Key Takeaways
- Five Nights at Freddy’s started as a little indie game back in 2014 by Scott Cawthon, and it exploded into this massive thing with more than 20 games, books, and two movies that raked in over $500 million together.
- At its heart, Five Nights at Freddy’s is about these eerie robot animals haunted by the ghosts of kids murdered by William Afton—tons of mystery and chills that suck you right in.
- The new 2025 sequel movie brought in about $212 million around the world, even though critics weren’t kind (like 13% scores), because fans absolutely ate up all the game references.
- If you’re just getting into it, the story can seem super tangled at first, but kicking off with the original game or some quick explainer videos makes it way easier.
- The fanbase is wild—full of art, theories, and merch—and it’s simple to hop in whether you’re on phone or computer.
What Is Five Nights at Freddy’s?
Suppose you’re stuck on the night shift at some rundown pizza joint where these huge robotic animals perform for kids all day. But once the lights go down, they start creeping around like something’s seriously wrong. You just have to make it to 6 a.m. That’s basically Five Nights at Freddy’s, or FNAF for short.
Scott Cawthon whipped up the first one in 2014 after folks kept saying his old characters looked kinda scary. So he ran with it and built this nerve-wracking game where you’re holed up in an office, flipping through security cams, juggling power for doors and lights, praying Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, or Foxy don’t sneak up on you.
It took off like crazy because those scares hit different—pure tension building up to big jumps, no fancy action needed. People loved it, and soon we had sequels, side stories, books, and even movies. Now it’s this whole universe packed with sad backstories about revenge and cursed machines.
A bunch of us started on the phone versions since they’re cheap and quick to try. Yeah, the nights are short, and things can feel samey after a bit, but digging into the hidden plot is what really hooks most people.
Five Nights at Freddy’s Games in Chronological Order
With so many games, figuring out the order can confuse newcomers. There’s release order (how they came out) and story order (what happens when in the timeline). For first-timers, release order works best to avoid spoilers.
Here’s a quick list of the main ones:
- FNAF 1 (2014): The original—survive at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza in 1993.
- FNAF 2 (2014): Prequel set in 1987 with new “toy” animatronics.
- FNAF 3 (2015): Years later, in a horror attraction with Springtrap.
- FNAF 4 (2015): Nightmares in 1983, focused on a kid’s home.
- Sister Location (2016): Underground facility with Circus Baby.
- Pizzeria Simulator (2017): Run your own pizzeria while hiding secrets.
- Ultimate Custom Night (2018): Mix and match animatronics for custom challenges.
- Help Wanted (2019): VR collection with new mini-stories.
- Security Breach (2021): Big open-world mall adventure in the modern day.
Story-wise, it jumps around: Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 first (1983), then 2 (1987), 1 (1993), and later games into the 2020s or beyond.
Tip for new players: Start with the first four on PC or mobile. Use headphones for audio clues—like Foxy’s running steps. Conserve power early; it’s easy to run out and panic.
Unraveling Five Nights at Freddy’s Lore for Beginners
The lore is what keeps people coming back. It’s not spelled out—you find it in mini-games, phone calls, and hidden details.
At the core: William Afton, a bad guy who kills kids at the pizzerias. Their spirits possess the animatronics, seeking revenge. Key events include the Bite of ’83 (a tragic accident) and Bite of ’87 (an animatronic attack), plus the Missing Children Incident.
Afton becomes Springtrap, trapped in a suit. Later games bring in digital viruses like Glitchtrap and new threats like the Mimic. It can feel overwhelming with all the timelines and theories. Picture a family torn apart by secrets— that’s the Afton story.
Real example: Fans like MatPat from Game Theory spent years breaking it down, with videos getting hundreds of millions of views. That’s how most learn the full picture.
For beginners: Skip heavy spoilers at first. Play the games, then watch a simple timeline video. Books expand the story differently, almost like alternate versions.
Iconic Characters and Animatronics Ranked
The animatronics make Five Nights at Freddy’s scary and memorable. Here’s a fan-favorite ranking by how creepy or popular they are:
- Freddy Fazbear: The bear leader—slow but smart.
- William Afton/Springtrap: The human villain, with the most twisted backstory.
- Foxy: Fast pirate fox who rushes if you ignore him.
- Bonnie and Chica: Guitar bunny and cupcake chicken—team up on you.
- Newer ones like Glamrock Freddy (from Security Breach): More helpful ally feel.
Fans rank Afton highest for depth. In movies, Matthew Lillard plays him brilliantly.
To survive: Learn patterns—Bonnie left door, Chica right, Foxy from the cove.
Movies change some behaviors for drama, which bugs purists but adds fresh scares.
Five Nights at Freddy’s Movies: From Game to Screen
The movies bring the games to life with real animatronics from Jim Henson’s shop.
First one (2023): Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson) guards the old pizzeria and uncovers family ties to the murders. Made $297 million worldwide on a small budget—huge hit.
Sequel (2025): Abby reconnects with the robots, digs deeper into origins. Opened big with $64 million first weekend, ended around $212 million globally.
Compared to games, Movies are PG-13, less intense jumpscares, and focus on human drama. Some lore changes upset hardcore fans, but they open the world to families.
Watch the first on Peacock; the sequel might hit streaming soon.
Fan Community, Merch, and Crossovers
Five Nights at Freddy’s thrives because of its fans. On X and Reddit, people share art, memes, and wild theories daily—especially after the 2025 movie.
Merch is everywhere: plushies, figures, clothes. Official ones cost more, but are worth it for quality. Hunt deals to avoid spending too much. Crossovers keep it fresh—like animatronics in Dead by Daylight.
Community fixes pain points: Fan games for more play, free guides for lore.
Tips to Survive and Enjoy Five Nights at Freddy’s
New to the scares? Here’s how to ease in:
- Start easy: Play FNAF 1 on mobile, low difficulty.
- Manage resources: Check cameras quickly, close doors only when needed.
- Handle jumpscares: Turn volume down first if too much.
- For lore: Watch spoiler-free summaries.
- Kids or sensitive? Stick to movies—they’re milder.
PC controls feel better than touchscreens. Join forums for hints without full spoilers.
Conclusion
Five Nights at Freddy’s continues to thrill fans in 2025 with its chilling games, deep lore, and blockbuster movies. Whether you’re exploring the original 2014 classic, piecing together William Afton’s dark story, or watching the latest movie sequel, there’s something for every horror fan. Start with the first few games, follow the simplified lore, and join the vibrant community of fans creating theories, fan art, and spin-offs. From creepy animatronics to Easter eggs in the movies, FNAF offers endless scares and mysteries—perfect for newcomers and longtime players alike. Grab your headphones, check the cameras, and get ready: the night shift is calling.