An arcade cabinet appears in Portland in 1981, tucked between ordinary machines and drawing a strange crowd. Players report migraines, vivid nightmares, and missing time. Then the game disappears, leaving behind only forum posts, half-remembered sightings, and one of the internet’s most persistent gaming legends. Heidi traces the Polybius myth from early message boards to modern retellings, and asks why the idea of a game designed to study — or alter — the people playing it still feels plausible.

For more follow Twisted Tales wherever you listen to podcasts: https://pod.link/1839058226

Join Crime House+ to binge a special limited series on Murder: True Crime Stories for America’s 250th: The Crimes That Built America. These are the cases that created the FBI, gave us Miranda rights, sparked criminal profiling, and gave us America’s Most Wanted. Join at crimehouseplus.com or if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, tap “Try Free” at the top of this show’s page. You’ll also get ad-free and early released episodes across the Crime House lineup.

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In June 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was taken from her bedroom at knifepoint while her nine-year-old sister hid under the covers and watched. Her kidnapper knew exactly which door of the house wasn't wired to the alarm. For months, investigators zeroed in on the wrong man. And a sketch that could have broken the case wide open sat untouched in a filing cabinet.

This episode contains descriptions of kidnapping, child sexual abuse, and captivity. Please listen with care

Follow America's Most Infamous Crimes to hear the rest of the story: https://pod.link/1882861002

Join Crime House+ to binge a special limited series on Murder: True Crime Stories for America’s 250th: The Crimes That Built America. These are the cases that created the FBI, gave us Miranda rights, sparked criminal profiling, and gave us America’s Most Wanted. Join at crimehouseplus.com or if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, tap “Try Free” at the top of this show’s page. You’ll also get ad-free and early released episodes across the Crime House lineup.

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In 1880s Austin, Texas, a shadowy killer stalked the city under cover of darkness, leaving behind brutal murders that sparked panic and rumor. In Part 1, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the early crimes, the social tensions of the era, and the birth of one of America’s first urban murder mysteries.

Follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds for part 2 of this episode: https://pod.link/1769285458

Join Crime House+ to binge a special limited series on Murder: True Crime Stories for America’s 250th: The Crimes That Built America. These are the cases that created the FBI, gave us Miranda rights, sparked criminal profiling, and gave us America’s Most Wanted. Join at crimehouseplus.com or if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, tap “Try Free” at the top of this show’s page. You’ll also get ad-free and early released episodes across the Crime House lineup.

🎧 Need More to Binge?

Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Crime House 24/7, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Murder True Crime Stories, and more wherever you get your podcasts!

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