: Eventually, the game stops being a game. It might display the user’s real-world address, or the webcam light might flicker on. The "story" usually ends with the user pulling the plug, only for the image of the game’s antagonist to remain burned into the screen. Real-World Origins

If the file name looks like a cry for help or a virus, it’s probably best to leave it in the recycling bin of history.

: A bored gamer finds a buried link on a sketchy forum or a defunct file-sharing site like MediaFire. The uploader is usually a string of random numbers or a name like "HELP_ME."

: The game starts normally, but the colors are off. Characters look at the screen instead of each other. The music is a slowed-down, distorted version of a childhood lullaby.

: Despite the suspicious name and the lack of a thumbnail, the user downloads it. The .exe file is unusually small—or impossibly large.