doll finds you. The difference, however, is that the Living Doll Game is much more dangerous than Hide And Seek Alone. The risk is high for this one, so proceed with the utmost of caution.
[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]
A note about the “scapegoat” doll: Scapegoat dolls, also known as katashiro or hitogata, were used in Shinto rituals as… well, sort of like cosmic fall guys. They could be used in purification rituals as vessels into which a person’s sins could be transferred; after the transfer was complete, the katashiro would then be disposed of, carry the sin far, far away. They could also be used to ward off bad luck — or rather, to absorb it, allowing anyone they were standing in for to reap only good luck and good fortune.
In the Living Doll Game, the scapegoat operates as a decoy. It may be optional, but it would be very, very foolish to play this game without it.
As always, play at your own risk.
Players:
- One principal.
Requirements:
- Two mirrors. These mirrors should be capable of standing upright on their own.
- One doll. This doll should resemble a human as closely as possible and should be made of a hard material — plastic, porcelain, wood, etc. (Note: This doll will be referred to as “the doll” throughout the instructions in order to differentiate it from the scapegoat.)
- One candle.
- Matches or a lighter.
- A supply of salt, wrapped in paper. At least five spoonfuls are recommended.
- A timekeeping device.
- One scapegoat doll. Optional, but highly recommended. (Note: This doll will be referred to as “the scapegoat” throughout the instructions in order to differentiate it from the doll.)
- One strand of your own hair. Optional, but highly recommended. Necessary if using the scapegoat doll.
Instructions:
The Invitation:
- Begin shortly before midnight. Clear your home of all other people and pets. Make sure you know what time the sun is due to rise.
- If using the scapegoat doll, begin by affixing the strand of hair firmly to the scapegoat. You may do this in any number of ways — tying the hair to the doll, opening the doll up and placing the hair inside before sewing the doll back up, etc. — but whichever method you choose, make certain that the hair will not become unattached during the course of the game.
- Choose a room in your home to be “home base.” Choose a different room to be your hiding place. Turn off all the lights in your home except in your home base room.
- If using the scapegoat, hide it somewhere in your home. Do NOT hide the scapegoat in the home base room or in your hiding place room.
- Bring the mirrors, candle, matches or lighter, salt, timekeeping device, and human doll to the home base room. Turn on the lights, if they aren’t already on.
- Position the mirrors so they are facing each other with a small amount of space in between.
- Place the doll and the candle in the space between the two mirrors. Keep an eye on your timekeeping device.
- When the timekeeping device reads midnight, light the candle with the matches or lighter.
- Repeat the following words aloud five times: “I leave for you a new body. Please take it.”
- Repeat the following words aloud five times: “Let’s play.”
- NOTE: At this point, you may hear noises coming from somewhere in your home. Do not be alarmed; this indicates that the Invitation has succeeded. You may proceed regardless as to whether you hear noises or not.
- If, however, you feel any physical sensations on your body — tugging, pressure, light touches, etc. — DO NOT PROCEED. Abort the ritual immediately. (See: Additional Notes.)
The Hunt:
- Take hold of the supply of salt; keep it on your person at all times. Then say aloud, “Please come and find me. If you do, I will give you my life.”
- Turn off the lights in the home base room and make your way as quickly and quietly as possible to your hiding place, taking with you only the salt. Do NOT speak. Do NOT make any additional noise. Do NOT leave a trail to your hiding place.
- When you reach your hiding place, sit cross-legged on the floor with your back to the door. Scatter some salt on yourself, but do NOT use up all of it for this purpose — you’ll need more again later.
- Wait. Do not make any noise. Do not let the doll find you.
The Closing:
- When you are ready to end the game, return to the home base room. Move swiftly, and move quietly. Do not speak. Do not make any noise. Do not do anything that would allow the doll to find you.
- Stand before the candle and repeat the following words five times: “You lose. The game is over now.”
- Extinguish the candle and scatter salt on yourself.
- Find the doll. NOTE: It may not be where you left it. When you find it, scatter salt on it.
- If using the scapegoat, find the scapegoat and scatter salt on it as well.
- Turn on all the lights in your home. Create as bright, cheerful, and pleasant an atmosphere as possible in your home by whatever means you most prefer: Play upbeat music; watch a funny television show or movie; read a book or magazine you enjoy; engage in a favorite hobby; etc. Maintain this atmosphere for at least an hour, and at least until the sun has risen.
- Within three days of completing the game, make sure you perform the following actions:
- Destroy the mirrors and dispose of them in two different places as far away from each other as possible.
- Remove the hair from the scapegoat, burn the hair, and destroy and dispose of the scapegoat.
- Bring the doll to a shrine. If you are unable to do this, destroy and and dispose of the doll instead.
- Be careful in the dark from here on out.
Additional Notes:
No bystanders may be present while playing this game. It is also not recommended that pets be allowed to remain in the house during the game’s duration.
The human doll CANNOT be made of a soft material. Do NOT use a doll with a soft body. Do NOT use a plush doll.
The scapegoat doll may be made of any material, although it is not recommended that it be similar or identical to the human doll.
When hiding the scapegoat, don’t make it too easy to find, but don’t make it too hard to find, either. It’s a decoy; it can’t do its job if it’s not hidden just right.
The game may also be played in its original language. To do so, use the following words and phrases instead of the previously described English language ones:
- Atarashii karada wo oite okimasu, douzo otsukai kudasai. (“I leave for you a new body. Please take it.”)
- Asobi shimashou. (“Let’s play.”)
- Watashi wo sagashite kudasai. Mitsuketara inochi wo agemasu. (“Please come and find me. If you do, I will give you my life.”)
- Anata no makedesu. Oshimai. (“You lose. The game is over now.”)
If it becomes necessary to abort the ritual: Scatter salt on the mirrors, the doll, and the scapegoat. Destroy and dispose of the mirrors, the doll, and the scapegoat as indicated in The Closing.
Some good news: Even if the doll finds the room you are in, it may not notice you…. unless you make too much noise. It is of the utmost important that you remain as silent as possible for the duration of the game.
If, during The Hunt, you begin to feel as if you are in immediate danger: Quietly rise from your sitting position and hide somewhere in the room. Inside a closet or under or behind a large piece of furniture are ideal. Do NOT make any noise, and do NOT leave a trail indicating where you are hiding.
The game becomes more dangerous the longer it continues. It is in your best interest to end it — without getting caught — as soon as possible.
You MUST finish the game before sunrise.
Do NOT leave your home before ending the game.
Do NOT neglect to destroy and dispose of the mirrors of the dolls.
Do NOT neglect to end the game.
For An Extra Challenge:
A more challenging variation of the game may be played by making the following adjustments:
- Before beginning, turn on at least one light in every room in your home.
- After The Hunt begins, do not go immediately to your hiding place. Instead, travel through your home, turning off all of the lights as you go. When you finally reach your hiding place, turn off the lights there as well and sit as previously described.
This variation allows the doll to track you based on the status of the lights, subsequently making it much easier to find you and catch you.
Do NOT let the doll catch you.
If The Doll Is Smiling At The End Of The Game:
It found you.
You may not have noticed… but it did.
I’m sorry.
There’s nothing to be done now.
***
Please don’t copy or republish this post on other sites. Linking to it or sharing the URL is fine (and encouraged!), as is writing your own unique version of the game, but copying/pasting, republishing, or otherwise reproducing the text of this piece in its entirety or near-entirety on other websites without permission isn’t.
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[Photo via Mimzy/Pixabay]
Maybe its smile will be more like a smirk, or something.
Not really because the demon can still sense some human energy (I think)
Can I use Nendoroid or Funko Pop figurines for this?
what if you use so many scapegoats you go bald?
So I’m assuming if you feel the spirit or something else touching you you have to abort cos it thinks you’re the body it’s been offered? And if that’s possible could it possess what you think is the safe doll? I guess the only way to know is if the doll didn’t move and/or the scapegoat did. Also what if two spirits want to play?
Huh, I don’t see anything starting we can’t make an absolute metric fuckload of decoy dolls. That’d be a good surprise for whatever comes in. >u>
What if the doll is already smiling? Like the doll is a smiling doll. Example, a Barbie doll, it is already smiling.
Scary…
When will you realize that the doll has found you? When it comes into your hiding place and starts to smile or during The Closing when you find the doll to destroy it? Will you immediately die after losing or will there be a “waiting period”? What if the doll is in The Homebase when you want to end the game? Do you just have to wait and hide again? And what if the doll found the scapegoat and thinks it won, so that when you do The Closing you find the doll and it’s smiling?
This is such a cool game and i got goosebumps just from reading about it.
What happens if the doll is plush?
It won’t work, Eva.
What if we used an action figure? Those do count as dolls right?
Would it be considered cheating if you used a head to toe full body black suit and hide in the shadows? Like camouflage?
I understand the reason for creating a scapegoat doll, but can you create more than one in order to make the game easier on yourself?
Can I use a scarecrow?
This might be a morbid question but since it seems the doll is sort of attracted to your energy (hence why you put your hair on the decoy) would it make a difference if you, say, shaved your head and put all your hair in the decoy or if you poured your own blood into the decoy?
I’m pretty confused at the doll smiling at the end of the game because it found you. Is it when you go find it after successfully end the game? I’d be happy if someone can fill me in. Thank you ^^
I wonder if wearing a black full body suit (head to foot and face covered) to blend into the darkness be considered cheating?
What if my home base and hiding rooms are right next to each other, so I can reach it faster and easier?
Will that be safe?
I wouldn’t deem it so. Sure, you’d be closer to home base, but I’m sure the doll will start looking in the adjacent rooms first. If you are hiding in a room adjacent to your home base, I suggest hiding REALLY well. You might even want to wait a while before coming out, even if the doll has left the room. Remember, all it needs to do is catch you in its sights to consider you “found.”
I would guess not. From what I gather the doll is starting in your home base (I think) so, yes it would be easier to make it back to home base, but it would also make you easier to find.
It’ll be preferable to keep them in a safe distance; probably an attic or so where the doll is less likely to search. I mean it’s practically a creepy version of hide or seek. If you’re right besides the room she was in, it’ll be more likely to search in the room besides her and no matter how much energy you radiate, it’ll be less likely for the doll to find you if you’re right above her, right? (I dunno, just a thought.) Besides, you could like put the decoy in one room and hurry all the way across the house to hide in a closet. That’s what I’d do.
About the doll smiling, what if the doll already came with a smiling face?
I was wondering the exact same thing !! Maybe it’ll be frowning?
Then I guess you’ll just have to use another doll? I mean, if you use a doll that is already smiling you won’t know if you did lose or not.
So you need to turn off the light only in the room with the doll at the beggining of the game. But I’ve also read somewhere that you should turn off all the lights in the house. So which one would be correct?
Both- turn off all lights first, then you turn off the home base light.
“Extra Challenge” Yeah, If it already wasn’t pants-wetting enough to have a demon doll trying to find you.
Love your posts though! Keep up the good work! Also, I have a recommendation for another game: 12 Polaroids.
What if the doll finds you while you are in the midst of The Closing: Step 2? Do I just try to quickly finish chanting the words?
hmmmm I think if you chant it once it’ll be enough to at least “protect” you from the doll. if you haven’t chanted anything I’d say you’re in danger.
“Do not let the doll catch you nor find you”
Well, it will smile, and there is nothing you can do.
I’m confused by the resemblance of a human part for the doll. Would a button that resembles an eye equally work compared to a sticker that resembles an eye (like a bratz doll)? And also can you modify the doll so it will gain human-esque traits? Or does it need to come with those traits?
Hi Lucia, great story as always. One question though, will you please clarify for me what the scapegoat does and why using it is so highly reccommended? Also what would be an ideal duration to wait before ending the game?
The scapegoat probably seems like you to the spirit since it has your hair. It may be recommended as otherwise the doll would find it easier to find you and you may DIE! Remember, the scapegoat is a decoy.
Okay, this ritual is one of the most horrifying I’ve read on here. And I have so many questions:
What’s extra-scary about this is the fact that the game proceeds for an indefinite length of time and gets harder the longer you play (like “Lights Out”). At some point, you will have to leave your hiding place and end the ritual, but you can bide your time until then–for how long? How do you know when the time is right to run out of your hiding place and book it down to home base? Will the doll try to stop you from ending the ritual? (Probably.)
I’m assuming that like other rituals (“One Man Hide and Seek,” for example), the hair serves to imbue the scapegoat with human energy. In this case, the scapegoat would act as a “lightening rod” and attract the doll towards it instead of towards you. This seems sketchy to me, because even though the player has been thoroughly salted in their safe room, I’m willing to bet they’re still broadcasting way more energy than the scapegoat is. Granted, the scapegoat is better than nothing, but I don’t think it’s nearly the buffer that this makes it out to be.
Finally, if the doll has been ritually brought to life, does that mean the scapegoat has been animated too? Does the scapegoat know its role to play in this situation, and does it have any agency to act on its own? What if the scapegoat doesn’t feel like acting as the “lightening rod,” and feels as though it’s being sacrificed against its will?
Ugh, the potential for mishap is so high in this one due to all the unknowns. Sorry for such a long comment.
For the first question, you can stay in the hiding spot for as long as you want before the sun rises. Keep an eye for the time too. You must remember when the sun rises. The doll is hunting for you so yes it will try to stop you. The Scapegoat, I am lead to believe, doesn’t move. it does act as a safety, drawing the doll to it first. I hope this helps but I’m grasping at straws here. I hope you don’t play the game to find out what actually happens though.
Yeah, those answers make sense; I think you’re probably right. And of all the games I’ve read on this site, this is the LAST one I would play. I’m terrified of dolls.
Wait, I have another question: when you reach your hiding place (i.e., another room of you house that is NOT the home base room), the rules say to sit cross-legged with your back to the door.
Does this mean that the entire room itself is a hiding place (and therefore relatively safe-ish), and you can sit anywhere in the room? Or should I assume that one should hide somewhere WITHIN that room (e.g., under a bed, behind a dresser, in a closet)?
To clarify, it specifies sitting in front of the door (unless you feel you are in immediate danger). Once you feel threatened, then you hide in a specific place within that room. Until then, you need to remain by the door.
What is the reward for playing this game?
The reward is your life to keep. Basically, it will cause more trouble since you need to tread carefully whenever you’re in the dark even though you’ve successfully completed the game.
You don’t die. You are basically telling the demon that if it finds you it can have your life.
Something I really like about the readers here is that whenever someone asks a question about a game, fellow readers are quick to help and share their thoughts. Thanks for being so helpful, guys!??
What exactly does the scapegoat do?
It’s like a fake you, a decoy for the doll to find.
I’m pretty sure it acts as a distraction, making it harder for you to be found.
it’s a decoy. I think when you tie your hair to it it allows the human doll to track it too. if the human doll finds it it may think it’s you and think it won. at least that’s how I see it
Well, it distracts the doll. When the hunt begins, the main doll will first look for the distraction, then look for you.
It’s a decoy, like the writer said. It is like you use the scapegoat as bait to lure the doll into the wrong position.
It’s a decoy so that the doll is distracted and will think it’s found you. Much easier and less dangerous.
I hope you never run out of these scary rituals. After all, they’re my favorite!
So, can I put the dolls at one end of the house, have my two rooms at the other end, and end the game in 5 minutes or less?
Your home base, where you start and end the game, is where the doll starts out in, so no, you can’t have the room the doll starts in at the opposite end of the house from the doll.
What if it is real and the doll finds me? Also is it necessary to use the whole house? Like you live live on one of the floors of the house ,is it necessary to play in the whole house? I am confused…
It kills you.
Yes it is. Obviously.
In order to abort the ritual you have to find the doll and scatter salt on it, but doesn’t that mean that it has found you since you are showing yourself to it? This game is really interesting, great post as always 😀
Well, you can only go find the doll AFTER you’ve successfully completed “The Closing” steps. I think the doll would be like any other ordinary doll.
In order to abort the ritual you would have to begin aborting it before you leave the home base where the doll is in the first place, before going to hide. If you’ve already begun hiding, the only way (or the safest way) to abort the game would be to play it through to the end.
Great game! I always wait to see more, I’m curious to know where you find these rituals, and it is possible to make one yourself?
A lot of these rituals can be found on subreddits, Creepypasta’s website, 4chan, and many others as well. You can easily write one yourself. Not to burst any bubbles here, but a good majority of these rituals have unresponsive results and were just written for the horror factor (in other words, they aren’t real rituals); but some of them really do date back to the olden days