Let’s All Play The Elevator Game!
A look at the eerie Japanese urban legend.
For whatever reason, I have recently found myself fascinated by “The Elevator Game.” Ostensibly a modern variation of “Bloody Mary,” it centers around riding an elevator up and down ten floors until you reach an alternate dimension – provided an apparition doesn’t get you at the second-to-last stop.
Finding the game’s origins is a bit shaky, but it looks to have started in Japan around 20081, which I suppose makes it a type of Creepypasta. You can find the translation of the original rules at the bottom of this post, but as these urban legends go, the story has grown – and taken a more Western turn – since its inception.
This is the point where I should describe how I tried the game – nay, ritual – myself, but frankly, I think I’m past the point of inconveniencing people who use elevators for legitimate purposes. Plus, who wants to dispell urban legends, anyway?
How Does It Work, Anyway?
Some say only one person can play at the same time, but c’mon… Elevators are big enough for groups, as long as the ghost can squeeze in on the fifth floor.
Start on the first floor by pressing the “Up” button. During the sequence, you can’t leave the elevator until the final step. Also, you must restart the sequence should anyone (sans the fifth-floor ghost) enter the elevator.
Ride the elevator to floor “4,” then “2,” “6,” “2,” “10.” To reiterate: Don’t leave the elevator.
Ride to floor “5.” Here, a girl will enter the elevator. Don’t look at her, nor talk to her – she may seem familiar, and she may ask where you’re going, but pay no mind. Acknowledging her will lead to a bad ending for everyone involved.
Click “1” and note that the elevator instead goes up to the tenth floor.
When you arrive, the floor will look similar to what you’d expect, yet some things will be off. This because you’ve entered an alternate dimension, inhabited solely by you and and the ghost.
You can now choose to leave the elevator, but make sure you don’t lose sight of it. If you do, you’ll be stuck in the alternate dimension.
To return, use the same combination of buttons from step two. After you press “1” and the elevator escalates to the tenth floor, press “Cancel” or “Stop.” You’ll return to the first floor, and the game is over.
For Your Convenience: A Printable PDF Rulesheet
In Popular Media
Shudder released a film called The Elevator Game a couple of years ago. It starts pretty decently but veers into a predictable territory toward the last third.
A better pick is Followed, a movie that also incorporates a bunch of other urban legends. It is genuinely a creepy – and surprisingly heartfelt – film. Find it on Tubi.
The Elevator Game also plays a part in Coup de Grâce, an eerie semi-surreal novel by Sofia Ajram.
Oh, and if you do want to witness somebody playing the game, here you go.
Scary Stories: Going to Another World (elevator ver.). Oct 27, 2011.
The Ghost in My Machine: On The Elevator Game: The History Of A Modern Urban Legend And Its Real-Life Connections. Apr 27, 2020.
トップページ": 時を戻す方法はないでしょうか？part 4. Nov 22, 2008.
Google translation of the aforementioned link:
What's this? It's a bit off topic, but "How to go to another world"
How to prepare: An elevator with 10 or more floors
1. First, get on the elevator. (Only one person should ride the elevator at a time)
2. Next, stay in the elevator and move to the 4th, 2nd, 6th, 2nd, and 10th floors. (If someone gets on at this point, you won't be successful)
3. When you reach the 10th floor, don't get off and press the 5th floor button.
4. When you get to the 5th floor, a young woman will get on. (Don't talk to her)
5. When she gets on, press the 1st floor button.
6. After you press the button, the elevator will not go down to the 1st floor, but will go up to the 10th floor. (If you press the wrong floor while it's going up, it will fail. However, it's your last chance if you want to quit)
7. Once you've passed the 9th floor, you can say you've pretty much succeeded.
There's only one way to check if you've succeeded.
You're the only person in that world.
I don't know what will happen from there.
But one thing is certain: the person who got on on the fifth floor was not human...
Some sites like Wikihow claim the game stemmed from the Elisa Lam tragedy, or that the game in some way was involved in her death. Both are patently untrue. Others will claim it originated in Korea, but any and all timelines will place it first in Japan.
I wonder if there's room for urban myths like that to grow in our ever-connected world—2008 seems quaint now. In theory, connectivity should accelerate these, but I feel what it's done is debunk them. Unless the modern variation is fake news.