35 Scary Games to Play—Urban Legends, Paranormal Chills, and Creepy Group Fun
These eerie group dares will test your courage and leave you questioning reality.
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Are you brave enough to summon spirits, challenge fate, or face your deepest fears in the dark? If you’re looking to inject a dose of adrenaline and eerie suspense into your night, these 35 scary games—from classic urban legends to supernatural rituals—are sure to test your courage. Gather your friends, dim the lights, and prepare for thrills, chills, and maybe a few sleepless nights.
What Makes a Game Scary?
Scary games draw on a mix of suspense, superstition, and the unknown. Whether attempting to contact spirits, perform eerie chants, or follow mysterious rituals from legend, the anticipation and psychological tension deliver an unforgettable experience. While most of these games rely on theatricality and urban myth, the fun comes from how convincingly you and your group can immerse yourselves in the tale.
Main Types of Scary Games Covered
- Urban legend games: Classic challenges like Bloody Mary and Candyman
- Paranormal ritual games: Games that claim to summon spirits or supernatural entities
- Group participation games: Fun, spooky games for sleepovers and parties
- Board and card games: Commercially available horror and mystery games for group play
Top 35 Scary Games to Play When You’re Feeling Brave
Here is a comprehensive list of games—from those steeped in legend to creepy modern challenges—that have made generations double-check their mirrors and sleep with the lights on.
1. Bloody Mary
Players: 1 or more
What you need: A dark bathroom with a mirror
- Stand in front of the mirror, lights off.
- Chant “Bloody Mary” three (or more) times.
- Legend claims the specter of Bloody Mary may appear behind you.
This time-honored ritual has terrified kids for decades—few report completing it without a racing heartbeat.
2. The Candyman
Players: 1 or more
What you need: A dark room and a mirror
- Similar to Bloody Mary, but you repeat “Candyman” five times.
- Supposedly, the Candyman spirit will appear—and that’s when things get scary.
3. The Ouija Board
Players: 2 or more
What you need: Ouija board (commercial or DIY), planchette
- Participants place fingertips on the planchette and ask questions to the supposed spirits.
- Stories abound of ominous answers, eerie coincidences, and unexplained movements.
4. Concentrate
Players: 2 (one stands behind the other)
What you need: A quiet room
- The person behind recites the “Concentrate” poem, tapping the other’s shoulders and head.
- Legend says you’ll have a vision of how you’ll die, based on what you imagine during the ritual—colors and images correspond to various fates.
5. Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board
Players: 4 or more
What you need: A volunteer to “levitate”
- Group gathers around a person lying on their back and chants, “Light as a feather, stiff as a board,” while attempting to lift with only fingertips.
- Many swear the person feels impossibly light—perhaps a touch of the supernatural.
6. The Midnight Man
Players: 1 or more
What you need: Candle, salt, paper, pin, door
- Write your name on paper, prick your finger, add a drop of blood.
- Place paper by door, light the candle, knock 22 times.
- The game begins at midnight—walk your home trying to avoid the “Midnight Man.” Lose if your candle goes out and you fail to relight it fast enough.
7. Three Kings
Players: 1 (with assistants recommended)
What you need: 2 mirrors, 3 chairs, a dark room, and props
- Set one chair (for yourself) facing forward, with mirrors on each side. The setup creates an illusion of otherworldly “kings” joining you.
- You enter at 3:33 a.m. and test your perception and resolve.
8. The Elevator Game
Players: 1
What you need: An elevator in a 10+ story building
- Follow a strict sequence of elevator floors (e.g., 4 – 2 – 6 – 2 – 10 – 5 – 1) without being interrupted.
- Legend claims you’ll enter another realm if successful. Make sure you’re ready for strange encounters.
9. One-Man Hide and Seek
Players: 1
What you need: Doll or stuffed animal, rice, nail clippers, red thread, saltwater
- Fill the doll with rice, sew it up with red thread, and declare the game begun at 3 a.m.
- Hide and try not to be found; the doll is said to be possessed for the duration.
10. The Closet Game
Players: 1
What you need: Unlit match, a dark closet
- Stand in a pitch-black closet, hold the match, and recite: “Show me the light or leave me in darkness.”
- If you sense a presence, light the match immediately and leave—don’t look back!
11. The Answer Man
Players: 10 or more, each with a mobile phone
What you need: Phones, a circle of friends
- Exchange numbers in a circle and simultaneously call the one to your left.
- If someone connects with a mysterious “Answer Man,” you may ask any question (but be ready for consequences).
12. The Thumb Game
Players: Multiple participants
What you need: Candle, a group, a scary story
- Based on a Japanese legend: form a circle, each person grips the left thumb of the person beside them, candle in the center.
- Close your eyes and chant; you’ll be “transported” to the scene. The objective is to recover the missing thumb—without breaking the chain.
13. Red Door, Yellow Door
Players: Two (a guide and a subject)
What you need: A comfortable area to lie down
- The guide puts the subject into a light trance, prompting them to go through mental “doors.”
- Some players claim to uncover repressed memories or meet mysterious beings in the mind’s corridors.
14. The Corner Game
Players: Four
What you need: A square room with four corners
- Players each stand in a corner, turn off the lights, and chant to summon a spirit.
- Players then rotate corners—and see if something else joins the circle.
15. The Fortune Game
Players: Three
What you need: Candles, mirrors, a dark room
- Blow out a candle at midnight and look into the mirror to receive a “vision” of your future or your fate.
16. Baby Blue
Players: One or more
What you need: Bathroom with a mirror, dark lighting
- Cradle your arms as if holding a baby, chant for “Baby Blue.”
- Some say you’ll feel weight as if a ghostly infant materialized.
17. The Cat Scratch Game
Players: Two
What you need: Dark room
- One person lies on their back while the other rubs their temples and chants the “Cat Scratch” story.
- After the story’s told, red scratches might appear on the person’s back.
18. The Stiff as a Board Variation
Similar to “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board,” but with different chants or incantations depending on the region.
19. Don’t Look Behind You
Players: One or more
What you need: Courage, a dark hallway
- Walk backward down a long, dark space, keeping your eyes straight ahead—don’t look behind you, no matter what you hear.
20. Charlie Charlie
Players: Two or more
What you need: Paper, pencils
- Draw a grid and balance pencils on top. Ask, “Charlie, Charlie, are you there?”
- Watch for pencil movement—a supposed answer from the spirit world.
21. The Picture Game
Players: Several
What you need: String, rooms, Polaroid camera
- Follow a ritual and take photos; legend states you may glimpse spirits or dark shapes in the snapshots.
22. The Raven Man
Players: Alone
What you need: Seven candles, a poem
- Light the candles, recite the poem, and wait in the dark. Some claim to sense a dignified but menacing presence.
23. Hide and Go Seek (in the Dark)
Turn off all the lights for this classic game, letting suspense and surprise amplify every creak and footstep.
24. The Picture-Frame Game
A regional variant of The Picture Game, meant to capture “what the eye can’t see” in the photos.
25. The Spirit of the Pen
Similar to Charlie Charlie, participants use a pen and notebook to ask spirits closed questions and interpret pen movements for answers.
26. Bedtime Ghost Stories
Timeless and adaptable—gather in a circle and exchange terrifying stories for classic sleepover chills.
27. The Red Book Game
Players: One or more
What you need: Red book, candle
- Ask a question aloud, then open to a random page and place your finger on a word or sentence. That’s your answer.
28. The Mothman Game
Combines chanting, darkness, and the power of suggestion to attempt summoning the legendary Mothman.
29. The Thumb Game
(See above in #12—repeated for emphasis because of its unique, haunting premise from Japanese urban legend.)
30. The Answer Man
(See above in #11—a modern, telecommunications-themed ritual with unnerving potential.)
31. Sandman
Participants describe being filled with “sand,” incrementally, while lying perfectly still. May leave you feeling unnervingly weighted down.
32. Sleepover Séance
Use a homemade or store-bought Ouija board, candles, and whispered questions to attempt contact with spirits—all in the name of spooky fun.
33. Playing the Fortune Teller
From folded paper “cootie catchers” to tarot cards, test fate with mysterious predictions and eerie fortunes.
34. The Pencil Game
Related to Charlie Charlie, participants ask questions and note pencil movement for answers supposedly from the spirits.
35. Hide and Seek Alone
An intensely scary variation where a player attempts to “hide” from an inanimate object (like a doll) that’s said to come “alive.”
Table: Game Categories and Player Recommendations
| Game Name | Type | Players | Ideal Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloody Mary | Urban Legend Ritual | Solo/Group | Bathroom, night |
| Ouija Board | Spirit Communication | Group | Quiet, dim-lit space |
| The Midnight Man | Supernatural Ritual | Solo/Group | Home, midnight |
| Red Door Yellow Door | Psychedelic Hypnosis | Duo | Quiet, comfortable |
| Light as a Feather | Levitation Group | Group of 4+ | Living room or bedroom |
Safety and Disclaimer
- Most scary games are based on folklore and psychological suggestion. There is no scientific evidence of supernatural results.
- Never attempt games involving fire, matches, or sharp objects unattended.
- Scary games are not recommended for anyone with a history of anxiety, panic attacks, or anyone uncomfortable with horror themes.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Scary Games
Q: Are these scary games safe for kids?
A: Most are safe if played in a supervised environment, but some rituals can cause anxiety or genuine fear—always consider the ages, personalities, and comfort levels of participants.
Q: Can these games actually summon spirits or supernatural beings?
A: There is no scientific evidence that spirits are summoned; the experiences are often a result of group psychology, suggestion, and a vivid imagination.
Q: What is the scariest game on this list?
A: It depends on players’ nerve and tastes, but classics like Bloody Mary, the Ouija Board, and The Midnight Man are widely regarded as especially frightening.
Q: What should I do if I get too scared?
A: Immediately stop the game, turn on the lights, and take a break with friends. Remember, these games are for fun—not real danger!
Q: Are any of these games tied to real paranormal events?
A: Most are based on longstanding myths and urban legends, not verified occurrences. They persist because they inspire the imagination and a little adrenaline.
Conclusion: Brave Enough to Play?
Whether frightfully fun or just fun to frighten, scary games are the ultimate way to liven up a sleepover, party, or dark and stormy night. If you have a taste for the eerie and love a good heart-pounding tale, these games will keep you on edge and laughing long after the lights come back on.
References
- https://parade.com/living/scary-games
- https://beatricebaker.com/2020/11/06/scary-games/
- https://platinumparagon.info/psychology-of-horror-games/
- https://www.military.com/off-duty/games/disorienting-horror-video-game-tries-capture-ptsd-experience.html
- https://pekoeblaze.wordpress.com/2021/09/10/why-older-survival-horror-games-often-included-content-warnings/
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