Morbid Podcast: Episode 701

Spooky Games That Will Ruin Your Actual Life Vol. 4
Date: August 25, 2025
Hosts: Ash & Elena

Overview

In this celebratory yet spine-chilling episode, Ash and Elena return from a short break to dive into their fourth volume of "Spooky Games That Will Ruin Your Actual Life." These are legendary, ritualistic games said to summon spirits, attract demons, or otherwise bring supernatural chaos into your world—often with a hefty dose of risk. With their trademark blend of humor, pop culture tangents, and macabre storytelling, the hosts unpack the do’s, don’ts, and countless dangers of these viral paranormal games.

Episode Highlights

1. Opening Vibes & Banter (02:14–12:28)

• Hosts catch up after a week apart, celebrating personal wins and recent podcast milestones.

  • Elena: “I have had the best fucking week this week.” (02:36)
  • Ash: “You guys sold out the motherfucking Wilbur Insane show in a matter of minutes.” (04:02)

• Movie and TV recommendations: Ash and Elena discuss the original “Catfish” documentary, their issues with rom-coms (especially "You’ve Got Mail"), and current TikTok obsessions.

  • Elena: “If you haven’t watched the original catfish movie from, like, 2008, you gotta. I’m telling you.” (09:06)

2. Dangerous Spooky Game #1: Is Anyone There? (16:55–24:06)

• Source: Ghost in My Machine (book and website)

• Purpose: To try to meet a ghost or supernatural entity.

• How It Works:

  • Requires salt, a knife, a blindfold, and totally dark empty room.
  • The player knocks and asks, “Is anyone there?” repeatedly, using ritualistic language and polite phrases.
  • If nothing appears, ritual is closed. If something does, you can converse—except there is no formal way to end the ritual, meaning the entity may never leave.
  • Ash: "There’s no way to close this ritual out. That sounds awful." (22:26)
  • Elena: “If you keep hearing nothing at all for a while, the ritual failed… Don’t open that door ‘til the sun rises.” (21:03)

• Memorable Moment:

  • Elena: “You can give it a try and be like, 'Okay, bye now. This was fun.' But if they’re like, 'Go fuck yourself,' they might stick around.” (22:36)
  • Ash (on requirements): “I’m immediately out. Double dark is for real business.” (17:28–18:44)

3. Dangerous Spooky Game #2: The White Kimono Game (24:06–29:40)

• Solo game invoking a bloodsoaked woman in a white kimono.
• Highlights:
  • Requires a room with four corners, starts after midnight.
  • Player chants in Japanese, then must imagine the woman approaching and—when she is close—immediately goes to sleep.
  • In dreams, player must not reveal their name or let her whisper in their ear.
  • If you wake and see her shadow, turn the lights on immediately and “never ever be in the dark again.”
  • Failing to wake = death.
  • Ash: “If by the grace of the sweet, sweet universe, you don’t see her… you’re safe. But you can never do this again.” (28:08)
  • Elena: “You chose this. Not me.” (27:18)

4. Dangerous Spooky Game #3: Charlotte’s Web (33:31–41:17)

• Two-player game to summon the spirit of a 15th-century girl, Charlotte Webster.
• Procedure:
  • Sit before a large mirror, place a toy for Charlotte behind you.
  • Simultaneously recite, “We want to play Charlotte’s Web.”
  • If Charlotte appears, she’ll play with the toy (if she likes it). If not, tantrum ensues.
  • Do not turn around. Do not look at her—ever.
  • Engage gently, ask questions, close the game only when she fades away.
  • Elena: “Don’t look at her. Don’t look at her. Don’t look at her.” (38:06)
  • “If you piss her off, she’ll throw a tantrum. She’ll hurt you.” (40:56)

5. Dangerous Spooky Game #4: The Picture Game (41:29–51:16)

• Group game that attempts to photograph spirits.

• Setup:

  • Sit in a circle with a rope, glass of wine (or liquid), and mirrors.
  • All chant, “The door is open. Please come in.”
  • Each player takes turns, with flash on, saying “I caught you” before snapping a photo.
  • Disallow anyone entering the circle; do NOT look at photos until the end.
  • If someone feels sick or cries, skip their turn.
  • At the close, everyone says “It’s time to go home” three times and destroys the rope.
  • Do NOT view the pictures of anyone who felt off during the ritual—or you must destroy the camera.

• Ash: “This is one that I might want to play…” (41:33)

• Elena: “If you break your mom’s camera, I don’t want her calling us.” (49:56)

6. Dangerous Spooky Game #5: The Answers Game (52:08–56:47)

• Solo Q&A game in total darkness.
• Instructions:
  • Set up ashes on “Yes” and “No” boxes, small portable light, pen, paper.
  • When presence is felt, ask yes/no questions. Disturbed ashes indicate answer.
  • MUST end within an hour; close out with thanks and a cleansing.
  • If the game overruns or is improperly closed, spirits may linger or lie.
  • Ash: “So many of these are just like, go fuck yourself if you don’t do it right.” (55:19)
  • Elena: “When I tell you it’s time to leave, get out. I’m done.” (56:52)

7. Dangerous Spooky Game #6: El Juego del Libro Rojo (“The Red Book Game”) (58:19–60:32)

• Simple, “yes/no” question game using a red hardcover book and red candle.
• Overview:
  • Ask permission: “Red Book, can I enter your game?” Randomly select a passage with eyes closed.
  • Take turns; only those with “yes” continue.
  • When ready to end, MUST get an explicit “permission to leave” from the book.
  • Some legends say failing to stop (ignoring a “no”) results in mysterious disappearances.
  • Ash: “You can't end until everybody has got explicit permission to end the game.” (59:42)
  • Elena: “You could keep playing until you perish.” (60:02)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Omens and Ritual Risks:

  • Ash: “You’re a whole ass adult…You choose your own way. Go your own way, as Fleetwood Mac says. Or it’s your prerogative, like Britney Spears.” (23:32)
  • Elena: “If you tell [the entity] it’s time to leave and they say ‘Go fuck yourself,’ they might stick around.” (22:36)

• On Group Mania:

  • Ash: “I wrote this down…I don’t want your mom calling us.” (49:56)
  • Elena: “Here we’re here to tell you to repress your feelings. Don’t speak them out loud for the sake of this game.” (50:25)

• On What NOT To Do:

  • “Do not turn around and look at [Charlotte]. Don’t look at her in the mirror. Don’t look at her.” (38:06)
  • “If you don’t get permission [from the Red Book], you just have to keep going…could last a whole lifetime.” (59:49)

Timestamps for Key Games & Segments

• 16:55 — "Is Anyone There?" Ritual
• 24:06 — "White Kimono" Game
• 33:31 — "Charlotte's Web" Game
• 41:29 — "The Picture Game"
• 52:08 — "The Answers Game"
• 58:19 — "The Red Book Game"

Final Thoughts

This episode brilliantly weaves comedic commentary with authentic unease around these so-called “dangerous games.” Ash and Elena make it clear: don’t try these at home (but if you do, bring a hard exit strategy and a really good broom).

Elena: “When I tell you it’s time to leave, get out. I’m done.” (56:52)
Ash: “We hope you keep it weird, but not so weird that you don’t come on over with us…” (60:56)

Resources & Recommendations

• Ghost in My Machine (Website & Book) — for detailed write-ups and origins on ritual games.
• “Catfish” (2008 Documentary) — watch for the OG vibes.

Morbid: Research with a dash of comedy, a full serving of creepy.
Keep listening, keep it weird—but maybe don’t go summoning the White Kimono Lady tonight.