The Ghost In My Machine
Stories of the Strange and Unusual
by
Previously: The Salt Merchant Ritual.
In Japan, there’s a particular variety of ritual game — a subgenre, if you will — called “psychic tests” or “tests to see if you have inspiration”: Ritual games that function as methods intended to reveal to you whether or not you’re sensitive to the supernatural, including but not limited to the ability to see ghosts. That’s what the House Window Game is — a psychic or inspiration test that’s been circulating the Japanese language internet since at least early 2008 (and possibly longer).
The House Window Game is quite similar to the Testing Game — so similar, in fact, that it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the Testing Game is what resulted when the House Window Game made the jump to another language and culture.
[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]
There are some key differences, though. For one thing, the Testing Game focuses on opening doors and traveling through rooms; the House Window Game, meanwhile, focuses on opening (surprise!) windows, not doors, and is less concerned with the traveling aspect. The House Window Game also has a more formal method laid out to end the ritual than the Testing Game does.
The setting, too, is a little bit different: The Testing Game instructs players to imagine the place they grew up, while the House Window Game asks players to picture either “their parents’ house” or the place where they currently live. It’s worth noting that “parents’ house” can be analogous to “the house where you grew up” — but I think it’s still different enough to be of note.
There are a couple of different versions of the House Window Game floating around, some of which are more detailed than others; there’s also a story that uses it as a central conceit that was posted to 2ch in 2017 that’s passed around frequently as a creepypasta. (It’s post #125 at the link, for the curious.) It’s easy to play, and not terribly dangerous… but as always:
Play at your own risk.
There are no requirements to play this game, other than yourself — your mind, and a willingness to open it up. You may find it useful to secure access to a dark, quiet room in which to play, and/or pillows, blankets, or other comfortable seating to settle down in before you begin; however, this particular environment and these additional supplies are not necessary in order to play.
There is some debate about which “home” or “house” you must picture in order to play this game. Some sources specify that you should use the home in which you currently live; others, however, specify using the home belonging to your parents, or the home in which you spent the majority of your childhood. Still others simply say to imagine the first “home” of yours that comes to mind. There does not appear to be consensus, nor any understanding of whether some types of homes may achieve better results than others. It is up to the player’s discretion how they wish to play.
The word “house” is used interchangeably with “home” — that is, you need not imagine a single-family house as you play. An apartment, mobile home, or any other domicile may be used, as long as it is a place you have lived in your lifetime. In the event that you imagine an apartment, the home’s “exterior” and “front door” may be understood as the exterior and door of the individual unit, rather than of the apartment building as a whole.
You may play with bystanders nearby, if you wish. Ensure that they know to be quiet, and to leave you be until you are finished playing. You may, upon concluding the game, share what you experienced with them afterwards. If they are of sound judgment, and you trust them, their insights may prove valuable to you when it comes to interpreting your results.
It is worth repeating: Your results, whatever they are, are neither good, nor bad; it is up to you what you do with them.
As long as you are not touched by a shadow, that is.
If you are…
….You’d best be careful.
You attract a certain kind of spirit, it seems.
And they are not — NOT — harmless.
The House Window Game: FAQ.
***
Follow The Ghost In My Machine on Twitter @GhostMachine13 and on Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine. And for more games, don’t forget to check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available now from Chronicle Books!
[Photo via FrankWinkler/Pixabay]
Filed Under: Games
The Ghost In My Machine is an internet campfire of sorts. Gather round, because it wants to tell you strange stories, take you on haunted journeys, and make you jump at unexpected noises.
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