The Most Dangerous Games: The Ghost Book Game

Previously: The Devil’s Candle Ritual.

Looking for a short, easy ritual game to play with one player? The Ghost Book Game, or 귀신의 책 in the original Korean, might just fit the bill. Part summoning ritual, part information-gathering game, it requires only a few everyday supplies, a single player, and a relatively short amount of time to carry out.

The Ghost Book Game seems to have gained popularity in Korea sometime around 2020; that’s when the Namuwiki page on it appeared, with an original upload date of July 8 of that year. A handful of YouTube videos and Thredic threads mentioning it followed shortly thereafter, and it’s continued to pop up from time to time since then.

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

In terms of its relative fear factor, the Ghost Book Game makes use of longstanding superstitions surrounding the number four; as it is in a number of Asian countries and cultures, the number four is associated with death here, due to the similarities in sound between the Korean words for each.

One oddity about this one: Although all of the sources for the Ghost Book Game that I’ve located state that you may ask a question of the ghost summoned, describe when to ask this question, and even make specific stipulations about the kind of question you can ask (a question that can be answered with an O or an X — that is, a yes-or-no question or a true-or-false question), none of them actually say how you receive your answer. It remains something of a mystery; I guess it’s one of those things where, if you do, in fact, get an answer, you’ll just sort of… know. Not very satisfying, but alas, it is what it is.

There’s an awful lot of fire involved in this one, so please note that it is a major fire hazard and that common sense fire safety precautions should be exercised, should you choose to play. We here at TGIMM bear no responsibility for whatever might happen to you, should you choose to play this game; these instructions are for educational purposes only.

As always — for a wide variety of reasons — play at your own risk.

Players:

• One principal.

Requirements:

• A book. (See: Additional Notes.)
• A candle.
• Matches or a lighter.
• A fireproof container.
• Two chairs.
• A timekeeping device or alarm. (Optional, but recommended.)
• A question to which you desire an answer. (See: Additional Notes.)

Instructions:

Making The Preparations:

1. Begin at any time.
2. Empty your playing space of all other people and pets. Ensure that you will not be disturbed for the duration of the game. Close the door, if necessary.
3. Place the two chairs in the space. Position them such that they are facing each other.
4. Place the timekeeping device nearby. If using an alarm, set it for one hour.
5. Place the book on one of the chairs, cover facing up.
6. Sit in the other chair.

Summoning Your Correspondent:

1. Hold the candle in your hand. Using the matches or lighter, light it.
2. Recite the following words three times: “Ghost, ghost, are you here? Are you here?”
3. Watch the book.
   • If it remains stationary: The ritual has failed; do not proceed.
   • If it begins to spin in place: The ritual has succeeded; you may proceed.
4. After the book makes at least one full rotation, but not more than three (see: Additional Notes), open it and turn to the first page.
   • NOTE: If the book completes FOUR OR MORE rotations, do NOT proceed with the ritual. Please refer to the Force-Stop Procedures detailed below.
5. Read this page of the book in its entirety.
6. Now: You may ask your question.
7. Wait.
8. Wait.
9. Wait.
10. Wait, until you receive your answer.

Ending The Game:

1. When one hour has passed (which may or may not be indicated by the sounding of the alarm, depending on whether you have chosen to utilize it), or when you are ready to end the game — whichever comes first — use the candle and the fireproof container to burn the book to ashes. You MUST burn the book completely. Do not leave a single scrap or page behind.
   • NOTE: Use extreme caution when performing this action and exercise any and all necessary common sense safety precautions. See: Additional Notes.
2. Then, let the candle burn until it extinguishes itself. Remain in the room during this step; do not leave the candle burning unattended.
3. When the book is nothing but ash and the candle has burned itself out, dispose of the remains of both.

Additional Notes:

Due to the use of candles and open flames, this game should be considered a FIRE HAZARD. Take common sense fire safety precautions before playing, including but not limited to removing all flammable objects or items from the vicinity of the flame, keeping a functional fire extinguisher on hand during the course of the game, etc. We are not responsible for anything that may befall you while playing this game.

No bystanders may be present while playing this game. Do not attempt to play with more than one person in your chosen playing space. Do not attempt to play with any pets or other living creatures in your chosen playing space. Do not allow yourself to be interrupted at any point over the duration of the game.

The game MUST be completed within one hour. Do not permit the game to go on longer than this time.

The book may be of any type, as long as it concerns a topic of personal interest to you, and as long as it is at least 10 pages in length. It is not recommended you use a book that has sentimental value, due to the possible destruction of the volume that may occur during the course of the game. (See: Force-Stop Procedure.)

The question MUST be a yes-or-no or a true-or-false question. Do not attempt to ask an open-ended question or a question that cannot be answered with “yes,” “no,” “true,” or “false” responses.

Force-Stop Procedure:

If and when the book commences spinning, be mindful of the number of times it makes a complete rotation. Do NOT allow the book to complete FOUR OR MORE rotations.

In the event that the book completes at least four rotations, enact the following emergency force-stop procedure:

1. Pick up the book immediately.
2. Open the book.
3. Find the fourth page.
4. Tear the fourth page out completely.
5. Burn it.

Burn it, or risk facing your own death… rather sooner than you might like.

***

Follow The Ghost In My Machine on Bluesky @GhostMachine13.bsky.social, Twitter @GhostMachine13, and Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine. And for more games, don’t forget to check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available now from Chronicle Books!

[Photos via perronjeremie, Monsterkoi, Life-Of-Pix/Pixabay]