“Everything is true here, even if it’s not.”
With over 17 million members, NoSleep is a subreddit dedicated to horror stories that may or may not be based in reality. I’ve been reading and writing NoSleep stories for over a decade, but it wasn’t until 2021 that my series ‘We Used to Live Here’ was optioned to become a major motion picture, and the basis for my debut novel.
As a tribute to the community that launched my career, here are 10 of my favorite NoSleep stories, in no particular order.
Mayhem Mountain by u/The_Dalek_Emperor (aka Rebecca Klingel)
A group of lifelong friends revisit their favorite childhood amusement park, only to find things aren’t quite how they remembered. This nail-biting nightmare gave me a brand new aversion to roller coasters.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that everything I know is a dream by u/tiyafwons
After a terrible accident, OP (short hand for ‘original poster) undergoes a miraculous recovery – but if something is too good to be true, then it probably is, right? This quick and disturbing read shatters the fourth wall in unexpected ways.
The Smiling Man by u/blue_tidal
Someone encounters a strange man on a late night walk. Simple, effective and creepy. A smiling menace may seem like a trope now, but this story is one of the reasons it became a trope in the first place.
Autopilot by u/Skarjo
Deeply disturbing and truly unforgettable, Autopilot is one of the first NoSleep stories I ever read. For better or worse, it completely transformed the way I think about morning routines. Reader discretion advised.
I can’t stop waving at the man on the moon by u/MikeJesus
There’s something about the face-value silliness of this concept that only makes it creepier. OP spots a literal man on the moon, and can’t stop waving at him. A bizarre and haunting exploration of self destruction.
I listened to a true crime podcast about myself by u/RobertMort (aka Blair Daniels)
Another brisk and effective read. The title says it all: OP’s life is turned upside down after her favorite podcast releases an episode about her upcoming disappearance.
Her Name was Emma by u/alackofcoasters
A dumb joke goes way too far in this mind-bending story that will keep you guessing until the very last line. The finale ranks among the best endings in NoSleep history.
Has Your Husband Been Standing Still? by u/StakeLizard
“The woman at the door said her husband was inside my home…”
This story hooked me from the first line and kept me there until its nightmarish conclusion. The kind of horror that raises more questions than it answers, and is all the scarier for it.
Something walks whistling past my house every night at 3:03 by u/Grand_Theft_Motto
Another title that says it all. There’s only one rule in this idyllic neighborhood—don’t look at the whistler. A masterclass in the fear of the unknown.
Ted the Caver by Ted Hegemann
Pre-dating Reddit, this is the original “Creepypasta”. Two spelunkers make a strange and terrifying discovery in a claustrophobic cave. Told through a series of blog posts, the author’s extensive knowledge of caving and use of real photos lend this story a terrifying edge of authenticity. It’s astonishing that one of the earliest online horror stories still remains one of the scariest.
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