Cursed Games: The Midnight Man, Man in the Field, & Daruma-san | Ep. 89

Welcome to another episode of Believing the Bizarre. This week, we tackle something we all love…games! But, these games aren’t your regular Clue or Monopoly.

No, these are CURSED games! Specifically, we are discussing Daruma-san (The Bath Game), The Man in the Field, and The Midnight Man Game.

All games are horrifying in their own rights and offer very little reward. But, would you play them? Listen now!

Cursed Games That You Should Never Play

Have you ever played a game of chance with an evil spirit?

Have you ever played a game where you put your soul on the line with an ancient evil?

Is there a way to outsmart and outplay ghouls?

What’s up Bizarros? This week we dive into the world of cursed games.

We want to give a special shout-out to YJ bomb on tik tok. His videos are what inspired this episode.

And a special thanks to the Ghost in The Machine blog who has most of the games and details.

What is a cursed game?

A cursed game is a game you play that involves an entity. This evil entity can be with death himself, or a certain spirit.

The cursed game has the potential to be beneficial to the player, but if the player loses then the consequences can be dire.

In most, if not all of the games the player is usually after something. What could they be playing for? A secret amulet? Eternal life? Or perhaps another paranormal power from the damned?

Whatever the goal of the player, what they seek is something only the spirit can offer.

We’re going to go over some of the cursed games that could ruin your life, or at worst, cost you your life.

Paranormal Game #1: Daruma-san, The Bath Game

First is the Japanese game called “Daruma-san” or the bath game.

To start playing you must enter a full bath.

Then while sitting in the middle you close your eyes and start to wash your hair.

While doing this you repeat Durma-san fell down. Don’t stop saying it until you finish washing your hair and you must keep your eyes shut the whole time.

When washing your hair you should be able to picture a woman standing in the tub. She will fall and smash her head on the faucet.

Then you will hear movement behind you (regardless of the position of the tub) but you should not turn around. You have summoned the ghost. Ask out loud “why did you fall in the bathtub?”

After asking you may get out of the tub, but you need to keep your eyes shut. You must rise slowly with no trips or falls. And then drain the tub the next day.

You should not turn on any light, and you should go to bed.

The next morning is where the game starts. The player gets up and has a sense that they are being watched. The ghost of the woman will follow you all day and get closer and closer. She will try to touch you and if she does you lose and you die.

If the player feels like she is to close them they turn around and yell “Tomare!” meaning stop.

This causes her to back off for a while but she will keep coming.

The player must end this game before midnight or she will find them in their dreams and kill them regardless.

To end the stalking game the player must wait until she is close and instead of saying “Tomare!” they must say “Kitta!” meaning “I cut you loose” and they must swing their hand in a chop.

This is how you play Daruma-san.

The Second Cursed Game is, The Man In The Fields.

This game is said to come from the tradition of burning wicker men for a good harvest. Legend says that Julius Caesar stated that the Druids would use them to perform a human sacrifice for such a harvest.

This game is said to grant the winner physical and financial protection for a year. While this may not sound amazing to those of us in this day and age, it would sound amazing if you were a farmer that could use financial protection, especially in case of bad crops or droughts.

This is how you play this cursed game.

You need a backyard and a lantern.

Sometime after sunset but before midnight, you must go into your backyard and face the house.

To start and summon the man the player says “but who will scare the crowd away?” seven times.

After saying this seven times the player should hear a response either behind them or even in their head.

If not then the summoning has failed, and it is recommended you leave the premises until 6 am the next day.

But on a successful summon The response is “that’s not your biggest problem.”

The game starts after you go back to your house and lock the door.

The player will go to a room with one door and if anything can be shut in that room it must be. Then the player shuts their eyes

The player will leave a cross in that room and then leave.

The player will see everything in the house that was capable of opening has been opened.

They must shut everything that has been opened by midnight.

The player may see a man with ”ashen skin” in their peripheral vision. He is not dangerous and should not be feared.

However, the player SHOULD NOT LOOK IN THE YARD.

If the player does, they should run back to the room with the cross. Lock the door, hold the cross and hold it until 6 am keeping their eyes closed no matter what they hear.

If you have closed everything, go back to your safe room and keep your eyes closed until 6 am and you will be victorious.

The Third Paranormal Game is The Midnight Man Game.

The midnight man game is said to be an “ancient pagan tradition” that would be a punishment for those that would insult their gods.

This game is more of a game of survival and not for gain. Many play this game to see if they can outsmart this entity. Perhaps just for the thrill when people of the past would do this as a type of execution.

How to play the game:

You’re gonna need a needle, a wooden door, matches, a pen or pencil, paper, and a cup of salt.

The player starts before midnight, The player must write their full name on a piece of paper. The player then pricks their finger and puts a drop of their own blood on the paper. 

Then the player turns off all the lights. 

They then put the paper on the wooden door, light the candle and put it on top of the paper, and then knock on the door 22 times.

The last knock should be at the stroke of midnight. The player then opens the door, blows out the candle, then shuts the door.

Then the candle should be relit. 

This is when the game starts.

The player should keep the salt, candle, matches in their hands at all times and they should begin the move around the house. 

As the player moves, if their candle goes out they should light it again within the next 10 seconds, and keep moving regardless of whether it is lit or not. 

If the candle does not light the player should shield themselves in a ring of salt until 3:33 am.

At 3:33 am the game is over and the player may leave their circle and turn on the lights. 

The point of the game is to avoid the entity of the midnight man. If caught they may do anything to you like create hallucinations from your worst fears or even cause infected organs. 

Signs they are close are cold spots, soft whispers, humanoid shapes, or your candle going out. 

The game is over at 3:33 am, but one should not assume he has left for good.  

Would You Play a Cursed Game?

What do you think Bizarros? Would you play a cursed game? Would you play a cursed game online? Would you take a shot at risking your life, or your soul in a game with evil spirits?

Do you think when you play Paranormal games you’re taking a huge risk, or is it something you enjoy, like walking through a haunted town at night? Something that feels dangerous, but may not really be.

Would you play a cursed game?

Let us know in the comments.