
Taking a moment to look back on gaming’s past, I find myself drawn to revisit Scott Cawthon’s original masterpiece – Five Nights at Freddy’s. Compared to the complexities of later installments like Security Breach and Secret of the Mimic, it was indeed a more straightforward game. Yet, its storytelling and design in those simpler times serve as an unparalleled model for indie horror done right.
The original FNAF may not have boasted the lengthy gameplay or intricate mechanics of later games, but what it lacked in runtime, it made up for in tension, eeriness, and a sense of profound unease that lingers long after you’ve turned off your console. The franchise wouldn’t be where it is today without the chilling horror that defined the first game.