With a total of 13 games, multiple books, theories, fan games and now even a movie, it is no surprise that the “Five Nights at Freddy’s”(FNAF) franchise is one of the most well known games among gamers and non-gamers alike. So how did this happen and why has it become as popular as it has?
The first game was released on Aug. 8, 2014 by the indie game developer, Scott Cawthon. After being disheartened by the failure of his earlier works, he decided to lean into the creepy nature of his creations that he had been initially criticized for.
Upon release, the game received a lot of positive reception, which really surprised Cawthon, and led to him creating a second game soon after.
The game centers around the player being a security guard trying to survive their shift until 6 a.m., all while being hunted down by Freddy Fazbear’s animatronic mascots. Its unsettling atmosphere and simple gameplay made it easy for people to play and still feel scared, and it soon gained attention from Youtubers, which sparked a growing fandom for an already-loved game.
A lot of fans were amused at watching their favorite creators record their reactions at playing the game, setting off a reaction where newer content creators would try to gain popularity by playing the game as well.
The surge in popularity lay in the audience, mostly children and teenagers around the 2010s, especially with its mysterious lore and countless theories. Horror games had already been on the rise, and a new game with a unique, simple gameplay style and story seemed to pique the interest of many.
One of the most defining factors of the franchise is its reputation for having incredibly confusing, yet intriguing lore surrounding the gameplay. Hidden hints, clues and easter eggs really sold its replayability factor.
“I like the mystery around it. I think there’s still some things that haven’t been discovered yet. […] I think there’s still a lot more to go for it,” freshman Lilly Swint, a recent fan, said.
Even after years of its initial wave of popularity, it still manages to get new theories with one of its most recent releases known as FNAF: Help Wanted 2. The game came out in December this year and gained a 9/10 score on Steam, despite being a little over a month old.
Even after almost a decade after its initial release, many audio clips from the games or fan made creations are widespread and still used and mentioned on social media, regardless of the platform.
“I’ve heard a lot of sounds that were actually from the games. I didn’t realize until I actually got into the fandom,” Swint said.On Oct. 27, 2023, the FNAF movie was released with good reception from the fans of the games, and bringing further testament to the very large community surrounding the franchise and its continuous love for the game. The official FNAF movie garnered a lot of attention, with an 87% audience score despite the 32% of the Tomatometer by critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
“I definitely had a great time watching the movie and geeking out about little details with friends,” senior grade Angie Marquez said.