In 2015, a phenomenon known as the “Charlie Charlie Challenge” took the internet by storm. It's since become one of the most easily identifiable paranormal ghost game around — sort of like the current generation's version of the time-honored classic, Bloody Mary — but it's worth noting that it isn't the only game of this sort floating around out there. There are loads of games like “Charlie Charlie” bopping around the internet; what's more, the rules for most of them are usually just a Google search away. Feel like tempting fate today? Maybe today's the day that you really, really want to creep yourself out? Read on.I've mentioned before that I consider creepypasta to be the modern day equivalent of the urban legends so many of us grew up telling at sleepovers and around campfires. Games and rituals like "Charlie Charlie" are no different; indeed, these days, they're even classified as a particular subgenre of creepypasta: "Ritualpasta." What's notable about ritualpasta is that the stories often get their punch from making you, the reader, into the protagonist — the star of the tale.
This is probably why I spend so much of my free time reading and researching them, although I'll admit that I'm usually to wary to actually want to try playing them.
Do I believe any of these games actually work? To be honest, not really. I suspect that some of them — the ones that are closer to meditation than to the alleged summoning of a ghost or demon or whatever — might yield more tangible results; however, your mileage is likely to vary in each and every case. If you do give any of them a shot, though, I'd recommend taking them absolutely seriously: Don't cut corners, take common sense precautions, and don't treat them as a joke
1. The Three Kings
The setup involves shutting yourself in a room with two mirrors at 3:30 in the morning and… seeing what happens.
The mirrors should be set up on two chairs facing each other, while you yourself settle on a third chair placed between them. Your chair is your “throne,” making you the King; the mirrors are your Queen and your Fool, although you may know not which is which. It's also worth noting that, from the Queen and Fool's point of view, you're either their Queen or their Fool. The game is called The Three Kings, remember?
As for what the point of the ritual is? That's a little less clear. The idea is to access what FableForge calls “the Shadowside,” although why you would want to go there — or even just peek at it through a window — sort of depends on each individual. Personally, I think it functions kind of like hypnosis or meditation; you might learn something about yourself — something you may not have consciously thought before — while playing it. Just make sure that whatever you think you might learn during this game is really worth it. Some things, we're better off not knowing.
2. Tsuji-ura, or the Fortune Game
Tsuji-ura is said to have originated many, many years ago in Japan; however, there are similar games found in cultures all over the world. You might hear it called the Fortune Game, for example, or even Crossroads Divination — this last moniker, of course, referring to the location in which the game must take place: A crossroads. Crossroads, you see, have long been viewed not just as the space where two roads intersect, but also the space where two worlds intersect — our own world, and the world… beyond the veil, so to speak.
Tsuji-ura is a little less involved than some of the other games on this list, making it easier to play if you’re just dipping your toe into the ritualpasta waters. (It should be noted, though, that the stakes are still pretty high; they always are in these types of games.) All you have to do to play is find a comb and something to cover your face with, take them to a crossroad when it's dark out, strum the teeth of the comb a few times to make some noise, and chant “Tsuji-ura, Tsuji-ura, grant me a true response” three times. If a stranger approaches you, cover your face; then ask them to tell your fortune. If you’re lucky, they’ll accept — but don't push it if they refuse.
Fun fact: A “Tsuji-ura senbei” is a type of Japanese rice cracker that functions sort of like a fortune cookie. It's savory, rather than sweet, but the idea is quite similar.
3. The Doors of Your Mind
This game also goes by several names, depending on who you talk to, how old they are, and where they grew up. The version known as The Doors of Your Mind seems unique to Reddit, where it appeared in 2012; however, some folks remembering playing it under the name Black Door, White Door in the mid-1990s, while others recollect a version called Red Door, Yellow Door. No matter which version you play, though, it’s relatively low risk compared to a lot of other games and rituals: It’s basically a form of meditation, with the goal being simply to explore the contents of your own head. Visualizing the interior of your mind as a long corridor with many doors and rooms shooting off of it allows you to take your time walking through everything, potentially helping you sort out problems or maybe just allowing you to learn something about yourself.
Be warned, though: There could be some unpleasant or downright nasty things lurking in the location you conjure up. It's not unheard of for threatening personages to appear and lock you in one of the rooms — and getting locked in can sometimes… complicate things. Also know that you don't have to open every door; if you get a bad feeling from one, you might want to leave it shut.
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