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Since its initial release, the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise has taken the internet by storm. As fans put themselves into the world of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, it’s only natural that game developers and artists were hit with bursts of creativity. With so much lore and intricacies behind the characters, people have taken it into their own hands to create fun games and fan stories based on the original. Like many fandoms, these fan games were embraced by others and met with overwhelming positivity.
However, unlike most, original creator Scott Cawthon created The Fazbear Fanverse Initiative. In it, he encourages others to work with and support popular Five Nights fan game developers. Some of these games have taken the story and mechanics to a whole new level, expanding on the lore past the simple game mechanics.
Let’s talk about some of the best Five Nights at Freddy’s fangames.
5. Five Nights at Candy’s
Five Nights at Candy’s takes the traditional Five Nights at Freddy’s gameplay alters it. Creator Emilmacko sets the game in a new competitor restaurant to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Unfortunately, like Freddy Fazbear’s, no one is safe from possessed animatronics.
This Five Nights fan game story centers around a group of animatronics, including Candy the Cat, Cindy the Cat, Chester the Chimpanzee, and The Penguin, who each have a dark secret. As the night guard, players must monitor the security cameras and ensure their survival until the morning. Currently, Five Nights at Candy’s is the first in a three-game series.
4. Popgoes
Popgoes comes from a group of creators on Reddit who wanted to develop a game set in 2024. After starting their own subreddit called r/2124, they released their fan game. Now, players find themselves in England’s Popgoes Pizzeria, where a mysterious figure named Fritz has taken over the animatronics. The player controls the night security guard, who controls the robot Stings. Using this AI, he learns over time the real reason behind the establishment’s development.
Different than Five Nights, Popgoes mixes its gameplay with the traditional mechanics of FNAF. It introduces new point-and-click concepts and utilizes different environmental factors to stop the animatronics from attacking.
3. JR’s
Jr’s creepy vintage style takes over the original animatronics and sets them in the 80’s. The high-quality design and graphics of the frame had won over fans almost immediately. However, from the development updates, JR’s calls itself “an all-around investigation type game” rather than a point-and-click adventure. With this, the player has to use clues to figure out which animatronics are possessed, and which are not. However, making a mistake could mean the end of it all. The game prides itself on being a paranormal-heavy story that functions with a gameplay loop.
Jr’s was released on August 22nd, 2022, making it the most recent entry on this list. A sequel was teased at the end of the first game, but that has yet to be confirmed or followed up on by the developers.
2. Aftonbuilt
Aftonbuilt is a game that takes place in the Five Nights at Freddy’s Universe but at a different place in the canon timeline. Developed by JeliLiam, the player assumes the role of ‘the Mechanic’ and teams up with now-deceased William Afton after the events of Five Nights at Freddy’s 3. Together, the duo works together to build him a new animatronic body so he can roam the streets once again.
The gameplay of Aftonbuilt is also one to take note of, as it differs drastically from the original Five Nights at Freddy’s. Instead of running away and avoiding the possessed animatronics, players now have the ability to fight back and trap them to buy more time. As the Mechanic, players find themselves in a more story-based survival horror game rather than the management and measurement style Five Nights at Freddy’s is known for.
1. The Joy of Creation
The Joy of Creation: Story Mode comes from creator Nikson. This Five Nights at Freddy’s fan game is based on the original, but takes some liberties with its story. Instead of being set in the fictional game, The Joy of Creation is set in the real world. Players must take the role of Scott Cawthon and his family as they try to fight off the animatronics that invaded their home for the night.
Each level of the game takes players into another room of the house. In it, players have to learn new techniques and patterns to keep their assigned animatronic away. The main antagonists of the game include Ignited Freddy, Ignited Bonnie, Ignited Chica, Ignited Foxy, and a mysterious creature known as The Rake.