How to Be Grateful

Has your mother or best friend told you that you’re an ungrateful person? Do you feel unable to appreciate the beauty, nature, and love that is all around you? Are you obsessed with the things you don’t have, instead of being thankful for what you do have? If so, becoming a more grateful person can help improve your life.

Steps

Altering Your Perspective

1. Make a gratitude list every Sunday. You don’t have to hold off on noting everything you’re thankful for until Thanksgiving. Every Sunday, get a notebook and sit outside for fifteen minutes while making a list of all of the things that you’re thankful for. Try to think of as many new things as you can, and always generate at least ten things, whether they are big or small. You can write, My mother’s endless love or The painting my roommate made for me.^[1]
   
   • Challenge yourself. Think of at least fifteen new things you’re grateful for every week.
   • Writing down the things that you’re grateful for will make you appreciate them even more.
2. Be grateful for your friendships. Many people are guilty of taking their friends for granted. You may come to think that your friends are kind of just there, like the couch in your living room or the tree on your front lawn. But that is not the case, dear reader. If you take your friends for granted for too long, then they will slowly make their way out of your life. So, every time you go hang out with one of your friends, think about how much this person means to you, how much he or she’s done for you, and how lucky you are to have this person in your life.^[2]
   
   • Sure, nobody’s perfect, and one of your friends might have disappointed you a time or two. But have you been a flawless friend yourself? Most likely not.
3. Be grateful for your family. Your family is another thing you should be grateful for. Your parents might have even been the people to tell you that you should be more grateful. So, take the time to tell your family how much they mean to you, to help out around the house, to call or write letters if you’re not living near each other, and to let the people who raised and grew up with you know how much they mean to you.
   
   • Don’t let a day go by without telling your family how much you love them.
   • If you were not raised by a family that treated you well, then this is something you will have to accept eventually. Though it is completely not fair, if you want to work on being more grateful, you have to focus on the people who were a part of your support system, not the people who were absent from it.
4. Be grateful for all of the good deeds done in your benefit. Throughout history, imagine how many people have contributed to where you are now through unnoticed hard work and selflessness. Realizing that you couldn't be where you are now if it weren't for all of these people is an important step in being a grateful person.^[3]
   
   • Some of these people have never revealed their identity. For example, people who write Wikipedia articles. For this reason, you never know much a stranger or a friend really may be helping you. Sometimes the most moral person can also be the most humble.
5. Be grateful for your health. Health is another thing people often take for granted, and it’s something you need to think about the next time you find yourself whining or complaining. Sure, you might have lost your cell phone or gotten into a fight with your best friend, and those things suck, but you will get over them and fix them pretty easily. What can’t be fixed so easily is a debilitating physical condition that can change the course of your life; so, the next time you feel like the world hates you, be happy that you have a healthy working body.^[4]
   
   • Be grateful for the air in your lungs, the clearness in your head, and the spring in your step. There are many people who are not so lucky, and who manage to be grateful anyway.
   • You will have a better sense of gratitude after you have your first health scare and then realize that everything is all right. But hopefully it won’t have to come to this.
6. Be grateful for your opportunities. Be thankful for all of the things you are able to do. This can mean going to school, going to work, having the luxury of spending a night out with friends, or the ability to afford that new jacket you had your eye on. This could mean the chance to travel or to study something that fascinates you even if it isn’t all that practical. Chances are, there are plenty of things you are able to do that others couldn’t even dream of doing, so make sure to be thankful for all of the opportunities that you are given.
   
   • Sure, other people may have been given even more opportunities than you, but that doesn’t mean that you should dwell in bitterness or jealousy.
7. Be grateful for nature. There is nature all around you, even if you’re living in the heart of a big city. Go out into a public park or walk around a lake, and be grateful for all of the beauty around you. Taking twenty minutes a day to walk around your neighborhood can make you even more grateful for all of the opportunities you have been given.^[5]
   
   • Even if it’s a rainy, gloomy day, you can be grateful for the comforting sound of the rain.
8. Look for the silver lining. If you want to be a grateful person, then you have to learn to see the positive aspect of any situation. Stop all of the whining and complaining and think of the things that do make you happy, not the things that are getting in the way of you and happiness. If you want to be grateful, then you should conquer your negative thoughts by thinking three positive thoughts for every one negative thought.
   
   • Put things in perspective. You may be upset because you failed a math test, but you’re not suffering from financial ruin. Remember that there are always people whose problems are much bigger than yours, and focus on being positive and happy about the things you do have.
9. Stop playing the victim. People who are ungrateful are always blaming the world for their problems and thinking that nothing bad that happens is their fault. If you want to be a grateful person, then you have to stop thinking that the world, your teachers, your boss, your friends, or your family are all out to get you, and focus on all of the ways that the world is helping you make your life easier.^[6]
   
   • Take control of your life. Stop thinking that you’re a victim of bad circumstances and focus on all of the things in your life that anyone would agree are actually good circumstances.

Changing Your Interactions

1. Say “thank you” to strangers. When it’s warranted, that is. Thank the girl who gives you your coffee at six in the morning; she’s probably tired and in need of a kind word. Thank your server or the check-out guy at your local grocery store. Thank the man at the restaurant for holding the door for you. Thank the cab driver for giving you a smooth ride home.^[7]
   
   • Not only is it polite to say thank you to people, but it will also put you in a more grateful mindset.
2. Tell your loved ones how thankful you are. Saying thank you to strangers may be easier than saying thank you to the people you love the most. If you want to be a grateful person, though, then you should thank your friends and family whenever they help you out, or just because; you can just thank them for being there for you for all of these years and let them know how much their continued love and support means to you.
   
   • You may not like feeling vulnerable, but it won’t be so bad once you get used to thanking the people you really love.
3. Write “thank you” cards. Don’t reserve “thank you” cards just for your boss or secretary; instead, make a habit of sending these puppies out whenever someone has really helped you out. Maybe it was a friend you lost touch with who let you crash at her place for three nights in a row when you ended up in her neighborhood. Maybe it was a classmate who spent hours explaining electron configuration to you. Sending the card along will show how grateful you are.
   
   • Whatever the kind deed, writing a thank you card will not only make the other person smile, but it will make you a more grateful person because you’ll have to put your gratitude into words.
4. Take pleasure in doing favors for your friends. Ungrateful people are also known to be selfish, and to only want to hang out with other people if they can “get” something from them. So, turn that on its head and offer to do some favors for your friends unasked. Maybe your friend is having a busy day and needs someone to pick up lunch for her; maybe your friend needs help picking out a prom dress. Whatever the task, own up to it, and you will feel gratitude when you are helped in return.
   
   • Doing other favors for people will make you a less selfish person and will make you more grateful when the time comes.
5. Stop complaining on Facebook. This one is simple. Don’t go on Facebook and tell your 500 closest friends about the terrible day you had, about the horrible traffic you were stuck in for 25 minutes, or about how you lost your cell phone for the third time. Don’t rant about “haters” who make your life hard and don’t complain about how some people are fake and only use you. Don’t use Facebook as a forum for your negativity at all.^[8]
   
   • Ranting on Facebook and getting people to support your rants with comments and likes will only fuel the fire and inspire more ungrateful behavior.
   • If you really feel the need to share something personal with all of your Facebook friends, try to make it something positive.
6. Be nice to your elders. Stop thinking that visiting your grandmother or grandfather is nothing but a chore. Be grateful for your elders and the insight they can offer and know that they won’t be around forever. Get your precious time with your grandparents while you can, if you’re lucky enough to have them. If not, be kind to any older members of your family and let them see how much you appreciate their wisdom and love.^[9]
   
   • You’ll be old too one day, buddy. Will you want a grandchild who is counting down the minutes until he can join his friends at the mall?
7. Avoid jealousy like the plague. Jealously is a classic trait of ungrateful people. If you’re ungrateful, then you must be comparing yourself to other people all the time, wishing you were someone else, and turning green wishing that you had the boyfriend, car, wardrobe, or looks of one of your friends or even of a perfect stranger. If you want to be grateful, then you have to stop playing the comparing game ASAP, or you will never be happy with what you have.^[10]
   
   • Remember that it’s impossible to really compare yourself to someone else without knowing the whole story. Sure, you may wish you had as much money as your best friend, but she may wish that her parents loved each other as much as yours do.

Practicing Gratitude

1. Volunteer. Volunteering in your community is another way to show how grateful you are for all of the things that the world has given you. Whether you’re helping clean up a local park, working in a soup kitchen, or teaching children and adults in your community to learn to read, you will become a more grateful person if you give your time to people who are less fortunate and appreciate all that ‘’they’’ have to offer ‘’you.’’^[11]
   
   • If you really like volunteering, you can even take a volunteer trip to another country. This will really change your perspective and will make you even more grateful.
2. Commune with nature. That’s right. Just going out in the park and sitting in the sun can help you appreciate all that you have in life. Whether you go swimming, meditate in a park, go hiking, or climb a mountain, communing with nature will make you see how impermanent your life is and how much you should appreciate all of the little things that life does have to offer you.
   
   • The more time you spend outside instead of being cooped up inside your home, the more grateful you will feel.
3. Do yoga. Yoga is the practice of gratitude. While you’re practicing those arm balances and doing those vinyasas, you will really be working on finding a connection between your mind and body that allows you to appreciate every breath, every movement, and every person around you. Yoga will remind you that the world has what you need and that you have what the world wants.
   
   • Making a weekly yoga habit will help you appreciate the small stuff and not feel like you’re not getting enough out of life.
   • Yoga is all about being generous and offering up what you have to the world. This is guaranteed to make you less selfish and more grateful.
4. Perform a random act of kindness. You shouldn’t always save your acts of kindness for your close friends or family members. Help a neighbor look for a lost dog. Help the girl in the coffee shop who spilled coffee all over herself clean up. Help an old woman carry her groceries. Sometimes these opportunities will present themselves—you don’t have to come looking for them. And when they do come, it’s best to act with generosity and you’ll be more grateful for your part in the world.
   
   • Make a goal of doing at least one random act of kindness per month. Try to get this down to per week. Think you can do one a day? You’ll never know until you try.
5. Give your friend a thoughtful gift just because. Giving a gift is a great way of practicing gratitude. You don’t have to wait for your friend’s birthday to give her a gift if you really want her to know how much she means to you. If you see a cute picture frame at a craft fair, stick a picture of you two in it and give it to her; if you see the perfect accessory for your friend, pick up it and hand it to her in a small gift bag. It’s not the price that counts—it’s the thought.
   
   • Getting in a habit of giving gifts to your friends just because you thought of them and want them to feel special is a great way to be a more grateful person.

Tips

• Thank everyone around you for simple things, (but not too much or else it gets annoying) to show your gratitude.
• Try not to waste food during mealtimes.
• Don't complain about things that you take for granted e.g. school, over protective parents etc.
• Read books such as Parvana and Parvana's Journey.
• Try to be positive as much as you can.
• Whenever you find yourself in a problem or a bad situation think about 3 things that could be much worse, and thank God for only giving you the lesser problems.

Related wikiHows

• Be Funny
• Cheer Up
• Act Happy
• Be Thankful

References

Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/its-your-choice/201511/the-daily-gratitude-list
2. ↑ https://healthypsych.com/how-gratitude-helps-us-build-better-relationships
3. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
4. ↑ https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/04/grateful-heart.aspx
5. ↑ https://www.ted.com/talks/louie_schwartzberg_nature_beauty_gratitude?language=en
6. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0090261614000199?via=ihub
7. ↑ https://theconversation.com/more-than-words-saying-thank-you-does-make-a-difference-30920
8. ↑ https://hbr.org/2017/04/a-new-more-rigorous-study-confirms-the-more-you-use-facebook-the-worse-you-feel
9. ↑ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-014-9542-3
10. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-files/200805/jealousy-is-killer-how-break-free-your-jealousy
11. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm

16 Discontinued Candies (And Where to Find Your Retired Favorites)

Reminisce with a list of retro and recently out-of-production sweets

For every candy that becomes an iconic favorite, there are dozens more that get discontinued by confectioners every year. The reasons for giving the sweets the axe range from low sales and cost-cutting measures to changing tastes. Even the most beloved of candies risks getting taken off shelves, though nostalgic fans petition for their return. Below is a list of 15 discontinued candies people wish would come back. Plus, keep scrolling to learn where to buy discontinued candies.

Popular Discontinued Candies

1. Butterfinger BB’s
2. Altoid Sours
3. PB Max
4. Maple Nut Goodies
5. Wonka Donutz

Steps

16 Discontinued Candy Bars & Treats

1. Butterfinger BB’s{endbold} Butterfinger BB’s were like Butterfingers, but smaller and round for easy snacking. They debuted in 1992 and even had The Simpsons star in their advertising campaign.^[1] Unfortunately, the bite-sized treats disappeared around 2006.^[2] Nestle issued the similar Butterfinger Bites in 2009, and these are still available today.
   
2. Summit Bars{endbold} Mars’ Summit Bars, a blend of a cookie and a candy, hit store shelves in 1977.^[3] Unfortunately, they were prone to melting in the package. Mars tried to reformulate them in 1983, but it wasn’t enough to save the mountainous treats. Too messy to enjoy, Mars discontinued Summit Bars by 1984.^[4]
   
3. Life Savers Holes{endbold} If you thought donut holes were genius, you were probably the target market for Life Savers Holes when they dropped in 1990. A counterpart to the iconic ring-shaped candies, these were Life Savers in spherical form. Unfortunately, they were a choking hazard, and Life Savers pulled them from shelves in 1991. They came back briefly later that year before being discontinued for good.^[5]
   
4. PB Max{endbold} In 1990, Mars released the PB Max, a chocolate-covered cookie featuring a layer of peanut butter and a smattering of oats. Unlike some other discontinued candies, the PB Max reportedly did well with consumers, raking in $50 million in lifetime sales. However, Mars discontinued it in 1994.^[6] Former Mars executive Alfred Poe claimed it was because the billionaire Mars family didn’t like peanut butter.^[7]
   
5. Bubble Beepers{endbold} Pagers, aka beepers, were all the rage in the 1990s. Amurol Confections created the novelty gum Bubble Beepers to cash in on the hype. The candy’s neon pink-and-green box resembled a beeper. On the inside were equally neon-hued sticks of gum with text messages printed on the wrappers. Bubble Beepers went out of style in the mid-1990s, and beepers followed suit not long after.^[8]
   
6. Wonka Bar{endbold} You might’ve seen the classic ‘70s movie Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, but did you know Wonka Bars were real? Quaker Oats made them starting in 1975, but these weren’t popular.^[9] Nestle brought them back in the late ‘90s, but they were never a staple on store shelves. They left for the last time in 2014, but fans hold out hope that they’ll return again.^[10]
   
   • A Wonka Bar had crunchy graham cracker pieces covered in milk chocolate.
7. Altoid Sours{endbold} From 2004 to 2010, Altoid Sours captured the hearts (and burned the roofs of the mouths) of millions. Adding a sour twist to the classic mint candy, the popular treats came in flavors like mango, tangerine, and citrus. Unfortunately, they were cut due to poor sales. Fans clamoring for their return can try the Iconic Candy reboot, supposedly based on the original recipe.^[11]
   
8. Chicken Dinner{endbold} Chicken Dinner sounds like a made-up product from a Saturday Night Live sketch, but it was indeed a real candy. Introduced in the 1920s, the odd name was meant to persuade consumers that the candy was healthy. Chicken Dinner was just chocolate-covered nuts. Despite (or because of) the weird name, the candy remained in stores until the ‘60s.^[12]
   
9. Hershey’s S’Mores{endbold} S’Mores, the classic campfire treat featuring a gooey melted marshmallow and a chocolate square between two crisp graham cracker pieces, was already associated with Hershey’s chocolate. The Pennsylvania chocolatier decided to take things to the next level when they launched their own S’Mores-flavored candy bar in 2003. It didn’t take off, and Hershey’s removed it from their lineup in 2012.^[13]
   
10. Maple Nut Goodies{endbold} It seemed Maple Nut Goodies would go on forever. Brach’s peanut-and-toffee treats came out in 1912 and had legions of fans as recently as 2024. Unfortunately, the company pulled them from shelves that year, discontinuing the longtime fall-favorite treat.^[14]
    
11. Wonka Donutz{endbold} Warner Bros. released their adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in 2005. Timed with the release, Nestlé launched Wonka Donutz, a truffle-like chocolate candy shaped like a donut. While it stayed on shelves past the theatrical run, in 2013, the Ferrara Candy company confirmed it had been discontinued.^[15]
    
12. Garbage Can-dy{endbold} Garbage Can-dy (sugar shaped like pieces of trash) came in containers shaped like garbage cans. They launched in the mid-1970s. The maker of Garbage Can-dy, Topps, also created the popular Garbage Pail Kids cards, and both were the brainchild of cartoonist Art Spiegelman. Sadly, the trashy treats didn’t take off and were discontinued in 1996.^[16]
    
13. Skittles Bubble Gum{endbold} While candy-flavored gums are all the rage now, they used to be more of a novelty product. A prime example: Skittles Bubble Gum, launched by Wrigley in 2004. The tagline for the gum, which vanished from shelves in 2010, was “inflate the rainbow.” Skittles fans appreciated the gum’s long-lasting flavor and continue to petition for its return.^[17]
    
14. Berries and Creme Starburst{endbold} TikTok resurrected the ad campaign for this discontinued Starburst chewy candy variety, known for its commercials starring the so-called “Little Lad” who loves berries and creme.^[18] The candy itself launched in 2007, but Mars quietly discontinued it around 2017.
    
15. Hershey’s Swoops{endbold} In the early 2000s, Hershey’s shook up the snack-food aisle with a chocolate snack shaped like a potato chip—and packaged in a canister eerily similar to the one used for single-serving Pringles. The trendy slices didn’t catch on, and Hershey’s discontinued them in 2006.^[19]
    
16. Johnny Apple Treats and Cherry Clan Candy{endbold} In the ‘70s, the Ferrara Candy Company released a variety of chewy fruit-flavored candies, including Johnny Apple Treats (a pun on Johnny Appleseed) and Cherry Clan (a veiled reference to the character Charlie Chan).^[20] In the ‘90s, the candies were rebranded as Appleheads and Cherryheads after the popularity of Ferrara’s Lemonhead candies. They were later discontinued.^[21]
    
    • Lou Pagano II, the great-grandson of the candies’ original creator, brought Johnny Apple Treats and other flavors back in 2020. However, it appears that Pagano II’s 1908 Candy Company discontinued the revived candies in 2021.^[22]
    • In 2025, only Lemonhead candy remains.^[23]

More Discontinued Candy Across the Decades

1. Discontinued candy from the ‘80s{endbold} Gen Xers have fond memories of the funky and over-the-top candies that ruled the ‘80s. While many of the decade’s sweets live on today, a fair share of them can’t be bought anymore, having been discontinued years or decades ago. Below is a brief list of some of the discontinued ‘80s candies that people miss today:
   
   • Hershey’s Bar None (1987-1997)^[24]
   • Mr. Bones Puzzle Candy (1970s - 1990s)
   • Choco’Lite (1970s - late 1980s)
   • Nestlé Alpine White (1986 - mid-1990s)^[25]
   • Marathon Bar (1973-1981)^[26]
   • PowerHouse (late 1960s - late 1980s)
   • Dina-Sour Eggs (1981 - 1990s)
   • The Milkshake Bar (1920s - 1988)
   • Space Dust (1978 - 1980s)^[27]
   • Bonkers (1984 - early 2000s)^[28]
2. Discontinued candy from the ‘90s{endbold} ‘90s nostalgia was an Internet meme for a while in the form of “only ‘90s kids remember this” jokes. Now, it’s taken seriously again as Millennials get nostalgic about the snack foods and candy that defined their childhood. See how many of these discontinued ‘90s candies you remember!
   
   • Hubba Bubba Bubble Jug (late 1980s - early 2000s)^[29]
   • Kudos Bars (1986 - 2017)^[30]
   • Nestlé Magic Ball/Wonder Ball (mid-1990s - 1997)^[31]
   • Fruit String Thing (1994 - early 2000s)^[32]
   • Soda-Licious Soda Pop Fruit Snacks (1991 - 1998)^[33]
   • Surf’s Up! Fruit Snacks (1990 - 1991)
   • Lollipop Paint Shop (late 1990s - mid-2000s)^[34]
3. Discontinued candy from the 2000s{endbold} The arrival of the new millennium brought a wave of new candies—or creative variations of classic candies like M&M’s. Whether you were a 2000s baby or an older candy fanatic, you probably miss a few of these discontinued Y2K-era sweets.
   
   • Crispy M&M’s (1999 - 2005; 2015 - 2022)^[35]
   • Hershey’s Kissables (2005 - 2009)^[36]
   • Yogos (2005 - early 2010s)^[37]
   • Starburst Hard Candy (early 2000s - mid 2000s)^[38]
   • BB Bats (1924 - 2021)
   • Ouch! Bubble Gum (1990s - 2009)^[39]
   • Ice Breakers Liquid Ice (2003 - 2004)^[40]
   • Everlasting Gobstoppers (1976 - 2024)^[41]

What is the oldest candy bar still sold?

1. Fry’s Chocolate Cream (sold since 1866) may be the oldest candy bar. Joseph Fry began selling chocolate in 1756, and his grandchildren later created a hardened, creamy paste made of cocoa powder and cocoa fat that would eventually come to make up the Fry’s Chocolate Cream candy bar. Fry’s merged with Cadbury in 1919, but the legendary chocolate bar kept its original name. Now owned by Kraft, Fry’s Chocolate Cream is now one of (if not the) oldest chocolate bars on the market.^[42]
   
   • Other old favorites include Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar (1900), Cadbury Dairy Milk (1905), and Toblerone (1908).

Where to Buy Discontinued Candy

1. Shop discontinued candy from online marketplaces like eBay or Amazon. On sites like these, people offload discontinued candy that they somehow held onto long after it was discontinued. Since most of this candy is years old, it’s likely well past its expiration date. However, you might want to buy some just to hang on to the nostalgic packaging. Search for the candy on these third-party sites to see if you can find any fairly priced listings.
2. Buy recreations from vendors like Iconic Candy or Candy Warehouse. Sometimes, candy companies acquire the recipes of discontinued candies (or approximate them as best as they can). They sell their creations to nostalgic fans of discontinued candies as the next best thing. Some of these stores include Iconic Candy (which brought back Altoid Sours) and Candy Warehouse.^[43]
   • Always read customer reviews and research sellers thoroughly before purchasing discontinued candy or dupes.

Video

References

1. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/discontinued-childhood-candy-2018-6
2. ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/butterfinger-bbs-discontinued-candy-wish-231547907.html
3. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1342039/why-messy-summit-bars-discontinued-melted-80s/
4. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/discontinued-childhood-candy-2018-6#summit-bars-melted-too-easily-but-were-the-perfect-messy-snack-7
5. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/discontinued-childhood-candy-2018-6
6. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/discontinued-childhood-candy-2018-6
7. ↑ https://www.dallasobserver.com/restaurants/pb-max-choco-zaba-and-6-other-candies-we-want-back-12652281
8. ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/9-snack-food-products-were-185012056.html
9. ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/was-willy-wonka-and-the-c_b_8102576
10. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1296976/reason-nostalgic-wonka-bar-discontinued/
11. ↑ https://sporked.com/article/why-were-altoid-sours-discontinued/
12. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1329908/discontinued-candies-gum/
13. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1329908/discontinued-candies-gum/
14. ↑ https://www.tastingtable.com/1812688/discontinued-candies-bring-back/
15. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1329908/discontinued-candies-gum/
16. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1340411/reason-popular-80s-sweet-garbage-candy-discontinued/
17. ↑ https://www.snackhistory.com/skittles-bubble-gum/
18. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/discontinued-childhood-candy-2018-6
19. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1329908/discontinued-candies-gum/
20. ↑ https://www.candywrappermuseum.com/cherryclanbox.html
21. ↑ https://www.candyfavorites.com/pages/history-of-ferarra-candy
22. ↑ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/1908-candy-brings-80s-darlings-johnny-apple-treats-alexander-the-grape-cherry-clan-and-mr-melon-to-hy-vee-just-in-time-for-halloween-301160713.html
23. ↑ https://www.ferrara.com/us/en/lemonhead
24. ↑ https://www.tastingtable.com/1816423/discontinued-candy-1980s-nostalgia/
25. ↑ https://food52.com/blog/17972-the-80s-commercial-that-almost-brings-this-discontinued-candy-bar-back-to-life
26. ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/candy-discontinued-80s-adam-sandler-140000919.html
27. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1338328/discontinued-space-dust-pop-rocks-knock-off-name/
28. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/discontinued-childhood-candy-2018-6
29. ↑ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/back-by-popular-demand-iconic-candy-announces-the-return-of-bubble-jug-a-tribute-to-90s-kids-everywhere-302105219.html
30. ↑ https://www.foodie.com/1590574/why-kudos-bars-discontinued/
31. ↑ https://www.historyoasis.com/post/discontinued-candy
32. ↑ https://www.mashed.com/1635305/discontinued-fruit-snack-string-thing/
33. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1669025/discontinued-snack-foods-90s-forgot/
34. ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/35-discontinued-foods-90s-2000s-153233635.html
35. ↑ https://www.thetakeout.com/1686568/discontinued-crispy-mms-explained/
36. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1314236/hersheys-kissables-discontinued-mms-copycat-totally-fell-flat/
37. ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/35-discontinued-foods-90s-2000s-153233635.html
38. ↑ https://www.newsweek.com/classic-sweet-treats-no-longer-sold-hershey-nestle-mars-reese-1614030
39. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1254446/ouch-bubble-gum-candy/
40. ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/35-discontinued-foods-90s-2000s-153233635.html
41. ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/everlasting-gobstopper-candies-discontinued-111511056.html
42. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1516983/candy-bars-been-around-long-time/
43. ↑ https://sporked.com/article/altoids-sours-stores-where-to-buy-altoids-sours-news/

The 38 Best Horror Games to Play with Your Friends

Creepy games for sleepovers, Halloween parties, or just for spooks

If you’ve ever had a sleepover, odds are you and your friends played at least one scary game, like Bloody Mary or Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board. The classics are always fun, but there are a ton of exciting, spooky games you might not have heard of! In this article, we’ve gathered all the best scary games to play with friends, including classic mirror games, ritual and chanting games, and even scary video games and apps.

Steps

Scary Mirror Games

1. Bloody Mary{endbold} Bloody Mary is a timeless game that has been played for generations. To play Bloody Mary, gather your friends in a room with a mirror. Turn off all the lights and chant “Bloody Mary” 3 times. Bloody Mary’s face is then supposed to appear in the mirror. If you see her, quickly turn the lights back on to get her to go away.^[1]
   
   • For an even scarier game, take turns being alone in the room to summon the spirit.
   • If Bloody Mary doesn’t appear, try spinning in a circle 3 times.
2. Candyman{endbold} Go into a room with a mirror and turn off all the lights. Stand in front of the mirror and chant “Candyman” 5 times to summon the spirit. Then, turn on the lights as quickly as possible so the Candyman doesn’t get you.
3. Three Kings{endbold} At 3:30 a.m. in a dark room, place 2 mirrors in chairs facing each other and sit in a third chair (the King’s Throne) between them. Hold and light a candle, then without looking at the flame, ask questions into the darkness. You should hear your answer from one of the mirrors—just don’t look directly at it!^[2]
   
   • Make sure you begin asking questions at exactly 3:30 a.m. Set an alarm on your phone if you need to.
   • The two mirrors represent the other two kings, or spirits, who will answer your questions. Take the answers with a grain of salt, however, as the spirits could be playing a trick on you.
4. Queen of Spades/Lady Spades{endbold} In a darkened bathroom, place a Queen of Spades card against the mirror and draw a set of stairs with red lipstick. Light a candle, then close your eyes and chant “Queen of Spades, come” 3 times. Open your eyes and see if the spirit has appeared. If she hasn’t, be sure to tell her to leave so she doesn’t come around when you’re least expecting it.^[3]
5. Devil Face{endbold} Stand in front of a mirror in a dark bathroom, just before midnight. Close your eyes, and when the clock strikes midnight, open them. You should see a devil’s face staring back at you from the mirror.^[4]
   
   • Some versions of this game can only be played successfully on the evening of December 24th, as the clock changes to December 25th at midnight.
6. Baby Blue{endbold} This game is best played alone, so take turns with your friends. Go into a dark room with a mirror and stand before it. Cradle your arms like you’re holding a baby, then chant “Baby blue, blue baby” 13 times. You should then feel the sensation of holding a baby in your arms.^[5]

Scary Ritual and Chanting Games

1. Concentrate{endbold} Concentrate is a divination game that is supposed to predict how one player will die. One person will sit in front of another with their eyes closed. The person sitting behind will lightly hit the other person’s back while reciting the “Concentrate” poem. The person with their eyes closed should see a color at some point throughout the game, and that color will reveal how they’re supposed to die.^[6]
   
   • Red: stabbed
   • Blue: drowned
   • Yellow: poisoned
   • Orange: burned
   • Green: falling from a great height
   • Purple: suffocation
   • Brown: buried alive
   • Gray: disease
   • Black: of old age and goes to Hell
   • White: of old age and goes to Heaven
2. Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board{endbold} To play Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board, one player will lie flat on the floor with their arms crossed over their chest. Everyone else will place their hands under the person lying down and attempt to lift them with only their fingertips while chanting “Light as a feather, stiff as a board.”^[7]
3. Dead Man, Dead Man, Take Me to Your Grave{endbold} One person will close their eyes and remain silent throughout the game. The other person will instruct them to move their arms back and forth, slowly reducing the repetitions. The speaker will then chant “Dead man, dead man, take me to your grave,” until the other player’s arms rise on their own.^[8]
   
4. The Telephone Ritual{endbold} Go into a dark, abandoned house and enter the bathroom. Sprinkle salt across the threshold outside the door, lock it, and shine your flashlight at the toilet. From your cell phone, dial the house’s landline number. Wait to see if a ghost answers your call.^[9]
   • Remember, entering an abandoned building can be dangerous and, in many cases, illegal. If you happen to know someone who owns an abandoned house, ask their permission first and play at your own risk.
5. Elevator Game{endbold} If you happen to be in a building with at least 10 floors, ride the elevator to explore other dimensions. Ride the elevator up to the 4th floor, down to the 2nd, up to the 6th, back down to the 2nd, up to the 10th, and down to the 5th. According to legend, you’ll have some supernatural experiences during the ride.^[10]
   
6. Tsuji-Ura{endbold} This game must be played outside, so make sure you have parental permission. Stand at the center of a crossroads after dark. Run your fingers over the teeth of a comb while chanting “Tsuji-ura, tsuji-ura, grant me a true response.” Cover your face with some kind of face covering and wait. If a stranger approaches, ask them to tell you your fortune.^[11]
   • Remember, this is just a game. If you think you might actually see a stranger, have a parent monitor the game so you don’t end up in a dangerous situation.

Scary Games to Play in the Dark

1. Binoculars Game{endbold} At sunset, lock all doors and windows and place a lit flashlight on each windowsill. Tie a rope to a chair or another heavy object and place it near a door. Then, tie the other end of the rope around one of the players, who must remain silent. At exactly 10:30 p.m., slip a note under the door that reads “We welcome you. You shall not be harmed.” Take your flashlights and begin walking around the house. If you hear knocking, the ritual has worked. Continue the game as follows:^[12]
   
   • Once you hear knocking, grab your binoculars and look out all the windows. If you see a figure in the distance, you’ve found “him,” the spirit you’ve summoned.
   • When you see the figure, shout, “Forgive me, for I am mistaken” as loudly as possible. Close your eyes and reopen them immediately. If the figure is gone, you found him in time and the game is now over. Untie your friend, unlock the doors and windows, and destroy the piece of paper as soon as possible.
   • If you do still see the figure, do not untie your partner or unlock the doors and windows. Wait until the figure leaves.
   • If you don’t hear the knocking or see a figure, restart the game and try again.
2. Manhunt{endbold} Manhunt is a great suspenseful game to play if you don’t want to play anything involving spirits or rituals. It combines tag and hide and seek, as a small group will hide in the dark while everyone else tries to find them. Playing in the dark gives the game an eerie vibe, and you don’t have to worry about anything too scary happening.^[13]
3. Dry Bones{endbold} Just after midnight, light a match or a candle in a dark bathroom. Close your eyes and make a wish. If you hear moaning, Dry Bones the demon has come to play. Your goal is to find a hiding spot and evade Dry Bones until 3:00 a.m. If you successfully avoid him, your wish will come true. If you don’t he’ll take your soul.^[14]

Scary Ghost and Spirit Games

1. Ouija Board{endbold} Playing with a Ouija board is one of the most common spooky sleepover activities and supposedly allows players to communicate with spirits. Players place their hands on the planchette, ask a question, and the spirit they’re communicating with is supposed to move the planchette on its own and spell out its answer using the letters on the board. Some believe the Ouija board truly allows you to communicate with spirits, while others see it as nothing more than a party trick.^[15]
   
   • When the spirit stops answering or you’re done asking questions, always say “Goodbye” to end the session and send the spirit back to where it came from.
2. Ma Lon{endbold} Ma Lon is a Vietnamese game that supposedly summons a spirit to chase you. Light incense (or a cigarette if you’re of age) and place it near an empty can. If the smoke moves like someone is taking a drag of a cigarette, it’s a sign you’ve successfully summoned the spirit. Start running as fast as you can in a straight line to outrun the spirit.^[16]
   • For this game, you must run in a straight line. If you turn, the spirit will return from where it came.
   • If you feel something on your ankles as you run, the spirit is trying to grab you.
   • This game is best played in a deserted area late at night, so make sure you have parental permission if you’re a minor.
3. The Bath Game/Daruma-san{endbold} In a dark bathroom, fill the bathtub with water and sit on the edge. Close your eyes and wash your hair while chanting “Daruma-san fell down, Daruma-san fell down.” You should begin to see a ghostly figure falling and dying in the bathtub. Don’t make eye contact, or she’ll get you!^[17]
   
   • This is another game best played alone, so take turns going into the bathroom alone if you’re playing with friends.
   • Daruma-san is based on a Japanese children’s game.
4. Charlie Charlie/Pencil Game{endbold} To play Charlie Charlie (also known as the Pencil Game), get a piece of paper and two pencils. Draw an X to divide the paper into 4 boxes and label two boxes “Yes” and two boxes “No.” Balance the pencils across the lines and say “Charlie, Charlie, are you here?” to begin the game. Ask the spirit questions, and the pencils should move to reflect your answer.^[18]
5. Midnight Man{endbold} To play Midnight Man, have everyone write their full name on paper and place it in front of a wooden door. Just before midnight, light a candle on top of the paper and knock on the door 22 times, syncing the final knock with the stroke of midnight. Blow out the candle and open the door to release the Midnight Man, then roam around your house until 3:33 a.m. dodging the Midnight Man.^[19]
   • This game is supposedly based on an old Pagan punishment.
   • Light another candle after you blow the first one out. If the new candle goes out on its own, it means the Midnight Man is nearby.

Other Scary Sleepover Games

1. Cat Scratch{endbold} To play Cat Scratch, lie on the floor in a dark room with your head in another player’s lap. That player will then recite spooky stories about a cat while rubbing your temples. When they’ve finished the stories, stand up and see if there are claw marks on your back. Take turns to see if the ghostly cat scratches all of you.^[20]
   
2. Sandman{endbold} Playing Sandman is basically the opposite of Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board; instead of lifting you up, it will weigh you down. One person will lie down while another tells a story of a murder and how their body is full of sand. When the person lying down tries to get up, it will feel as if they’re weighed down by sand.^[21]
3. Pendulum{endbold} If you’d like to try to communicate with spirits or predict your future, using a pendulum can help. Hold the pendulum by its chain so the weight hangs down, then ask a yes or no question. The way the pendulum swings will reveal your answer. Some use this in place of objects like a Ouija board to communicate with spirits, while others use it for divination.^[22]
   
   • Either buy a pre-made pendulum or make your own by tying a paperclip or a ring to a string or chain.
   • To help determine your answer, write “yes” on the top and bottom of a piece of paper and “no” on the left and right sides, or vice versa. Whichever way the pendulum swings will provide your answer.
4. Ghost Stories{endbold} Sometimes, nothing’s better than a good, old-fashioned ghost story. If you and your friends want a break from all the games, sit in a circle in the dark and take turns telling your spookiest ghost stories. Hold a flashlight under your chin while you do so to cast eerie shadows on your face.^[23]
5. The Answer Man{endbold} For this game, you’ll need at least 10 players with cell phones. Stand in a circle and, at the exact same time, call the number of the person to your left. Most players will encounter a busy signal, but if the call goes through, you’ve connected with the Answer Man. Ask him any question you want, and he’ll answer. However, he’ll then ask you a question, and if you answer incorrectly, a large, gnarled hand is said to reach through the phone to grab you.^[24]
   
6. Sara Sarita{endbold} This game requires 2 players. Sit on the floor across from each other and say, “Sara Sarita, may we join your game?” You’ll then each flip a coin. If both coins land on heads it’s a “yes,” if both land on tails it’s a “no,” and if they’re mixed it’s a “maybe.” If you receive a “yes,” ask Sara Sarita any question you want.^[25]
   • Sara Sarita originated in Mexico and is similar to the Charlie, Charlie game.
   • To properly end the game, ask “Sara Sarita, can we leave your game?” and flip the coins again. Keep trying until both coins land on heads.
   • So, make sure none of your sleepover guests will be too scared!

Scary Video Games

1. Lone Survivor{endbold} Lone Survivor is an indie horror survival game originally released in 2012. With retro 2D graphics, play as a nameless protagonist and follow directions provided by the character’s apparent hallucinations to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. A remake called Super Lone Survivor was released for Nintendo Switch in 2022.
   
2. Resident Evil{endbold} The Resident Evil series is one of the most popular horror video game franchises. The series consists of survival horror, first-person shooter, and third-person shooter games as the player attempts to survive a zombie outbreak. There are a ton of Resident Evil games to choose from, with the most recent being a remake of 2005’s Resident Evil 4.^[26]
3. Dead Space{endbold} Dead Space is a survival horror game in which you play as a starship engineer trying to survive the mutant creatures that have taken over the ship. The original Dead Space was released in 2008, with a remake created in 2023.^[27]
   
4. Outlast{endbold} 2013’s Outlast is a first-person survival horror in which you play as investigative journalist Miles Upshur, who decides to investigate an abandoned psychiatric hospital deep in the mountains of Colorado. In this game, your only options are to run or hide when faced with an enemy, making it even scarier.
5. Amnesia: The Dark Descent{endbold} In this first-person adventure game, play as a protagonist named Daniel who is exploring an eerie castle called Brennenburg while trying to escape monsters and avoid unsettling events. Solve puzzles and keep Daniel’s sanity intact as you explore.^[28]
6. Silent Hill{endbold} Silent Hill is a horror franchise that began in 1999. The series is set in a fictional American town called Silent Hill and focuses on many psychological horror elements. Play as different characters in different games as they explore the mysterious town and try to survive the strange creatures that reside there. With tons of games to choose from, this series is sure to have something scary enough for you.
   
7. Five Nights at Freddy’s{endbold} The Five Nights at Freddy’s series is a popular horror video game franchise from 2014. In this point-and-click survival game, play as a security guard trying to survive the night in a haunted arcade and pizzeria with possessed animatronics. This series is so popular that it inspired a Five Nights at Freddy’s movie starring Josh Hutcherson.^[29]

Scary Phone Games

1. Year Walk{endbold} Year Walk is an eerie app based on an ancient Swedish tradition in which you’re supposed to see scary visions about what is to come in the next year. Explore dark woods filled with strange creatures as you solve puzzles in an attempt to foresee your future. This game is more spooky rather than downright scary, so this is a good option if you don’t want to get too scared.^[30]
   
2. Forgotten Memories{endbold} In Forgotten Memories, play as protagonist Rose Hawkins as you search for a missing girl named Eden. This app is a third-person psychological survival horror game, in which the gameplay combines puzzles, exploration, action, and survival.
3. Eyes{endbold} Eyes is a mobile horror game with multiplayer options, so you can easily play with your friends instead of taking turns. Play as a burglar who breaks into what they think is an empty house. Try to escape the ghosts and evade jumpscares as you navigate the huge, maze-like mansion.
   
4. Slender Rising{endbold} In Slender Rising explore different haunted places as you try to find 7 mysterious signs. Watch out for Slender Man, a mysterious white figure in a suit, and try to collect all 7 signs before he catches you. With terrifying music and sound effects, this game is sure to frighten you!^[31]
   

Video

References

1. ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/urbanlegends/2019/02/21/bloody-mary/
2. ↑ https://ihorror.com/paranormal-games-the-three-kings-ritual/
3. ↑ https://theghostinmymachine.com/2016/01/04/the-most-dangerous-games-lady-spades/
4. ↑ https://theghostinmymachine.com/2021/12/06/the-most-dangerous-games-the-devil-face-game-or-the-devil-in-the-mirror/
5. ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/silenceofthenight/2018/04/13/blue-baby-baby-blue/
6. ↑ https://nightscrawlers.ca/2017/02/04/3-scary-games-we-played-as-kids/
7. ↑ https://icebreakerideas.com/scary-games/#As_Light_as_a_Feather_and_as_Stiff_as_a_Board
8. ↑ https://www.scarystudies.com/dead-man-game/
9. ↑ https://theghostinmymachine.com/2017/10/18/the-most-dangerous-games-the-telephone-game/
10. ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/silenceofthenight/2017/09/21/the-elevator-game-entrance-to-the-otherworld/
11. ↑ https://nightscrawlers.ca/2017/02/10/japanese-games-that-will-scare-the-sht-out-of-you/
12. ↑ https://theghostinmymachine.com/2018/08/22/dangerous-games-eye-spy-binoculars-game/
13. ↑ https://www.thecampfirecollective.com/blog/6-ultimate-outdoor-summer-games/
14. ↑ https://theghostinmymachine.com/2016/11/28/the-most-dangerous-games-dry-bones/
15. ↑ https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=louisepound
16. ↑ https://saigoneer.com/saigon-culture/2556-3-thrilling-vietnamese-games-to-play-during-the-month-of-ghosts
17. ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/silenceofthenight/2017/10/19/daruma-san/
18. ↑ https://time.com/3897606/charlie-charlie-challenge/
19. ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/silenceofthenight/2018/01/25/midnight-man/
20. ↑ https://nightscrawlers.ca/2017/02/04/3-scary-games-we-played-as-kids/
21. ↑ https://icebreakerideas.com/scary-games/#The_Sandman_Game
22. ↑ https://leoniedawson.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/The-Ultimate-Guide-to-Pendulums.pdf
23. ↑ https://icebreakerideas.com/scary-games/#Scary_Games_to_Play_at_a_Sleepover
24. ↑ https://www.bamackenzie.com/telephone-game
25. ↑ https://theghostinmymachine.com/2018/04/18/dangerous-games-sara-sarita-sister-sister-ritual-mexico/
26. ↑ https://gametree.me/blog/20-best-scary-games-to-play-with-friends/
27. ↑ https://gametree.me/blog/20-best-scary-games-to-play-with-friends/
28. ↑ https://www.everythingisscary.com/play/2015/6/11/breathing-new-life-into-death-amnesia-the-dark-descent
29. ↑ https://fivenightsatfreddys3.com/
30. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2013/2/21/4013456/year-walk-iphone-ipad-vision-quest-game
31. ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/urbanlegends/2019/02/08/slender-man/