Sandman Game Rules + Example Scary Stories

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Learn to play Sandman with this easy-to-follow guide

Co-authored by Brittney Crabb and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: September 25, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Playing the Game
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• Scary Story Examples

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Looking for a spooky game to play at a sleepover? Sandman, also known as Sandbags, is a great option that’s sure to scare all your friends. You only need two players, a dark room, and a chilling story. Although it’s just a game, be careful when you play...some people have claimed they feel paranormal sensations throughout the game!

Things You Should Know

• Choose two players to be the Sleeper and the Storyteller. Turn out the lights and lay the Sleeper in the middle of the room, flat on their back.
• Have the Storyteller tell a scary story about the Sandman. Get creative but focus on how the Sandman cut open the Sleeper and filled their body up with sand.
• Instruct the Sleeper to rise after the story is finished.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Playing the Game

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1. 
   1
   Pick a Sleeper and a Storyteller. One person will lay on the ground while the other tells a story. If you can’t pick, play a quick game to decide the characters, like rock, paper, scissors.
2. 
   2
   Dim the lights. Prepare the room by blocking any windows and closing the curtains. Play the game in a dark, quiet room to amp up the scare factor!

   • If you don’t want to play in complete darkness, light a few candles around the perimeter of the room for a spooky glow.
   • Turn on some scary music to give everyone the chills!
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3. 
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   Lie on the floor if you’re the Sleeper. Center yourself in the middle of the room with a pillow under your head. Keep your limbs flat on the floor, and don’t cross your arms or legs.

   • If more people are playing, have them create a wide circle around the Sleeper and remain silent throughout the game.
4. 
   4
   Tell a scary story if you’re the Storyteller. Create a story about how the Sleeper died. The details are up to you, but revolve the story around the Sleeper being sliced open, filled with sand, and stitched back up.

   • If you’re the Storyteller, run your fingers along the Sleeper when you mention slicing them open (to mimic a knife). Lightly tap on the Sleeper when you mention filling their body with sand.
   • If you're the Sleeper, just listen to the story.
5. 
   5
   Tell the Sleeper to rise. If you’re the Storyteller, instruct the Sleeper to open their eyes and stand up at the end of your story. If they don't get up fast enough, they risk being possessed by the Sandman!

   • The Sleeper may have a hard time standing up at first—from either laying on the ground or feeling like their body was filled with sand.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Scary Story Examples

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1. 
   1
   Example Story 1 “A man chased you in the woods. Boom! You tripped over a rock and broke your ankle. The man caught up to you and pulled out a knife. He ran it across your ankles and then sliced them open (run your fingers across them). He filled them with sand (lightly pat). He ran his knife across your arms and sliced them open (run your fingers). He filled them with sand (lightly pat). You tried to escape but your body was too heavy. Finally, he slit your throat (run your fingers) so you couldn’t scream and stitched you back up."
2. 
   2
   Example Story 2 “You were walking down the street when someone ran up behind you and knocked you out. When you woke up, you couldn’t identify your surroundings, but you heard footsteps walking toward you. It was a man with a knife. He came closer, sliced your shoulders (run your fingers across them), and filled them with sand (lightly pat). He slid his knife across your legs and sliced them open (run your fingers across them). He filled them with sand (lightly pat). He finally ran the blade across your neck and sliced your throat (run your fingers). He filled it with sand (lightly pat) and stitched you up.”
3. 
   3
   Example Story 3 “There once was a woman who lived in a quiet neighborhood – she had no idea she was being watched from afar. The Sandman followed her every move, waiting for the opportunity to strike. One day, the woman forgot to lock her front door, so the Sandman snuck into her apartment with a knife. He sliced her legs open (run your fingers across them) and filled them with sand (lightly pat). She began to scream so he taped her mouth shut. He sliced her arms (run your fingers) and filled them with sand (lightly pat). He finally slid his knife across her face and sliced her throat (run your fingers). He filled it with sand (lightly pat).”
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Join the Discussion...

The best games to play at sleepovers

Jon Purkis
Game Expert

A game that would be fun for teenagers are hidden traitor games—like The Resistance or One Night Ultimate Werewolf. They’re a bit like Among Us, which has obviously been popular with teens. In these games, a couple of players are secretly traitors, trying to lie to their friends without being found out, while everyone else tries to expose them. It’s all about conversation—accusations, bluffing, lying to each other's faces. It can definitely get heated, but I think teens would have a blast with them. I would’ve loved to play those games at that age.

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Jonathan Wells
Games Expert

At sleepovers, I would do the same kind of games you would do as a family because that's a family environment, and they're in your home. Our daughter does day-overs rather than sleepovers, but that's how we do it. Just play games!

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