The Most Dangerous Games: The Elevator Game – Three-Floor Version

Previously: The Whisper Game.

Note: Please don’t copy/paste, republish, or narrate this post on other websites, video platforms, etc. without permission.

Wish you could play the Elevator Game, but can’t find a building with 10 floors in which to play it? Good news: You can still give it a try — if, that is, you play the three-floor version of the Elevator Game. Like its better-known cousin, the Three-Floor Elevator Game still purports to transport you to another world (unlike the last variation on the theme we examined); the procedure used to make that journey is even somewhat similar.

That said, though, there are still a few differences between the original Elevator To Another World game and this alternate version — and not just when it comes to the number of floors required.

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For one thing, the Three-Floor Elevator Game permits more than one player to embark on the journey at the start — so if you want to play with a group, rather than alone? Well, here you go. Furthermore, the Woman On The Fifth Floor — the… questionable companion who sometimes chooses to board the elevator during one particular stop in the original Elevator Game — isn’t present here, although there is someone else who might join you along the way.

It’s perhaps worth noting that I’ve only seen this variation of the game in one place: A blog post published to — of all things — what seems to be a Japanese beauty website and forum called Hot Pepper Beauty. The post was written by someone calling themself Toshitaro Kobayashi (小林敏太郎), who claimed to be an occult researcher; this particular post was published on March 5, 2020, although Kobayashi had also previously published a post featuring the 10-floor Elevator Game back in 2017.

That doesn’t mean, of course, that this is the only time the Three-Floor Elevator Game has appeared online, or that Kobayashi invented it themself; either or both of those possibilities could be true, but I’ve not been able to come to a firm conclusion either way. Due both to the ephemeral nature of the internet and a good old-fashioned language barrier, the trail of my research both began and ended here.

In any event, the Three-Floor Elevator Game does seem like it might be slightly less dangerous than the OG — but don’t be fooled: That doesn’t mean it’s safe.

As always, play at your own risk.

Players:

• At least one Principal. (See: Additional Notes.)

Requirements:

• A building, at least three stories high and equipped with an elevator that is capable of reaching all three floors. The elevator MUST ALSO be equipped with a feature that will allow you to cancel a call for a previously-selected floor. (See: Additional Notes.)

Instructions:

Venturing Out, Part 1 – The First Mile:

1. Enter your chosen building and enter the elevator. If playing with multiple participants, all players must enter the same elevator car at the same time. Do not proceed if anyone OTHER than the participants enter the elevator along with you.
2. Press and release the button for the third floor; then quickly press and hold the “door close” button.
3. Continue holding the “door close” button until the elevator doors begin to close.
4. Right before the doors close completely, release the “door close” button” and press and release the “door open” button. You MUST press the “door open” button before the doors close all the way. If you do not perform this action correctly, DO NOT PROCEED.
5. When the doors begin to open, press and release the “door close” button; then cancel the the call for the previously-selected third floor (see: Additional Notes).
6. After you have cancelled the call for the third floor, press and release the “door open” button.
   • NOTE: At this point, the elevator should still be on the first floor — that is, the car should not have moved to another floor yet. If the car has moved, DO NOT PROCEED.

Venturing Out, Part 2 – The Journey:

1. After the doors have opened, press the button for the third floor.
2. Allow the doors to close and the elevator to travel from the first floor to the third floor.
3. When you reach the third floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the first floor.
4. When you reach the first floor,remain in the elevator and press the button for the second floor.
5. When you reach the second floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the first floor.
6. When you reach the first floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the third floor.
7. When you reach the third floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the second floor.
8. When you reach the second floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the first floor.
9. When you reach the first floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the second floor.
10. When you reach the second floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the third floor.
11. When you reach the third floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the second floor.
12. When you reach the second floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the first floor.
13. When you reach the first floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the third floor.
    • Remember: The order is 3-1-2-1-3-2-1-2-3-2-1-3. Do not forget.
    • If you press any other button, accidentally or otherwise, do not proceed.
    • If you cancel any selection, accidentally or otherwise, do not proceed.
    • If anyone else gets on the elevator at any point, do not proceed.

Venturing Out, Part 3 – The Last Mile:

1. When your reach the third floor, remain in the elevator.
2. Press the button for the first floor, but then immediately cancel the call.
3. Remain in the elevator.
4. Press the button for the second floor, but then immediately cancel the call.
5. Remain in the elevator.
6. Press the button for the first floor. Allow the doors to close and for the elevator to travel to the correct floor.
7. When you reach the first floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the second floor. Allow the doors to close and for the elevator to travel to the correct floor.
8. When you reach the second floor, a… guide may come aboard. You need not fear them, but do not speak to them.
9. After the guide has boarded, press the button for the first floor, but then immediately cancel the call.
10. After canceling the selection, press the button for the first floor once more.
11. If you have performed the ritual correctly, the elevator will descend to the first floor. Once you arrive, the doors will not open; instead, the elevator will begin ascending to the third floor.
    • NOTE: If the elevator doors DO open at the first floor, or the elevator does NOT ascend to the third floor, exit the elevator at the first floor and vacate the building immediately. Do NOT look back.
12. At this point — assuming you have achieved success — you have a choice to make:
    • You may continue to travel upward;
    • Or, you may terminate the ritual by pressing the button to any other floor besides the third.
13. Make your choice.
    • If you choose to terminate the ritual: For you, the game ends here. Return the elevator to the first floor, exit the elevator car, and vacate the building.
    • If you choose to continue onward: Allow the elevator to reach the third floor. You may proceed.
14. When the doors open, look out, and you will see a world that is… not your own.
15. You may choose to leave the elevator if you like — to explore this strange, new world. Or, you may stay put, merely observing what you see from the safety of the elevator car.

The Return Trip, Part 1 – The First Mile:

1. When you are ready to return to your own world, return to the elevator car in which you arrived — if, that is, you chose to leave the elevator to explore — and allow the doors to close behind you.
2. Press the button for the first floor, but then immediately cancel the call.
3. Press the button for the second floor. Allow the doors to close and for the elevator to travel to the correct floor.
4. Remain in the elevator.
5. Press the button for the first floor. Allow the doors to close and for the elevator to travel to the correct floor.
6. Remain in the elevator.
7. Press the button for the second floor, but then immediately cancel the call.
8. Remain in the elevator.
9. Press the button for the first floor, but then immediately cancel the call.
10. Remain in the elevator.
11. Press the button for the third floor.

The Return Trip, Part 2 – The Journey:

1. When you reach the third floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the first floor.
2. When you reach the first floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the second floor.
3. When you reach the second floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the third floor.
4. When you reach the third floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the second floor.
5. When you reach the second floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the first floor.
6. When you reach the first floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the second floor.
7. When you reach the second floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the first floor.
8. When you reach the first floor, remain in the elevator and press the button for the third floor.
9. When you reach the third floor, remain in the elevator.
   • Remember: The order is 3-1-2-3-2-1-2-3-1-2-1-3. Do not forget.

The Return Trip, Part 3 – The Last Mile:

1. Press and release the button for the first floor; then quickly press and hold the “door close” button.
2. Continue holding the “door close” button until the elevator doors begin to close.
3. Right before the doors close completely, release the “door close” button” and press and release the “door open” button. You MUST press the “door open” button before the doors close all the way. If you do not perform this action correctly, DO NOT PROCEED.
4. When the doors begin to open, press and release the “door close” button; then cancel the previously-selected first floor.
5. After you have cancelled the call for the first floor, press and release the “door open” button.
   • NOTE: At this point, the elevator should still be on the third floor — that is, the car should not have moved to another floor yet. If the car has moved, DO NOT PROCEED.
6. After the doors have opened, press the button for the first floor.
7. When you reach the first floor, allow to the elevator doors to open. Look outside, but do not leave — yet.
8. Does the world look like your world?
9. You’d best be sure it does. For should you exit the elevator and notice too late that the world is not your own — that something, even the tiniest detail, is off…
10. …You may never see your true home again.

Additional Notes:

Regarding the number of players:

• This game may be played with more than one participant. However, people who are NOT active participants should not be present in the elevator car while the game is in play. If anyone OTHER than the active participants — or the guide who may appear, as specified in Step 8 of Venturing Out, Part 3 — boards the elevator at any point during the game, the game MUST be terminated.
• If playing with multiple participants, all participants must enter the same elevator car at the start of the game. Any participants who enter a different elevator car at the start may be considered to have begun a second game. The games may be played simultaneously, but each car must make its own journey.
• Once the game has begun, active participants should not exit the elevator car except at times when the instructions deem it is permissible to do so.
• If playing with more than one participant, you may find it helpful to designate one participant to be in charge of pressing the elevator buttons.

Regarding elevator call cancellation:

• Some elevators include functions that allow for a previously-made call to be cancelled from the elevator control panel. However, this function does not always operate the same way; for instance, some elevators may allow you to cancel all call by pressing the button of the floor you no longer wish to travel to twice quickly in succession, while others include a full “stop” button intended only to be used in emergency situations.
• Furthermore, not all elevators are equipped with a cancellation function in the first place.
• The elevator in which you chose to play MUST have a cancellation function.
• It is best to do your research before attempting to play this game: Determine not only whether the elevator has a cancellation function, but also the manner in which the cancellation function operates before you begin.
• If the elevator is not equipped with a cancellation function, the game will not succeed.
• If you do not operate the cancellation function correctly, the gamer will not succeed.
• Choose your elevator wisely.

Regarding the early termination of the ritual:

• If, at any point, it is necessary to terminate the ritual before completion, you may do so by pressing the button for the first floor, exiting the elevator upon arrival, and vacating the building as soon as possible. Do not look back. Do not take that elevator again in the future. Do not return to the building at all if possible.

A Note About The Return Trip:

You will notice that the Return Trip is, in essence, Venturing Out in reverse — with, that is, a few variations.

The First Mile of the Return Trip is the Last Mile of Venturing Out, reversed.

The Journey of the Return Trip is the Journey of Venturing Out, reversed.

The Last Mile of the Return Trip is the First Mile of Venturing Out, although not quite reversed. The order of operations is the same; however, the numbered floor button utilized in the Return Trip’s Last Mile is the first floor, whereas the numbered floor button utilized in Venturing Out’s First Mile is the third floor.

Pay attention.

The details matter.

Don’t confuse them, or mess them up.

If you do, your safety cannot be guaranteed.

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Please don’t copy, republish, or narrate this post on other sites without permission (TikTokkers, that includes you). Linking to it or sharing the URL is fine (and encouraged!), as is writing your own unique version of the game based on your own research, but copying and pasting, republishing, or otherwise reproducing the text of this piece in its entirety or near-entirety on other websites without permission, or summarizing it without credit and passing off the work and research as your own, isn’t. 

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[Photo via Sunguk Kim/Unsplash]