A place where fantasy and fun morph into terror with a simple flip of a switch. With a limited power supply and a set of cameras, players work as the security guard meant to watch over a pizzeria during the night shift. All seems normal until the animatronics begin to move and hunt the player down until the clock strikes 6am, ending the night.This describes Five Nights at Freddy’s, a horror franchise created by Scott Cawthon. The first game released on August 8, 2014 and set wave for an entire franchise and even a movie in 2023.
Despite the love for the franchise, we all know some of the games are better than others. Here I will be listing the games by their release date and giving a personalized review of each. We will be looking at gameplay, graphics, and, of course, enjoyability. As always, the rating is just my opinion, but as a die hard fan of the franchise, I am sure most of you will agree with my ratings.
Now let’s dive into the nights and start this list with the inaugural release.
(Disclaimer: I will be only focusing on the canon games in the series, not the mini games, books, or movie.)
1. Five Nights at Freddy's - 2014 (Best)
Five Nights at Freddy's
I promise they're friendly.
It isn’t blind nostalgia. The original video game is by far the best in the franchise. It is, undoubtedly, the pinnacle of the series for most fans and its release laid the groundwork which built the franchise.
It features simple gameplay where the player watches two doors and eleven cameras. The power will slowly dwindle down while the animatronics move closer to the office where the player resides. Despite the simple mechanics, its idea was incredibly unique at the time. The mysterious lore, delivered by a nameless man over the phone, coupled with the eerie atmosphere of the pizzeria have made this game a timeless classic in the horror genre.
I believe this game is the best in the franchise, because of its simplicity. It doesn’t need complex storylines or gameplay to be effective. The vague phone calls that change each night created the pathway for theorists to contemplate on what the storyline was for Five Nights at Freddy’s. Scott Cawthon still hasn’t confirmed large pieces of lore, which makes the fanbase feel more connected and involved with the games as they work to solve mysteries and easter eggs left behind.
Not to mention the elusive Golden Freddy that could enter the office and crash the player’s game, with no real way to beat him. Scott had a knack for easter eggs since this very first game with interacting posters and changing scenery, once again adding to its uniqueness.
For the first game in the franchise, it showcases extremely good graphics, especially for its time. The difficulty also changes with each night, where new animatronics come to life with different patterns for players to learn. The game touched on classic and nostalgic techniques while also creating a whole new experience, which is why it is such an important game in the franchise and, certainly, the best.
2. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 - 2014 (Great)
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Trailer
They don't bite... well...
The fast-arriving prequel, released only three months after the first game, is easily one of the most complex and best games of the franchise. It features a whole new cast of characters and mechanics, but still with elements from the first game that make it an excellent predecessor.
The second game brings back the original four animatronics from the first game, but in a withered and tattered state. The original phone guy (voiced by Scott Cawthon himself) describes new pieces of lore for the audience to cipher, such as the classic “Bit of 87” (You’re thinking of Markiplier right now aren't you?) There’s also no doors in this office, and you have a music box to wind up or a marionette doll, nicknamed ‘the puppet’, will completely end the night for you.
This game is up there with one of the most difficult in the franchise, which makes it the most entertaining. The second game is regarded as many fans' favorite game entirely. The graphics are extremely good, with new twists on past characters. The gameplay is complex as players check for Foxy down the hallway with a flashlight, hide their faces from animatronics with a spare freddy head, keep balloon boy from stealing their flashlight batteries, and make sure that music box stays winded. There are also eleven animatronics to worry about, instead of only four.
There are also secret minigames you can achieve after certain death screens, which showed us new aspects of the lore like crying children, a mysterious purple killer, sabotaged animatronics, and “give gifts, give life”.
A compilation of those minigames has been posted on youtube. Here’s the link if you’re interested:
Five Nights At Freddy's 2 ~ All Minigames!
I think this game is held in such high regard, because there is no down time to be bored. You are in a constant state of fear as you check every angle and camera. I personally enjoy the challenge, and the new information given by Scott in this game makes it extremely interesting, and every death leads you to learn something new.
3. Five Nights at Freddy's 3 - 2015 (Good)
Five Nights at Freddy's 3 Teaser Trailer
The infamous yellow rabbit.
The third game of the franchise changes scenery slightly in an abandoned pizzeria that has been turned into a ‘haunted house’ scare attraction. It’s far from a gimmick, however, as the player experiences hallucination animatronics called ‘phantoms’. There is only one thing that can kill you, though, and that’s the notorious antagonist, springtrap (a.k.a purple guy or william afton).
This game adds new tasks that the player must handle in order to survive the night. They must check ventilation, keep springtrap away from the office by using voice prompts on the cameras, and making sure air stays flowing or those pesky phantom animatronics will give you a jumpscare.
This game also gave us the famous springlock scene at the very end of the game after completion, and also supplied players with a good and bad ending depending on specific easter eggs that Scott Cawthon had placed in the game. For those reasons, the game is extremely interesting, but it's gameplay falls short in comparison to the other games in the franchise.
FNAF 3 purple guy's death mini-game
In my opinion, this game is the easiest in the entire franchise. With only one animatronic to really worry about, you can focus on the sound and fixing the vents with ease. That makes some parts of the game slightly boring, but this game supplied us with the first real piece of lore we had in the franchise, not just animatronics, but a solid character confirmation. That makes this game one of the most important, but not one of the most entertaining to play.
4. Five Nights at Freddy's 4 - 2015 (Great)
Five Nights at Freddy's 4 Trailer
Nightmare Animatronics Assemble
As a child did you fear what was waiting for you in the dark? Did you go running to your room after flicking off the lights? Scot Cawthon conveys that horror perfectly in the fourth Five Nights at Freddy’s game. The player is a child in their bedroom that has to run between doors and check the closet, as well as the bed behind them, for “nightmare animatronics”.
The game features the original four animatronics (Freddy, Bonnie, Foxy, and Chica), but in a twisted, terrifying state. “Golden Freddy” returns as well, but by the name of “Nightmare Fredbear” on the fifth and final night in the game. Another animatronic simply called “Nightmare” is available in the seventh night, and resembles Fredbear, but with a darkened complexion.
This game falls just behind the second Five Nights at Freddy’s game with its complexity. The player doesn’t simply stay in one place the whole night. One downside of this game is the main gameplay requires the player to use their hearing to check for breathing outside the doors in order to shut them in time. If you shine the flashlight too early, you’ll be met with a jump scare and a game over screen. Which, unfortunately, doesn’t make this game quite as friendly with anyone who is hard of hearing, so an alternate gameplay option would have been preferable.
This game also provided the community with one of the most famous cutscenes that shows fredbear taking a bite out of the “crying child” (what the community has called the character we play as in this game).
Take a look at this clip here for that cutscene. (no it isn’t Markiplier):
FNaF 4 The Bite of 83 Minigame
This game alone answered many questions in the franchise and gave us big chunks of lore to explore, while leaving new curiosities to be answered, like a chained box available at the end of the game. This game also features a good and bad ending, with a new twist on old characters.
I personally think this game is one of the most entertaining in the franchise. The jumpscares are one of my main critiques, however, as the quiet atmosphere as opposed to the loud, sudden, screaming of an animatronic is no doubt going to make you jump out of your seat. The horror in this game feels lacking as opposed to other games in the franchise. Despite this, the game does a great job at building an atmosphere of dread and suspense, which causes you to extremely focus on your tasks.
While having its flaws, this game is still a great addition to the franchise, and one of the most unique. As well as being one of my personal favorites.
5. FNAF World - 2016 (Below Average)
FNAF World Teaser Trailer
They definitely aren't scary now.
For sake of accuracy, I have to include this game in the list. It technically is a part of the main Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, despite its removal from the game store later on. The game completely abandoned the horror aspect of the earlier games and opted for a cute look. This didn’t fare well with fans as they harshly criticized its buggy graphics and style.
I think this game was by far the worst in the entire series. It lacks a story and is simply boring. The game was meant to supply fans with lore and hidden easter eggs, but without anyone willing to play it, there was simply no point in leaving the game up. It felt like a childish entry to a fantastic franchise, which left a lot to be desired with fans.
Despite my love for Scott Cawthon and the Five Nights at Freddy’s games, I don’t have a lot of good things to say about this game. In truth, Scott has been known to be a jokester with his fans, and this game very well was probably a joke meant to amuse fans. I appreciate what he might have been trying to achieve, but I agree the overall best decision was to remove the game entirely and try to forget about what could’ve been.
6. Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location - 2016 (Great)
Sister Location Trailer 1
The circus is in town
Breaking away from the traditional style of the other games in the franchise, Sister Location offers a more narrative-driven approach to Five Nights at Freddy’s. Each night is a completely new task the players must complete as they move from room to room in the pizzeria titled “Circus Baby’s Pizza World”. The fifth installment in the franchise offers an entirely new perspective, with all new characters.
“Circus Baby” is the main animatronic of this pizzeria, adorning a clown-like appearance, as she leads players with her voice to perform tasks for her with the result of freeing her and her friends from their eternal torment. Eventually, they betray the player in the “scooping room”, so they may take over their body and finally be free. (Which is horrifying!).
That scene of the game can be found here:
Michael Afton’s death
This game is arguably the most recognized in the franchise and the most unique. Finally adding voices to characters and even revealing who the player has been playing as through most of the games: Michael Afton, son of William Afton. This game brought back that new sense of fear that the first game delivered so well. Player’s begin to wonder who to trust as the animatronics had never spoken to us before.
Sister Location would be one of the best games in the franchise, if one little part didn’t ruin it for me. Night 4 of the game, the player is stuck in a springlock suit (that Circus Baby so graciously puts you in) and you have to keep the springlocks wound up and keep the “minireenas” from climbing into the suit and jumpscaring you. If you get jumpscared, the night completely starts over. This part of the game lasts almost a full three minutes and is easily one of the most frustrating mini-games I've ever been faced with and many other players will agree with me.
I think this part was Scott’s attempt to make the game harder, so gamers wouldn’t defeat it as quickly, but this led most players to not finish the game. Most players have figured out some tips to make it easier, but it is still extremely difficult. Despite this, the rest of the game is extremely enjoyable and interesting. The story is intriguing and feels more personal to the fans, especially as the characters address us directly.
7. Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator - 2017 (OK)
FNaF 6 Trailer
The stage is yours!
Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator allows players to manage their own pizzeria as they purchase games, animatronics, and decorations, while trying to avoid any lawsuits that may come with the dangers of Freddy Fazbear’s.
The sixth game in the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise allows players more free range as they determine what animatronics they will have to watch for every night and they can hunt for easter eggs during the day as they decorate the pizzeria. While this game allows players more choice, it lacks the horror aspect and story. While the game does have some interesting pieces of lore, it isn’t as entertaining to play.
The one great feature of this game is the ending, which showcases Henry Emily (William Afton’s Co-owner) and his famous speech. The ending is the best in the franchise, which feels so raw with emotion. What the game lacks in its gameplay, is entirely made up with this one scene.
Here is that speech:
FNAF 6 Ending but it's only Henry's speech.
I think this game is among one of the easiest to complete, even with every animatronic activated and all the ads on the computer that are designed to make your night more difficult. The game also feels more satirical and humorous, that is, until the ending. The game is okay at best, despite being more engaging for players. With it being more personable, there are six endings for the player to achieve, with only one true ending which gets the pizzeria burned as Henry’s speech plays over the speakers.
While it isn’t a bad game, there is definitely room for improvement that could’ve made it as good as the other games in the franchise.
8. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Ultimate Custom Night - 2018 (Good)
ULTIMATE CUSTOM NIGHT Mobile trailer Official
This time we're the bad guy...
In the seventh game of the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, players now play as William Afton as he is tormented in the eternal pit of hell with his own creations hunting him down forever. Players can choose which animatronics will hunt them down each night as every animatronic from every game becomes available for the first time ever.
The one true ending of this game features Golden Freddy in a slumped position, twitching and fading into the dark. Showing the vengeful spirits aren’t ever going to let William Afton go. The game won’t end, because the nights will continue forever and ever.
Ultimate Custom Night Ending:
Ultimate Custom Night - Golden Freddy Cutscene
The lore behind this game makes it extremely interesting and it almost feels like a big love letter to the fans from Scott Cawthon. He gives players the ultimate experience, which allows players to customize their own game. Despite this, the game isn’t much different from the others in the franchise, but it is overall enjoyable.
I personally find the game fun to play, but without a set of goals to work toward like in earlier games, players find themselves not willing to dedicate as much time to this game. That is, except for youtuber Dawko, who was the first to accomplish the game with every animatronic set on the hardest difficulty. While it provides a fun game for players to test their skills, it lacks the narrative depth and atmosphere of the main games in the series.
9. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 1&2 - 2019 (OK)
Five Nights at Freddy's VR: Help Wanted - Launch Trailer | PS VR
Your original friends reimagined.
The Help Wanted games take every game in the franchise and completely reimagine it in a VR setting. Having the games play in front of your eyes adds a whole new level to the horror that we hadn’t felt in such a long time.
It also takes a whole new spin on the games by adding a new antagonist, titled “glitch trap”, which slowly gets closer to the player as they unlock new chapters of the game. He seems friendly as he waves at the player, but the tapes you find throughout the game reveal that he is actually attempting to take over the player’s mind, as he has already done to another person who played the game before them.
The added storyline makes the player feel really included in the actual game, which is a great idea. However, there isn’t really anything new besides this. There are a few new mini games, but everything else is repeated in a simple VR style. This makes the game okay. The scares are the best quality, as you become really immersed with your surroundings in the meta, but the game lacks replayability when it just becomes a repeat of games we have already seen thus far. However, it does make for a very entertaining experience.
10. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach - 2021 (Good)
Five Nights At Freddy's: Security Breach - Teaser Trailer | PS5
The glamrocks are in town.
Security Breach is the most recent installment of the Five Nights at Freddy’s Franchise and probably the most popular. The game took the internet by storm with its modern setting and free-range gameplay. Featuring a whole new set of characters, players play as a young boy named Gregory that gets lost in a place called the “Pizzaplex”.
Scott Cawthon, while still having his hand in the game, didn’t hold the reins at much with designing this game. Instead, Steel Wool Studios designed most of the game, which I think is evidently clear after a playthrough.
One problem with the game is it relies on a story-based gameplay, but also allows players to roam wherever they please without any real direction. I found this rather confusing, especially when the game gives you multiple quests without any real guide on where to go. Many survival horror games use large maps, but still move the character in the right direction. Resident Evil 4 is a great example of this.
Everyone knows that Security Breach released well before it was ready which led to bugs and confusing gameplay that made everyone frustrated. It also struggles to maintain the same level of tension and atmosphere as its predecessors, adding an uneven experience to the game. There are also times that the game relies on the player to save their place, but with few “save spots” available in the game, if you miss one, you’ll be transported back to before you saved, something the other Five Nights at Freddy’s games didn’t incorporate.
The new lore in the game also completely strayed from what we’ve known before and donned a new antagonist “the mimic”, which adds even more complexity to an already hard-to-understand storyline. The recently added DLC to the game helps make more sense to the characters and adds a little mystery, but the story falls short in comparison to the earlier games in the series.
I think if Steel Wool Studios had taken the time to tie down those loose ends, Security Breach could’ve been even better. However, it was still a good game that was mostly entertaining with a few bumps here and there. It gave players a new reason to abandon what they’ve known thus far and use stealth instead. The graphics were also fantastic when they weren’t bugging out, and the new characters were extremely well-written.
It is clear that the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise isn’t going to die any time soon, and while the first game will always be the best and fan-favorite, there are many great additions in the series. With another movie and game coming soon, don’t expect to hear anything less than excitement from fans.
